Q3week Herceptin-30mins or 90mins?
 

Just wondering...for those of you on maintenance Herceptin & on the q3week regimen, how long does your infusion take?
The reason I ask is because I just got back from my treatment (my 3rd q3week dose) & they insisted on running the infusion over 90mins. I'm confused & slightly ticked off b/c I only anticipated being there for a 30min infusion.I was there so late tonite I missed my niece in her costume before she went Trick-or-Treating! I've been dealing w/this for 3 1/2 yrs, was on maintenance Herceptin previously for a year until a recurrent spot popped up in my liver, but now I'm NED again (Thank God!).
I've always understood that after the 90min loading dose, subsequent infusion time would be 30 mins, regardless of dosage (qweek or q3week). I recently switched oncs, so this is a different group than when I was on maintenance Herceptin before. Can anyone help clarify? I've checked the Herceptin/
Genentech site & all it says is:
"The recommended initial loading dose is 4 mg/kg Trastuzumab administered as a 90-minute infusion. The recommended weekly maintenance dose is 2 mg/kg Trastuzumab and can be administered as a 30-minute infusion if the initial loading dose was well tolerated."

Oh, here's another bit of info I found on the website that might contribute to all the lethargy & weight gain so many of us have experienced:
Other Serious Adverse Events: The following other serious adverse events occurred in at least one of the 958 patients treated with HERCEPTIN in clinical studies:
Endocrine: hypothyroidism
Thanks in advance! Keep the Faith!

Jessica


The Genetech protocol you quoted (with a loading dose of 4mg/kg) is for the weekly treatment. The 3q treatment loading dose is 8mg/kg. I started Herceptin weekly and after the loading dose (which was 90 minutes) , my infusions took 30 minutes. However, I switched to the 3q and it is a 90 minute infusion.

I think you will find this normal protocol for the every 3 week infusion.

Warm regards

Becky

I too am on the every 3 week regimen
 

and it is 90 min. Hope this helps.

Rhonda Hoffman

I take Herceptin weekly and I get the dose in 45 minutes.


Vicki

3 week done in 45 minutes
 

I first began weekly Herceptin and it ran over 30 minutes. My first 3 week loading dose was ONE HOUR. I have worked down to 45 minutes and keet it there every 3 weeks.

It does say on the label on the bag 90 minutes, but one of the nurses got my onc to put a note in my chart that it is one hour or less. I have even had the 3-week dose in 30 minutes and that made me feel a little feverish so I don't do that now.

cac
 

Hi,
I've read and my understanding is 90 minutes for infusion-- I have it every 3 weeks. I may be mistaken but I think that the slower rate is safer all around including the possiblity of increasing chances of cardiac side effects when given at a faster clip. I could be wrong but I think I read that somewhere. I always make sure that the infusion rate is at least 75-90 mintes-- I watch it to make sure.
perhaps I'm overly cautious !!
Carol

I agree with Carol as far as this is what I have read. The longer time is supposed to lessen the chances of heart problems.
I have my Herceptin every week and I ask for a 45 minute rate. I do better when all of my drugs are given slowly.
I would think that this is an individual thing--but if I go for every 3 weeks--I would want at least 90 minutes!
Janet/FL

Janet
I have been on the 3week Herceptin for 2 years, & it has always been given over 30 min with no problems...the only one that took longer was the loading dose.

I get 6mg/kg over 90 minutes. I noticed you said 8mg. What should the dosage be? What do all of you get - 6 or 8?

Sarah

I get 6mg/kg for the 3 week dose. However, the loading dose for the 3 week protocol is 8mg/kg then changes to 6.


Becky

Longer !
 

I receive an infusion 3-weekly (the usual situation in the UK I believe, where otherwise resources would be over-stretched) and it is supposed to take 90 minnutes - but it has always taken much LONGER: for some reason the drip won't run quickly enough into me, so this next Friday I have arranged to go to my nect following appointment at the hospital an hour later to avoid being late as previously!

Herceptin
 

Last week I had my first loading dose of Herceptin. I was in the chair for 3 1/2 hours, with flushing etc. I was told that future doses, once every three weeks, will take 90 minutes to administer.

I did experience some chills while the dose was being administered and have had fleeting chills mostly in the evenings when I am tired, and now and then I've had a slight runny nose - apart from that no other side effects. I finished chemo treatments 3 weeks ago and the Herceptin, so far, was nothing compared to the side effects of the chemo. I am now waiting for my hair to start growing in, but it appears to be a little shy. Now that the weather has turned cooler here in Ontario, I find it rather chilly without hair and am hoping for a covering by Christmas - I don't care what colour it comes in. I was told that the Herceptin should not interfere with the regrowth of my hair.

I feel very lucky to be approved for Herceptin and since starting the treatment I feel much more hopeful.

Regards & Best Wishes to all.

Joan

I started 3 weekly triple again early this year and the longest I have been is 1 hour from wo to go. I had it over 30minutes on one infusion, with an OOPS! from the nurse, I was fine, she had a restless weekend, despite me phoning the unit after I drove home to tell her I was fine, she had already left shaken. Now I just say, between 30-45 mins whatever, I have survived heart failure in 3 valves due to thyroid treatment and no relation to herceptin, and my LV has always been in the acceptable limit, some just like to stay cautious, I would like to be able to give it to myself at home, who knows one day we might.

Love & Hugs Lyn

thanks Becky,
Sarah