Neulasta

mombos

I started my chemo treatments on Dec. 19.  I had the usual nausea, fatigue etc.  Then on Monday I went in and got a Neulasta shot and my world changed. By the afternoon I was having bone pain in every bone in my body.  I even had pain in the little bones in my inner ear.  By the next day it was very severe pain which mostly centered in the legs, hips and arms.  No one ever told me that the pain would be so bad.  They said I might experience some mild bone pain.  There is nothing mild about this.  I have a few questions for those who have taken this shot.  Is it a must?  Do I have to have it?  Does everyone have this?  Have others reacted in the same way?  Is there anything I can do to prevent the pain?  I don't tend to be a whimp but I am really afraid to get this shot again.  I need to keep working through treatment and this shot will keep me from doing that. Thanks for your help.

dlb823

Hi ~  Sorry about the bone pain from Neulasta.  You can take Claritin (or a generic version is fine,  but not the "D" version).  Seems odd, but it works.  Extra Strength Tylenol works pretty well, too, but there's something about the Claritin that works especially well.  I learned this on one of the chemo boards here, and my onc nurses reconfirmed it.  Hope this helps.  Take care ~  Deanna

P.S.  If you take it before your next Neulasta shot, you may not get any pain.

BrendaK

Hi, oh I remember those shots and yes you should continue to get them as they help bring up your white blood cell count - if your count is too low you can not have your next chemo appt, I know with me I just wanted to get it over with.  Wow I had bad pain - my doctor gave me morphine pills, which made me sleepy, but helped with the pain.  If you are having severe pain, be sure to talk with your doc or nurse.  If you body is hurting it takes longer for it to heal.

Hugs and prayers

danigirl

How well I remember those damn Neulasta shots.  I got them after every chemo, and it's  my only complaint about the chemo.  I would get the shot and 6 hours  later turn into The Incredible Hulk. I could not move, every muscle in my body would tighten up, and going up and down stairs was a feat in itself. I went for acupuncture, had 2 hour massages, all to no avail.  And to top it off, each successive time it seemed to get worse and last longer   I didn't even care about my WIG, and that, for me, was unbelievable--I wouldn't even come down to breakfast without it. Finally, on the 4th chemo treatment and with 2 to go, I had had it.  I called the oncologist and told him he was welcome to the last two shots, that it was NOT the chemo causing this reaction, and that perhaps he should inject HIMSELF to see what it was like.  (Needless to say, I still had a lot of fight left in me!)  I had been given Neupogen once before in 1996, so I requested it again.  I think I would have tried arsenic if it would have helped!  The Neupogen was the difference between night and day.  I am so sorry I didn't request it sooner, because I was able to function with it.  So the moral to the story is DON'T believe your oncologist when he tells you it's a side effect of the chemo.  Also, the neulasta is given over 5 days, not all at once, so it's a lighter dose each day.

lalady

OK, I don't know why they like neulasta over neupogen but I have had both with the same side effects. I do know that they both do the same thing keep you from needing blood transfutions and they force your bone marrow to make more blood cells white and red. Neulasta is not given over 5 days unless that is your MD's preference. Some people need more shots than others to keep the Labs balanced so you can stay on your chemo schedule. If your numbers are too low they will not give you the chemo.

SO that being said try the claritin, ask for vicodin if the pain is debilitating, take it with ibuprophen (advil or motrin). Also, I find that HOT tub baths seem to help. This is where the rubber meets the road. It does hurt, it's not in your mind. Been doing this for 4 years. You can do it too.

Hattie

I took Aleve with it.  I called nasty-lasta.  Creepy-scary, but it helped the blood counts and I really needed it.  this too shall pass.  I never want that bone crushing feeling again.  hang in there.

take care,

--Hattie 

lisaelder1972

 Oh how well I remember Neulasta!And that stupid commercial that came on every hour on the hour.The bone pain was the worst pain I have ever had in my life.I'd rather have a double dose of chemo than 1 shot.I took Oxycontin and Dilaudid and still had excruciating pain.On the upside,my counts were good throughout.

kayakgirl

Luckily, I did not get too much discomfort from the Neulasta so we are all a little differently with how we will react. I did take Tylenol beforehand and I am on a daily antihistamine (Allegra) for my asthma/allergies so maybe they helped. I did get the Neulasta injection in my abdomen since I had a bilateral mastectomy and didn't want to risk any swelling from the injection if I got it in my arm. Getting an injection in the abdomen actually hurts less than getting it in the arm.

nobleanna007

Mine was so nasty I asked for tylenol#3 and worked like a charm! I feel bad anyone with this type of bone ache it really is painful worse then the A/C effects!

Anonymous

I also had terrible pain from the Neulasta.  I told my onc and the next time she reduced the dose.  I did not have any trouble with my blood counts during chemo, but it really is up to your doctor to decide whether you can have a reduced dose.  They reduced the dose a couple more times.  The last dose I received was 1/4 dose.  You may want to ask if the dosage can be reduced. 

You may also want to try to time your chemo so that you experience the worst of the pain when you don't have to work.

Good luck.  You will get through this!

curiousj42

The first time I had Neulasta it was on my left arm because I had the surgery on my right breast.  I felt the body pain a week after for two days and it was pure torture.  After a couple of days rest I felt better.  After the second chemo, I had it on my belly and it was pain free.  I've had milder pains since then.

I agree with Hattie, it should be called Nasty-lasta.

curiousj42

I forgot to mention I took extra strength Tylenol those two days and it didn't help much.  My onc said to continue with the Tylenol though and didn't give any scrips.

trying2deal

my Dr. recommended taking 2 tylenols the evening prior and 2 in the morning of neulasta shot. It helped, continue with neulasta it really helps keeping white blood count up. When my older sister had breast cancer they didn't have neulasta and her blood count would go so low she would get so sick my brother would have to carry her.

margaretr

I had that reaction the first time with the Neulasta.  I also had muscle spasms through my back and legs.  First - my doctor's office told me not to be a brave little soldier and they would prescribe a pain killer and secondly, I did the Claritan thing the second time and I never had that reaction again.  I told the Doctor about it and he said he has heard quite a bit about it  - but couldn't recommend based on science.  He also told me that if there was no Neulasta that I would never be able to get the amount of chemo I was getting without being in the hospital every time with an infection or low count.  The answer is YES - you need it to continue and get done.

kimf

I, too, had horrible pain from the Neulasta shot...but they are so necessary! Everyone should get either Neulasta or Neupogen to keep your white count up to prevent infection. Take drugs to combat the pain...I had to go on percocet for it when it became unbearable. This is short term...just a few months out of your long life....you can do it!