Premeds for herceptin?

[Unregistered]

Hi- I was reading where some of you get premeds before your herceptin. What do you get? All I get is saline. Thanks and God Bless- Cathy

[snoopy]

I only get saline to flush the IV site before and after the infusion (I'm having this 3 weekly and I've had 12 doses so far - the first 4 with taxol + dexamethasone and chlorphenamine, which were intended to cover the taxol rather than the herceptin) The only "problem" I have is watching the nurses play hunt a suitable vein!

[doh2pa]

I get herceptin weekly along with chemotherapy. I get my herceptin first with no premeds (just a saline flush). Then I get premeds for the chemo. On the 4th week of the cycle, I get herceptin only and no premeds either. I've been through 2 herceptin only weeks without premeds and have had no ill effects.

[Becky]

I take Herceptin on the every three week schedule and take no premeds. On the very first infusion, I got benadryl and tylenol (as a just in case) but after that, nothing.


Best regards

Becky

[JoanM]

At the cancer clinic where I receive Herceptin, they insist on giving you a Benadryl capsule and two Tylenol tablets. They want you to take the pre-meds 1/2 an hour prior to the Herceptin infusion.
I understand, from Gina P's postings, that Benadryl suppresses the effectiveness of the Herceptin, so I just pretend to take it. I have had no adverse side effects from the Herceptin, apart from cold chills during the infusion and on days following I sometimes get cold chills in the evening when I am tired.
JoanM

[Gina]

I have no absolute proof about the Benadryl making the herceptin any less effective...it is just that experience has seemed to favor those in the NOT taking Benadryl with Herceptin camp. I have taken Herceptin off and on since 1999 WITHOUT any PREMEDS with excellent results...though I do PRE-Exercise..smile..by walking two miles to the infusion and uh..smile..two miles back...

Good luck to us all--we must make these tough decisions carefully and weigh and measure as MANY factors as we can. Also, a lot of us feel that as her-2 mediated cancers seem to favor mets to the liver..and as Tylenol is admittedly tough on the liver....better to just say no...smile... If you get a fever...chances are it won't go higher than 101 or at worst 102..and will usually break in less than 12 hours...if you read the literature...fevers can be very therapeutic as well so don't fight it...encourage it...get that fever up to where it may do you a world of unexpected good...or so we hope..smile. Happy December every one, Gina

[kk1]

Hi all;

Some people really do have allergic reactions and need the Benedryl. The fact that you are having a lot of "chills" suggests that maybe you should take it. I have a bit of a different twist to Gina’s hypotheses on Benedryl. Herceptin is a human-mouse conjugated antibody. Your body may mount an allergic reaction to the mouse portion and your immune system will try to get rid of it. That is probably not a good thing. By taking the Benedryl you suppress the immune system long enough so you can get the full dose into your system. The Herceptin can then go latch on to any her2+ receptors floating around in your body. Once the Benedryl wears off then you want your immune system strong (unsuppressed) so it can go clean up any cells killed off by the Herceptin.

That said, I have stopped taking Benedryl with my Herceptin but I don’t get any chills/fevers to indicate that my body is recognizing a mouse invader.

I would just like to add that I think it is a bad idea to "hide" things from your doctor eg. pretend to take something they have prescribed. It's your body so if you don't want to take something that's fine you can refuse to take it, but the doctor and nurses should know about it. The nurses only give you what is on the doctor’s orders so if you don't want the Benedryl you really should discuss it with you Onc.

kk1