help..nausea drugs got screwed up, chemo started today.

Krysm7

hi everyone. Just wondering what everyone is taking for nausea drugs? I’ve been reminding d by all my doctors and nurses...and have even seen it on here a few time..to stay on top on drug before nausea fully sets in. But I somehow don’t that drug written down. There’s a mix up somewhere, but everything is closed.

I have Ondansetron...but it was only precibed to be taken once 30 min before chemo. But I have 20 pills and only 4 rounds of chemo. So if tjat were correct. I’d only need 4. It says on drugstore printout that this drug can be taken up to 3 times a day for 2 or 3 days after chemo. Anyone take this?

Thanks for any input...all these drugs but no clear instruction

Lula73

ondasterone is Zofran. It is for nausea. Check to see what mg strength was written. You should be able to take up to 8mg every 8 hours. If you have nausea breakthrough with the ondasterone on board, contact your MO as he may want to add another med. Over the counter Dramamine (I like the 24hr version) may help as well for breakthrough if it’s afterhours. Did they prescribe the rapidly disentigrating tablet I hope?

DATNY

Sorry you are here, but be sure all this will pass. I don't know about your prescription, but I can share my experience. I had three prescriptions for nausea drugs, one more powerful, but I didn't need any, nausea wasn't a problem for me. It could be that you won't have a problem either, so no need to panic yet. If not, look up the drug you have and see if you can continue using it until you can get a hold of your doctor. Best wishes!

Bostoniangal25

sorry that you mixed up meds, I have my anti- nausea -compazine, I took 3 times a day for day 2 and 3 and 4 th post chemo, on 5-th no meds at all. If you have question you should be able to talk either nurse or with a doc on call after hours or weekend!!! Hope it's cleared for you!!!

Bostoniangal25

Shellsatthebeach

Yes, Ondansetron was what I was prescribed. I took one every 8 hours for a few days. It worked well. The trick with nausea meds is to take them before you feel sick or they won't work.

Krysm7

Thank you so much ladies! I figured i need to take the Ondansetron. Its like the doctor didn't finish the prescription details lol

Melrosemelrose

Hope you were able to contact your MO's office to get better instructions about the post chemo anti-nausea meds and you have minimal side effects from the chemo.

I took Zofran ( Ondanstron) as follows: I tab twice daily for 3 days post chemo.

FYI:

Make sure you take this drug on a regular schedule . ( I took it every twelve hours-- 7 am & 7 pm)

Take the medication with a glass of water and with food. ( Sometimes anti-nausea meds can cause nausea if taken on an empty stomach)

Zofran can cause constipation. You may want to add Mirelax to your OTC drugs to help with this. Make sure you talk to your MO about taking Mirelax or any other OTC medications.

If you have questions while in chemoland, call your MO 24/7-- no matter what day of the week it is or what time it is. There should be a MO on call to help you with issues you may be having.

Hope this helps.

Krysm7

thank you Melrosemelsore.

My cancer clinic doesn’t have a 24hr number. It open at 7 am, which is shortly here. My MO is at the bigger cancer agency. I have a “chemo doctor” that covers the actual treatment over looked by MO.

I also called pharmacist last night, she suggested I take an Ondanstron until my clinic opens.

I noticed that we have a similar chemo regime. How were your side effects, if you don’t mind me askinf

Melrosemelrose

Yes.... our chemo regimes are the same except I had 6 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere.

This chemo regime is doable and manageable. I hope that you have minimal side effects. Here is a quick list of my side effects-- Hair loss( head air, eyebrows, eyelashes, body hair), mild constipation, temporary taste changes, a few mouth sores, dry skin, loss of appetite, muscle/bone aches. I know that if you are reading this list, you are thinking that this is a lot. Here is the thing, the side effects were manageable and did whatever I could to help minimize the effects.

As for eating, I ate 5-6 times day--- small meals and drank at least 64 ounces of water/fluid a day. I had 2 books which helped me though chemoland-- Eating Well Through Cancer by Gerald Miletello, MD and Holly Clegg and The Cancer Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz. The first book was helpful because it had helpful tips, recipes and has chapters which deal with some of the major side effects ( it constipation, diarrhea, mouth sores, nausea).

I kept a drug diary and a daily eating diary to help me keep track of things. It helped me maintain a sense of control throughout my time in chemoland. The food diary was helpful because it was a way for me to remember what foods were ok for me and also reminded me that I needed to eat. The loss of appetite and taste changes can be tough to deal with but try to remember that you need to eat to fuel and help heal your body.

Please feel free to private message me.

Beatmon

I used the Zofran only, did not take the comparing at all. The compazine for me was always more sedating and next day hangover than the Zofran. Good luck

Krysm7

melrosemelrose— thank you so much for taking the time for that reply. They all do seem totally doable...except the eyebrows, that was the one thing I didn’t want to have happen, out of all of it lol. Your list is pretty much what I was expecting. But seems too easy for what my mind thought chemo was about, before it became my world.

beatmom— which one is the zofran? I’m from Canada and thing we use different terms for same drugs. Mind you I could just look it up.

Thank you

Melrosemelrose

Krysm7- The loss of the eyebrows occurred after the second or third round of chemo and it was somewhat gradual. It is possible to pencil those eyebrows in. You may want to check out online videos--- use the search " how to pencil in eyebrows when you have none". FYI: Eyebrows and eyelashes are on a different growth/fall out cycle than head hair so don't be surprised if your eyebrows and eyelashes hang in there for a while.

Hope you are feeling okay after the first round.

Krysm7

Melrosemelrose-- well that's some positive news lol. Will definitely check out some videos.

So far feel pretty normal...hard to believe I actually did it yesterday. I was so afraid. I'm just currently waiting for the ball to drop and the side effects to kick in But I'm keeping up with my positive thinking and attitude

Melrosemelrose

Krysm7- Glad to hear that you got through the first round of chemo. As I recall, I usually felt fine for the first two days post chemo and then on the third day, I'd start to feel the downhill slide. I had my chemo on Tuesday-- felt ok Wednesday and Thursday-- started to feel not great on Friday-- rested Saturday and Sunday-- ready to go on Monday. I'm hoping your side effects are minimal.

You are past saying " I can do this!!" You are now at " I am doing this!!!" Keep pushing forward..... Hugs.

Krysm7

I am doing this!!! Thank you so much for those words.They mean so much, I'll be using them!

Lula73

Zofran is the brand name of the ondasterone you’re taking.