Anti Nausea Drugs
The doctors and various web sites tell me that the anti-nausea drugs have come a long way. I believe them. I really have not had much trouble compared to what I’ve read of other people, just a few years ago.
When I go for chemo, the first thing they do is inject me with some antinausea drug. They probably told me what it was at some point but hey… you know.
They gave me three prescriptions when I started. One of them is called Emend (Aprepitant). I get three of these pills for each chemo. The retail price on these three pills is $400. I pay $35 with my insurance. I take one of these when I get to the chemo appointment. They said not to take it ahead because it is so expensive, if chemo is called off for some reason I can’t get more. The first one is 125 mg. The other two are to be taken the next two days, 15 minutes before breakfast. They are 80 mg.
The second prescription is called Dexamethasone. I take two a day for three days, with breakfast. I think this is a steroid and I must admit I’m not sure how it works or exactly what it is for.
The third prescription is called prochlorperazine, and is to be taken “as needed”. I read the side effects on this one and decided I would not need it badly enough to risk them. I’m totally irritated that this drug is considered safer or more useful or whatever than that oh so controversial but illegal substitute. One causes “very rarely fatal” neurological side effects. The other makes you sleepy. So I’ve not taken any of these or refilled them.
The first few days after chemo when I’m taking the first two above, I really don’t feel much nausea at all. After having chemo on Friday, the first time I feel sick that way is Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I wake up on Wednesday, feel bad, cough, and the cough makes me throw up. It’s over in 20 minutes and it’s no worse than a hangover. Then I just feel vaguely bad all day, again, like a hangover.
I have certain luxuries of where I live and the lifestyle I already led that may make this easier. For example, I have a lot of hangover management techniques under my belt. When you wake up nauseous from a hangover, the trick is to take very small sips of something besides water with some calories in it, for several hours. Juice is best. I can’t drink oj on my chemo but I started a lot of days with some peach/apple juice.
Also… Yes. Quit asking me that. Yes. It works. (I’ve had cops tell me I should consider it. I don’t know how to respond to that.) I think this is my main advantage over many people. And again, I’m totally infuriated that “they” would rather I risk “an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); uncontrollable movements of the tongue, face, lips, arms, or legs; muscle spasms of the face or neck; severe restlessness or tremor;” as well as things like Pseudoparkinsonism and Tardive Dyskinesia whatever that is.
I’ve been careful about my eating habits, as well. More careful the first time through. The second time through has been less pleasant, and I think this is because I got careless.
The first time through I took the advice of the Moodie Foodie , especially number 8, to heart. I ate a lot of bananas and yogurt. The second time through I didn’t eat enough bananas and had a lot more acid reflux and just pain (not nausea) in my digestive tract.
Since I already had chronic diarrhea, I didn’t have constipation problems. As a matter of fact it just made the diarrhea a bit better for a couple of days.
So you see, at least for me, it’s really not as bad as it used to be. No long puke sessions, and nothing much worse than the hangovers I used to subject myself to on a regular basis.
The nurses in radiation have suggested that my mother might need Marinol to combat nausea and to restore her appetite. (In mom’s case, the loss of appetite is because she’s afraid of what’s to come–she’s only starting treatment now.) I think it’s a synthetic THC. Word on the street is that it’s not as good as the real thing, but better than many of the other options out there. Disclaimer: I’m talking out of my gluteus maximus, because I have no direct or indirect experience with Marinol.
Dexamethasone is a steroid. It’s like prednisone on … well … steroids. I know it’s an anti-inflammatory, but I think its use with chemo is for anti-nausea. I don’t know how that works.
(I’m just full of non-information today!)
I don’t know if you’re on pain meds, but I’ve found that eating bread or other wheat products helps control the nausea that comes with narcotics. Probably won’t do a darn thing for chemo nausea, but could be handy if you’re adding pain meds to the mix.
I’m not on pain meds now but I’m sure I will be before this is over, so I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.
I forgot to mention Marinol, which is legal. It is THC, so it’s pretty much like eating magic brownies, but without any of the other possibly magic herbal ingredients. Eating pot usually makes people a lot sleepier than smoking it.
One problem is that a pill takes a while to take effect, while smoking takes effect quickly. You can smoke just enough to have an effect. Another problem is that you have to keep the pill down while it takes effect. But it is definitely worth a try, I’d say.
Another thing I forgot to mention that might help, are those acupressure wrist bands that travel stores sell for motion sickness. They work for me for motion sickness. I have not tried them for chemo.
Ah, you’re so logical and reasonable, making it all seem like a calm science experiment. I think you should pat yourself on the head for that!
Love that insane list of side effects . . . m’fers.
I pat myself on the head constantly. Well, it’s more like rubbing. It feels like an emery board and makes a funny scratching noise inside my head.
(This is a good time to be bald, it’s freakin’ hot here.)
My wife took prochlorperazine(Compazine) while on chemo (cisplatin) for cervical cancer, and had the pseuodoparkinsonism. I thought she was shuffling around because of the disease or the chemo plus radiation. She figured it out herself (she was an RN). Make sure your boyfriend or *someone* knows ALL the side effects of everything you’re taking. For example, ativan is sometimes given for nausea and can cause memory problems.
Excellent advice. My boyfriend comes to all my appointments and I read him the side effects from info sheets out loud, and then google for more. He’s the one that reminds me I can’t eat that hot and sour soup (Oh that one made me mad) and things like that.
But I have been taking one ativan with every chemo. There was no info sheet, the nurse said “do you want this?” and I said “uh sure” the first time because I was nervous and they said it was for nerves. I continued to take it because the next time she mentioned it also helped with nausea. I never thought to look it up and this is the first I knew of memory problems. And I have been attempting to work the next day and … forgetting what I’m doing.
My next kind of chemo has a rare possibility of either allergic reaction or heart attack. I’ve told my boyfriend if I feel my throat closing I’ll try to say “help” and clutch my throat and he’ll get help. If I say help and clutch my chest he’ll get help for heart attack. Although I’m sure they will be watching closely. I love my treatment nurse. I love my doctor too.
Thank you *so much* for sharing from your experience.