HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - To Marily -regarding cramps while on Herceptin

StephN · 03-21-2006, 11:39 AM

Hi everyone -
Been maintaining on Herceptin now for 3 years 9 months.
I never got the cramps until after my adjuvent drugs and starting on Taxol, Navelbine and Herceptin for mets. After 27 weekly treatments with the above combo, I have NO deep tendon reflexes left. Hit my knee or elbow with the rubber hammer and nothing happens. My med onc says that is due to the Taxol, but I do not suffer from neuropathy in hands and feet to any noticeable degree.
I had terrible aches during Taxotere for which I took Neurontin and this helped.

Our "fix" was to give me Quinine and I know other women who have had a lot of chemo and BC drugs who also now take the Quinine. It is cheap and it helps a LOT. Like Lolly's magnesium it is more like a supplement.

I used to get those crippling foot cramps while on the drugs for mets and would have to pull over and stop while driving to let it pass. The excruciating leg cramps still come once in a while at night and wake me up.
I also eat bananas or drink OJ for the potassium.

My nails are doing great - as if I never had any change from pre breast cancer!

03-21-2006, 11:39 AM	#7
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Leg hand cramps Hi everyone - Been maintaining on Herceptin now for 3 years 9 months. I never got the cramps until after my adjuvent drugs and starting on Taxol, Navelbine and Herceptin for mets. After 27 weekly treatments with the above combo, I have NO deep tendon reflexes left. Hit my knee or elbow with the rubber hammer and nothing happens. My med onc says that is due to the Taxol, but I do not suffer from neuropathy in hands and feet to any noticeable degree. I had terrible aches during Taxotere for which I took Neurontin and this helped. Our "fix" was to give me Quinine and I know other women who have had a lot of chemo and BC drugs who also now take the Quinine. It is cheap and it helps a LOT. Like Lolly's magnesium it is more like a supplement. I used to get those crippling foot cramps while on the drugs for mets and would have to pull over and stop while driving to let it pass. The excruciating leg cramps still come once in a while at night and wake me up. I also eat bananas or drink OJ for the potassium. My nails are doing great - as if I never had any change from pre breast cancer! Last edited by StephN; 03-21-2006 at 12:10 PM..