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Becky · 03-08-2007, 05:34 PM

Since you just started your bp med, take it for a couple of weeks. Your body may get used to it. If you don't, there are countless dozens of bp meds on the market. Ask your PCP to prescribe a different one and just make sure he doesn't pick one with the same side effects or one that works via the same biochemical pathway (or mechanism) as the first one so you don't feel crappy on it.

Herceptin does make you feel weird. Not gross weird but different. I got headaches on it. They were worse in the beginning (almost raging) but then hardly anything. Also, there is a thread that is going on now about bp and Herceptin. I should have contributed but didn't. My bp went up on Herceptin too. It was always high (once 164/100) when it is normally 110/75. Since stopping, it is back in the normal range for me. Since you have metastatic disease, you cannot stop but if you do and get switched to Tykerb, make sure that you watch to make sure your bp doesn't go too low if you are on bp meds since Tykerb may not have this side effect.

I do know that Avastin has the bp side effect too.

Hang in there. You are doing alot of things right to be a 4 year Stage 4 survivor. We are all rooting for you.

Big hug to you

03-08-2007, 05:34 PM	#2
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Since you just started your bp med, take it for a couple of weeks. Your body may get used to it. If you don't, there are countless dozens of bp meds on the market. Ask your PCP to prescribe a different one and just make sure he doesn't pick one with the same side effects or one that works via the same biochemical pathway (or mechanism) as the first one so you don't feel crappy on it. Herceptin does make you feel weird. Not gross weird but different. I got headaches on it. They were worse in the beginning (almost raging) but then hardly anything. Also, there is a thread that is going on now about bp and Herceptin. I should have contributed but didn't. My bp went up on Herceptin too. It was always high (once 164/100) when it is normally 110/75. Since stopping, it is back in the normal range for me. Since you have metastatic disease, you cannot stop but if you do and get switched to Tykerb, make sure that you watch to make sure your bp doesn't go too low if you are on bp meds since Tykerb may not have this side effect. I do know that Avastin has the bp side effect too. Hang in there. You are doing alot of things right to be a 4 year Stage 4 survivor. We are all rooting for you. Big hug to you __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"