Drugs Drugs and More Drugs!

2ND20

Hi there. Am about to start chemo next week and have been given 3 seperate prescriptions....one to take 1 hour before chemo and then two days after....one to take if and when feeling nausated and then one called pmsdexamethasone - says to take before breakfast.

Am a little worried....all these drugs? I know the oncologist thinks they are necessary but I am worried about the side effects. I read some pretty scary stuff.

Anyone else taking all these drugs?

MsPharoah

Hi Kriss and all the best as you start treatment. The drugs you have been prescribed are to prevent chemo side effects and you will find that they are standard of care. The dexamethasone you are taking before during and immediately after chemo will help prevent nausea. You will also probably get some type of anti-nausea and anti-allergy medications in your IV before the chemo is infused. When I was on chemo, I had a standing prescription for anti-nausea medication, but I didn't have to take it very often....but I had it just in case. I was also prescribed to take claritan or zyrtec the day before chemo and for 2 days after. This medication was to prevent muscle and bone pain from the post chemo Neulasta shot that I received the day after chemo. You should also have ant-diarrhea and constipation medications on hand as you may have intermittent problems with that. I also used Biotin mouthwash while I was on chemo.

Make sure you understand what the medications are for and what to look out for when you take them.....then follow the instructions completely.....and go out and kill that cancer, honey!

Hugs, MsP

ksusan

Hi. That's a pretty common set of prescriptions to get with chemo. The dexamesthasone is the steroid. It reduces negative side effects of the treatment. If you're nauseated, you'll probably want the anti-nausea prescription. What's the other one? Remember that you're taking these in a short-term way. Read the side effects sheet on aspirin for perspective. They have to list every reported side effect, even if they're very rarely reported.

2ND20

Thank you so much ladies. Appreciate it. Feel better about taking the drugs now.

2ND20

So just wondering...did most people continue working (if working) through the chemo journey?

muska

Hi Krissebree, I strongly encourage you to take the drugs you were told to take before chemo. They will prevent nausea and some. Side effects. Ask the nurse to explain again what each one is for and which ones are a must as opposed to "just in case." Write it down because it's confusing.
I worked through 6+ months of chemo. I took the infusion days off (thursdays while on AC) and worked from home the day after.
Good luck!

Kicks

Sounds basically usual to take orally - partially depending on the chemo doing.

On A/C I orally took Emend (anti- nausea), Dexamethasone (to prevent allergic reactions), Ondansetron/Zofran (anti- nausea)and Reglan (to use if needed for nausea) a day before to a few days after infusion. Before infusion each time I was given a Benadryl pill and IV Famotidine/Pepcid (to prevent allergic reactions).

On Taxol, I orally took Zofran and Dex, had Reglan (if needed). Was given via IV Pepcid and Benadryl to prevent allergic reactions.

You should be given an Chemo Education class (one on one with a Chemo RN) before the first infusion to give you a 'world of information' about so much potentially 'need to know information' with doing Chemo and the associated needed meds to make the TX easier now - as opposed to years ago. Also, printouts about all the meds/drugs you will be receiving. My first Education class (A/C) took about an hour (immediately before first infusion) as we had to go through the entire general info in the notebook plus all the drugs I would recieve. My second one (Taxol) was about 1/2 hiur as we just had to do a quick review of the general info and then go to the drug info (which some was the same as before).

2ND20

Thanks so much. Had my one on one very helpful but still really anxious. Start my chemo next Thursday......feeling torn.....it all seems so complicated....so many drugs.....blood work before....drugs during, drugs after.......I must admit i am quite afraid.

auntienance

Kriss, after the first one, you'll be much more relaxed about it. I was so scared I burst into tears when talking with the chemo nurse before my first infusion. After that, infusion day was the least of the treatment cycle. Btw, make friends with the chemo nurses, they are rock stars. Ask or tell them anything about your treatment or side effects. They've seen it all and can really help you. And for now, those drugs are your friends, don't hesitate to use them.

Best of luck to you, you've got this!

2ND20

Thanks so much. I didn't cry when with chemo nurse but did when I got home!

2ND20

I know we all differ from treatment to treatment, but how many have found that you feel better after each treatment?

2ND20

So how many are taking Taxotere and what symptons did folks get?