Itchy rash/hives from Taxotere???

samaileko

Aloha! Thank you for your posts, as I experienced the same hives, along with labored breathing, about a week after my 3 out of 4 Cytoxen/Taxotere treatments. I also felt like I was having a heart attack/muscle spasms radiating through my chest and back.

I was prescribed steroids and a topical cream for the hives and Prilosec for the intense indigestion.

The Prilosec helped, but I also took Alka-Seltzer antacid/antigas chewables. We only had an ear thermometer and my husband was convinced I had a fever. I was pretty certain it was from the awful hives on my ears. My husband called the on call onco and he prescribed an antibiotic. (It was Saturday and I did NOT want to go the ER!) When my husband picked up my meds, he also got me benedryl and an oral thermometer.

My hives calmed down after taking the antibiotic and benedryl. I did not have a fever.

I didn't quite believe my doc when she said it was too late to be a reaction from the chemo, because I did not remember doing anything different. However, last night, I sprayed bug spray on my hands and in about twenty minutes, I began feeling hives starting. I have been off benedryl for about three days. I took Benedryl and felt relief almost immediately.

I had also sprayed myself the first time I had the hives, but it took about a day to breakout, so I completely forgot about using the bug spray.

I was worried about my 4th round and was contemplating asking for benedryl with my treatment, but now I feel it's a new allergy to bug spray, caused by the chemo, (like mdg said on Jan 4,) but not an allergy to the actual chemo. I think that's why Benedryl worked for me.

I will do my best to update after my 4th round on Jun 18...I will be prepared to request Benedryl in my IV if I feel a reaction during chemo and ask for Zyrtec/Pepcid like peanut323 recommends if the Benedryl stops helping.

Thank you for all the help!

Take care...

Marksgirl

Oh Samaileko - isn't that interesting that it was also after your 3rd round of TC?     I managed to not break out my 4th round with Zyrtek (but my taxotere dose was also reduced 20% d/t liver enzymes very high).    They always gave me IV Benedryl during chemo.    I  only needed Zyrtek for a few days, then just took Benedryl at night (bonus of helping sleep).    Still ran the fevers though.   Let us know how you do!   Muscle spasms in your chest/back must have been scary!     I am 3.5 weeks PFC and am finally feeling almost normal.    I am able to work out somewhat  intensely which I love because I feel like I am sweating out any remaining toxins - still stretching out the muscle tightness, stomach issues but nothing that needs meds.      Will you be heading to rads or surgery?    Hang in there to the end!    

Love Jenny

Kayboxer

I am so happy I found this post! I thought I was going crazy! I had my first treatment of Taxotere/Cytoxen 7 days ago with the Neulasta shot the next day. About 3 or 4 days ago I noticed a small rash, it now looks like I walked by a blow torch. It is all over my back, my groin area, my rear end and in the crack!! I...AM...IN...HELL... I have tried everything! Cortisone topical, even special spray for chemo to relieve irritated skin, anything I could find. I take Claritin every day, and don't want to take Benadryl during the day because I don't want to be laid out in bed sleeping. I just took two Benadryl tonight and a Tagament. I should have thought about adding the Tagament! It is actually a therapy for dogs with mast cell tumor in conjunction with the benadryl. I am going to pray I can sleep tonight. I am so tired of itching, rubbing my back on any doorway I can find before I lose my mind. People probably think I have already. I have never ever had itching like this before in my life, and I have lived with severe allergies since I was a child. I am beginning to wonder if it is worth going through this chemo. I am triple negative, 2.2 cm tumor removed by double mastectomy, clean margins, node negative. There is no way in hell I can go through 15 more weeks of this. I cannot live on steroids either, I have already gained 10 lbs from this. I am a hair away from saying screw it but I will call my ONC tomorrow and see if he has a plan to get rid of this. I am so glad I am not alone!!!! Thank each and every one of you for posting your story!

doxie

Kayboxer,

I feel your itch. I was allergic to Neulasta and it took 3 infusions to pin point that. Call your ONC ASAP. I also called the clinic pharmacist who was dispensing the chemo. She helped more than the MO did. It could be one of several things and can be hard to figure out which. I did steroids a benedryl 24/7 to get it under control. Took another 3 months for the hives to completely go away.

You are in a tough spot because you are early in your treatment and really need it due to triple neg BC.

Marksgirl

Doxie - I am so sorry!   It sure sounds like you are allergic to something.  They will have to make some change, the reactions get worse each time.   I think the Neulasta gave me the high temps because when I first took Neupogen, I ran a lower grade temp each night that I received it.  Then with the big gun of Neulasta (because Neupogen didn't work) I ran huge temps.    I don't know whether it was the Neulasta or Taxotere that caused the rashes but they decreased my Taxotere after my liver enzymes skyrocketed and that and the Zyrtek helped.     Zyrtek is in the same family as Benedryl so may be that will give you daytime relief.     Wishing you fast relief from the rashes and itching.    This thread saved me when I was covered in rashes.    Thank you for posting everybody.  

samaileko

Thanks for the encouragement, Marksgirl! I guess I'm about a month behind you I am having a DIEP Flap surgery at the end of July and will start meeting with a onco gyno to start discussing my hysterectomy. (I am BRCA2+.) Have you experienced more SEs since your chemo finished?

After sharing my issues with my onco pre-chemo, she added Benedryl to my cocktail, my choice, and it knocked me out!

I had a Neulasta shot the next day, Friday, followed by a low grade fever over the weekend. Called the on-call doc and he said it's probably from the Neulasta since I did not have any other symptoms of an infection. He told me to take tylenol and it brought my fever down.

I was also feeling anemic, light headed with a strong headache, so I forced myself to eat well, (telling myself I will feel better if I do,) drank lots of fluids, and more rest than normal...drowsy from taking Benedryl.

I'm still taking Prilosec every morning, antacids/antigas after meals, and benedryl when my mild hives begin to affect my breathing.

They pop up when I'm too active, so if I notice them on my hands or feet, I rest and relax. They come on a lot quicker when I'm stressed out, then I take two benedryl. I think I only took two doses yesterday...

I have three little boys, 3, 4, and 6. I am really fortunate that my husband and mother-in-law are both so loving and supportive. They tell me to rest and shelter me from stress. I am so blessed!

My right eye is still twitching, but I'm confident that will go away again.

Kayboxer, I felt the same as you regarding lying in bed and was taking Claritin as directed for my Neulasta shot. I walked everyday around my neighborhood, a 30-40 minute walk, until it started flooding here in Oklahoma. I did not get the hives from hell until my third round. I completely understand that you don't want to be lying in bed, but until your hives stop developing and at least turn into bruises, you will be miserable! I have to always pray for patience because I try to will myself to be strong and push myself to stay normal. My hives began calming down, and I wanted to take care of some minor housework. I ended up with hives on my hives!!! I finally stopped fighting it, even set up alarms to wake me up every four hours to take the benedryl. I mostly slept normal hours, 2130 to 0630, but started watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix to help me just rest. (Just think of it as a means to an end.) I was concerned that I was going to be on fire again this round, but I wasn't. I just take benedryl when I see/feel hives developingon my hands/feet. I found out I had developed an allergic reaction to bugspray and someone else developed an allergic reaction to her laundry detergent. I have always had Physical Urticaria and I know that plays a part in my hives. Also, I usually gained 10-15 pounds the first two weeks of chemo, because of constipation and being less active. (I found a routine of miralax, colace, and milk of magnesia to fix that without giving me diarrhea.) Then by the time I went in for my next treatment, my stomach was feeling better, my "puffy" face went away, and was back to my normal weight.

Hope you feel better soon!

trackercs

Thank you ladies for this post. I too am suffering from rash/itching. Taxotere with dexamethason for three days. Neulasta day after taxotere. Terrible itchy rash by day three with course one and two. Have two more courses. Have to take a double dose of Benydryl to sleep at night. Makes me doppy the next day. Tried all the anti itch over the counter creams with varying results but nothing to completely stop the itching. Just hoping to get through the next two courses without ripping my skin off. Oncologist just blows me off. I don't think they know what to do about the rash and itching.

samaileko

4th round update: whole body rash, with coughing/respiratory heavinessbegan again yesterday, 8 days after Cytoxen/Taxotere chemo and 7 days after Neulasta...same timing as first onset after 3rd round.

I went to buy compression garments for my right arm as lymphedema prevention, so I really deviated from my normal routine.

I suppressed the hives with 2 benedryl every four hours, setting an alarm to wake me at 3 am. I made a list of everything I ingested or applied to my skin yesterday and will avoid those things. The only thing I really can't avoid is water.

I am not sure how long I will have to use benedryl, last time it was for about a week. I am still taking Prilosec every morning.

I will update when I stop taking benedryl or if it stops helping. I am happy that it is controllable...

Marksgirl

 
So glad you have it under control and hope it stays that way Samaileko!    I don't think it is anything you put on or ingested besides the toxic Taxotere/Neulasta.    I had coughing too.    Hang in there!!!!

ingersollnic

I have been going mad with rashes on and off since starting TC. The only thing that works for me is to have a bath or shower and to apply LIGNOCAINE lotion 5% and it takes around 20 minutes to provide relief. I have bruising all over my legs from the itching and have tried cortisone creams etc but only lignocaine works for me. I can buy 3% easily but the 5% is only available from speaking to the chemist and they get it for me behind the counter

AG3

I also experienced mild hives after my 3rd and 4th TC cycles but I attribute it to my Leukine shots. The hives started on the injection sites (I had 5 daily shots). My first outbreak, benadryl didn't work so I was told to take one dexa (4mg)and cleared my hives in an hour. Next outbreak, the hives were on one injection site and different areas of body. I only had to take 25 MG benadryl twice every 8 hrs and it cleared in half a day

Hawks

I'm new to this forum and have been learning so much from you ladies! My Onc figured out my rash yesterday!! I just had my first treatment of TC followed by Neulasta shot on day 2. Felt the worst on day 5 but well enough to sit outside for an hour on day 6 and planned to go to work the next day. Rash broke out on chest, neck and face eve of day 6. Long story short, saw my Onc yesterday and she figured out it was sun poisoning as a side effect of the taxotere is hypersensitivity to sunlight. My rash was only where I had sun exposure. I have a message in to my dermatologist to see if sunscreen may help or what I need to do. I know this won't solve everyone's problem but it may relate to some of you. Hopefully protecting my skin from the sun will solve the rash issue. It has mostly gone away now after hydrocortisone cream and benedryl, Zyrtec and Pepcid AC. Will post more if anything changes!

Moderators

Dear Hawks, Welcome to the community and thank you for reaching out and posting your story. We are sorry about the rash and at the same time we appreciate the tips that you shared with our members. We notice that this particular thread has not had recent activity. You may want to create a new topic in the Chemotherapy Forum just for the possibility of others seeing it and responding. Let us know if you need any help and again welcome. The Mods

MezzaGirl

hi...your onc diagnosis was a good idea...but sadly not right. I have had exact same experience to greater or lesser degree the last three rounds of TC chemo + Neulasta. I also live in a cold place and have def not seen the sun on any of these occasions. Wear long sleeves and kept covered..but been inside all the time too.

Chemo last wed and the rash appeared day 6 which baffled the meds and nurses...like a crazy bout of measles. Itchy..itchy..itchy

I have found that taking H1 AND H2 histamine blockers simultaneously AND twice a day helps a lot. This is bolstered by cool showers and 1% hydrocortisone creams. The key is the two types of antihistamine.. twice day. You can't overdose on this.

Jury is out for me if it is the Taxotere or the Neulasta causing this...but I'm inclined to think the Taxotere.

HTH

doxie

I became horribly allergic to Neulasta. First shot I had such a mild reaction I didn't pin it only anything in particular. After 2nd shot I got hives that I blamed on an anti-nausea drug I started taking. After the third shot the onco pharmacist and I had figured out it was the Neulasta. I skipped the 4th as it would have put me in the hospital, though neutrapenia almost did. Almost had to go after 3rd. I had moving swaths of red and inflamed hives all over my head and neck, as well as various sections of my body. Took constant Benedryl and steroids to calm it down.