Can Herceptin cause high blood pressure?
 

I did a search on the site, and didn't come up with anything directly - and I read the herceptin.com web site and saw nothing -
I have had 4 infusions of herceptin (1.9 years after finishing treatment for stage 2B). My blood pressure at my last infusion on Friday was really high and I just had it checked at work and it is still really high - especially for me since I have always run low... I have a call into my doctor, but wanted to ask -

Do any of you know if herceptin can cause hypertension?

Sandy

It could cause high blood pressure, and also if it affects the heart it could cause the B/P to rise....also fluid retention...maybe a mild diuretic will bring it back down.....if not, a muga scan may be in order. I do know that mine is monitored every treatment. How high is it running above normal? Sounds like probably an easy fix, but one to take action on. You did the right thing by calling the Dr. If you are monitoring it on a B/P machine like at the drug store or Walmart...those aren't always the most accurate things...they get bumped etc. way too much to maintain true accuracy for a B/P that might need close monitoring. Let us know what you find out.

My blood pressure is also high
 

My blood pressure is also high. Before BC, my blood pressure was 110 over 70 at most. My last visit to the doc, my blood pressure was 150 over 75. My doctor said that it was not due to the herceptin. I am having a muga test on November 7. I have been on Herceptin since june of 2006. So almost 5 months.

My B/P ran high while on Herceptin. I never took anything for it. I also retained lots of fluid but not in my hands or feet only in the waist area. I have lost nearly 15 pounds since being off Herceptin for 2 1/2 months. I feel so much better!! My mugas always came out good. I will watch and see if it goes down. I have not been watching it but I will. hugs, Sandy

Mine has crept up 10 points top and bottom scores while doing H. I guess if you are over 140, it's time to talk to a cardiologist and get a script to bring it down. Best of luck. BB

Me too!
 

My onc has just put me on meds for high blood pressure too and I'm almost finished my year of herceptin but never had a problem in the past as far as I know.
I don't know if it's the herceptin that caused it though,it was up all year during chemo and they thought it was just stress but had me wear a monitor for 24 hours at home to see and it did remain high even while sleeping.
Tricia

High bloodpressure
 

I too, developed high blood pressure while on herceptin. My blood pressure always ran low, stayed low during surgery, during chemo, then when I started herceptin last Dec, it started to creep higher and higher. My February I was put on a diuritic and then in April they added another blood pressure med. So now I was one two! I was taked off herceptin in August because of left ventricle heart issues, and I'm already off the one blood pressure med, and hopefully in time, I;ll be off the other. So I would say definately yes, the herceptin caused the blood pressure to go up in me.

Sue

Mine too has always ran low...like 100/60....the last few times when I went to get Herceptin it was 145/92....then last week it was 110/77.....I do think the Herceptin can cause it to rise.

My blood pressure went up during taxol/herceptin and stayed up, had to go on meds. Mine had always been low, 90/60 and now runs 120/85 on meds. I may have to go on something more.
________
Child avandia

my blood pressure was low pre-Herceptin, and started to go up while on Herceptin. My readings are anywhere from 13X to 15X over 78 to 90. My onc. & PCP agreed to just observe it, and not give me anything. My echo LVEF fell slightly, but I was just cleared for my last 3 months of weekly Herceptin.

- Anna

ditto on the BP
 

My blood pressure went from normal to high since being on Herceptin. 159/90 was not unusual for me. I monitor it at home now and it IS lower when I am not in the Dr.'s office. Just being there stresses me out.... I do have to think this is emotional blood pressure, along with reaction to weight gain with treatment. I have tried to walk and kayak whenever I can squeeze them in.

I too am having higher blood pressure since starting Herceptin in early September and this concerns me especially with my mother's history of heart problems which was the cause of her death. I used to have a pressure of 108/64 give or take a little and last reading was 150/96. My onc put me on a diuretic and it came down the next time I tested it at Target. I go next Thursday for my next Herceptin drip so I am anxious to see if it is officially down at the onc's office. He was wishy washy about committing the increase to Herceptin which what else could it be is my feeling. By the way, I also lost about 7 pounds after going on the diuretic as well.

I wanted to bump this one again. I go to the hospital on Tuesday to have a Herceptin infusion and I wanted to take this to thread to my ONC because when I asked if the Herceptin could be the cause of my blood pressure increase she did nt think so.

My onc nurse did say technique was everything. How much pressure on the cuff and listening for a change. During chemo BP was lower than before. Think dead, kidding. I do think it is somewhat subjective for 10 pts or so.

If you have a radical change, something is going on. BB

I wonder how we can tie this thread to my thread requesting everyone to report
 

side-effects they attribute to herceptin--real or imagined.

Anyone?

My blood pressure is usually low (pre diagnosis), but runs high everytime now (yesterday first one was 166/102 and second one 144/92) I just assumed that it was being so anxious about the treatment. ma

My blood pressure was high before my dianosis of breast cancer. I was taking two medications daily. About a month or so after my diagnosis my blood pressure began to drop so my meds were discontinued. I am happy to say that my blood pressure is still normal with no meds. Isn't it strange how our bodies react

I have never had problems with blood pressure 110/70 at the most. When I have it taken at the beginning of the Hercetin infusion it is fine but if the nurse waits til the end its 130/80 and stays there for several hours afterwards! Romo

I am feeling that this just can't be a coincidence. Enough of us have had elevation in blood pressure coinciding with herceptin treatments so my belief is that it can be a side effect of herceptin. Has anyone contacted Genetic to see if it has been noted in their follow ups?

Genentech, Inc.
1 DNA Way
South San Francisco, CA 94080-4990
Phone: 1-650-225-1000
Fax: 1-650-225-6000

Thank you for contacting them. Perhaps I should call as well because the more calls they get on this then maybe they will realize that there are those getting elevated pressures from herceptin. Would you mind posting the contact you have?

Genentech Contact information
 

I went to:

www.gene.com/gene/medcom/index.jsp

In the Wa Post today they reported people with a higher top number were less likely to have CHF. For what it's worth. BB

I am joining the " hypertension club". My last few BPs (using calf cuff reading) have been anywhere from 150 to 180 ! During TX w Hercep I occaisionally had high readings, butsince I have have had consistently high readings the last 4 months or so, I am now on Zestril.
Havent taken my first one ...YET... but am so sorry to have to add yet another medication to my routine.

Marcia

PS Hypertension has affected all the men on my fathers side of the family...most died from CAD.My weight is 150 and I am 5' 5 1/2...cholesterol levels arent so hot either. DARN! I may just have to go out and buy one of those BIG plastic med- minders!! LOL

Also an update for me....my B/P is almost consistent now in the 150-155 over 78 range....it was always in the 110/60 range....I am only on the Herceptin now, off Xeloda for the time....it seemed like it was back and forth and now is staying high...my echo 2 months ago said the LVEF was 60%

I am keeping tabs on it as my Mother has high B/P/

This is interesting! My BP has gone up dramatically while on Heceptin. My MUGGA is great! I have also been having headaches, though, and am getting another MRI tomorrow, before seeing about BP meds. I have been on Herceptin since Aug 2003.

Just had my 5th taxol/herceptin Friday and no problems ...til today. BP has been high since my first AC tx back in November, running about 140/90 compared to my norm 130/80. I got up this morning with the most horrible headache and neck pain(lingering headache for 2 days or so). Didn't realize til late afternoon that my neck veins felt as if they could pop, then the nausea and blurred vision hit. Long story short, my mom checked my BP and it was 170/110! Not only did I have a headache to kill a cow, I was in sheer panic over those numbers. I've had no real side effects with these tx's, BUT my taxol and herceptin were ran concurrently instead of separately as they had in the first 4 previous tx's. This time, heartburn like my tummy was on fire, some nausea, and this headache! I wouldn't think this would matter so much, may not be wise for the sake of determining the culprit if I were to have a reaction, but shouldn't cause such a great change in how I feel after tx, unless this is just from meds building up in my system. Anyone had this or know why or if the meds ran together would cause an immediate change? For now, have a good supply of diuretics and some Mrs. Dash no salt substitute !

Steph C

My blood pressure and heart rate are both up a bit. I am having an echo in the next two weeks, just waiting for the nurse to call me with an appointment time.

This is my first post but I wanted to thank you all for this thread, I thought I had lost my mind, not that I remember if I had one LOL. I always had low blood pressure and had to be careful when bending down that I didn't pass out when I stood up, but during my last treatment of Herceptin my BP was 121/91 and heart rate was 122........ I am seeing my GP tomorrow and having the BP checked. I have also gained weight, probably 20 lbs in the last six months. Thank you, thank you....... I am thankful that I found this site and all you great ladies.

Thanks Patricia

Derar Friends,
Just had my one month check up to see if my pressure meds did the trick. I was shocked by the Nurse saying "Whoa"! still high 165/85. New RX :Micardis HCT, appointment in 4 weeks and we will see if it worked.
Funny, I always ass u med (LOL) if your pressure is high that one would have energy.Boy was I wrong..all I do is sleep and work! ARGH

Hi there friends, Micardis caused severe depression and insomnia...back to the drawing boards. No meds thios week and will see how I do without them.
Marcia

I've had high blood pressure for years, long before herceptin and chemo. It seems to be holding steady, not going up or coming down. Over the years my medication has been changed many times until we found something that works. The one that works very well for me is Lotensin/HCT. The HCT is a diurectic. Everyone responds differently to BP meds, but you'll find one that works for you, I'm sure.

THX Grace for the reassurance. I needed it!
Warmly,Marcia

Erratic BP
 

I had high bp before all this and was on Micardis/hct & Norvasc. My Onc said my echo is low 44% and my blood pressure is also erratic, sometimes high, sometimes low. He took me off Herceptin for awhile and sent me to a cardiologist who put me on Coreg & HCT. Now I have to weigh twice a day and take my bp twice a day for fluctuations. I've only done it a few days so don't see anything really surprising. I hope I can get back on herceptin soon.

This is an interesting discussion. I've taken BP pills (Benicar HCT) for high blood pressure for several years. But, in cycle 5 of my chemo (TCH), I experienced some problems with very low bp. They did a rush MUGA, but it was fine (60%). I'm now off the BP pills and take my BP twice a day. If first number goes above 150, I take a pill (still the Benicar HCT). I've taken only 3 pills since Dec 11 (about 1/month).

I blamed the chemo, but my last one was over 3 months ago. And I STILL have normal BP. Maybe it IS the Herceptin. I never connected that before.

I'm not complaining. It's NICE to be off pills (*smile*).

Janet