Nasuea meds after Herceptin/Taxotere

I just had my first infusion of Toxotere, 64 mg and Herceptin 286 loading dose for weekly therapy, today. I am feeling great from the steriods. I had Zofram as part of my infusions and am wondering if I should take a Zofram pill now even though I do not have any nausea? The Taxotere may be a smaller dose than usual as this is part of adjuvant treatment not for mets.

I have a slight bit of heart burn--a tightness in the middle of the chest but am hoping Pepto Bismo would be all right to take instead of Prilosec. I have never used Prilosec but I have used two other pills for heatburn and they seemed to make it MUCH worse. Does anyone have an opinion? I forgot to ask the onc.

Oh the wonders of chemo. I told my doctor this feels like the time I tandum parachute jumped out of a plane from 11,000 feet. Problem is I only had to do that once and I have 15 more times of chemo to go then a loooog time more on just Herceptin! Now the problem of who will pay for all of this. :-(

Thanks
Janet

[StephN]

Hi Janet -
I also had no nausea from Taxotere and have never had it from Herceptin either.
Maybe take the anti-nausea a time or two, then ask them to give you a smaller dose if you are not needing it. I was able to get by with a smaller dose at the infusion and did not need it later (my drug was Kytril).

I also was able to cut back a little on the steroid - but the protocol with Taxotere is to take it a couple of days ahead of the infusion, but I got less the day of treatment.

I went with the theory of "take the pill if I need it" just to see how I would do without them. Seemed to need less this way.

Seems like you will do just fine if you had no reaction your first time.
Go Girl!

I started getting heartburn after about my fourth Herceptin/taxol. I started using some otcs but weren't completely effective, so my onc put me on Prevacid. It's once a day whether you have symptoms or not. Its wonderful. The heartburn is completely gone.



Laurie

Steph writes:
I also was able to cut back a little on the steroid - but the protocol with Taxotere is to take it a couple of days ahead of the infusion, but I got less the day of treatment.

Janet writes:
My doctor has gone with steriods just the day of treatment since it is a low dose, Do you know your dose of Taxotere? Maybe my onc could cut it lower if I am having no reaction--but a clean house! Boy I had the energy! (Well, for me energy, most people would think I was still a couch potato!)


Laurie Writes:
I started getting heartburn after about my fourth Herceptin/taxol.

Janet Writes
Thanks for the heads up on this one. Since I will probably need something in the weeks to come, I think I will try the prilosic in a few days after the meds have cleared my system and see if it doesn't cause heartburn.

Thanks, and this morning I am feeling very good. He onc had given me Halcion for sleep and I slept like a baby.

Janet

From my experience the pepto works much better than any pills you might have to take a double dose.

Hi Janet

Although I had Taxol- I too had the wonderful heartburn you describe... I always started out my morning with a couple of Tums. I had nausea, indigestion and hunger all at the same time. I quit the steroids all together. I felt the steriods in the infusion were enough. That helped quite a bit. Also, I did not eat any acidic foods since they compounded the heartburn. Just mashed potatoes and collard greens...

Beware constipation. The inability to "go" was worse than anything else.

My best goes to you Janet- it sounds like you are doing really well-
Good for you!

Maria

I had my 3rd weekly dose of Herceptin last Wednesday and I started to get heart burn last Thursday. I will be asking my onc tomorrow if he can prescribe medication. I was afraid to take any OTC heartburn medication.

Helen

Helen writes: I had my 3rd weekly dose of Herceptin last Wednesday and I started to get heart burn last Thursday. I will be asking my onc tomorrow if he can prescribe medication. I was afraid to take any OTC heartburn medication.

Helen
A couple of the OTC meds are just watered down prescription drugs. Prilosec is the one my doctor recommended and it is now OTC. But ask and let me know what he says.

Janet

Janet,
I did not have the chance to read your email so I wasn't able to asked about Prilosec when I had my appointment this morning. He suggested to try Pepto Bismol, Tums or Maalox and Gax X if I am also having gas pains. I will try one of these OTC's and if they don't work, I will ask him about Prilosec.
Thanks.

Helen
I finally decided to try Prilosec and am glad I did. It worked.
Hope something works for you, too. Abd hope Prilosec continue to work for me!
Janet

[sarah]

two non-medical tips for heartburn:

1. raise the head of the bed 4 inches - you see those plastic feet things in lots of catalogues or use more pillows
2. sleep on your left side never your right side.
also never eat or drink in bed or too near to bedtime.

I also found Maalox helped.