Loading dose with no benedryl or steroids?

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snowyday
snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I finally had my herceptin and I went through a bad time with the loading dose, chills, shakes, fever it was hard.  I wasn't given any benedryl or a steroid, and boy did my body take it hard for two days.  I asked the nurse why I wasn't given benedryl and she said the Dr. didn't order it for me becuase I would need every time afterwards.  I want to know if thats true or not.  I get my next dose in two weeks and I'm wondering if I should tell them I want it slow, not in 30 minutes, for some reason I thought the first two herceptin loading doses were 90 minutes and thereafter 30 minutes, does anyone have any advice for me, I don't want to go through that shaking and chills again, almost broke a back molar, I was shaking so hard I couldn't control it and my teeth kept smashing into each other it was awful.  Any advice would be helpful.  thanks snowyday.

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited October 2008

    My first dose was given over 90 minutes with Benedryl, all the ones after that are given in 30 minutes with half dose of Benedryl and Tylenol.  I don't understand why they wouldn't give you any Benedryl. Can you take some orally before your treatment?

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  • lisettemac
    lisettemac Member Posts: 213
    edited October 2008

    Hmmm, I don't recall getting any benadryl or tylenol ever with the herceptin.  That being said, I didn't have your severe symptoms.  I felt flu-like afterwards, flushed, a little achey, but nothing terrible.

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  • azsunn
    azsunn Member Posts: 201
    edited October 2008

    My first doses of Herceptin were given as part of TCH, and I was given premeds including steroids and benedryl due to the chemo.  The first dose was run in over 90 mins.

    On days I only got/get Herceptin I do not  have any premeds (steroid/benedryl).  I'm sorry you've had such a difficult reaction, I hope your future treatments are better tolerated.

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  • Brenda_R
    Brenda_R Member Posts: 509
    edited October 2008

    I don't know if I got anything like Benedryl with my loading dose or not. I didn't have any reaction other than a runny nose. All of my Herceptin treatments were given over 90 minutes.

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  • Donalee
    Donalee Member Posts: 160
    edited October 2008

    I was just told to take 2 tylenol a half hour before infusion. I never had benedryl with it. I get very sleepy though and my blood pressure drops on Herceptin.

    Donalee

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  • DianaT
    DianaT Member Posts: 532
    edited October 2008

    The Benedryl makes me sleepy too!  I had thought that I got that because of the taxotere, but when I finished the taxotere I still got the Benedryl as a premed.  When I have the treatment I get labs drawn, IV, about 5 minutes of saline, Benedryl added into the saline and ran for 20 mins, then the Herceptin over 30 minutes, then one last 'rinse and spin' as my nurse says of saline for another 15 minutes, then I go on my happy way.

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  • nobleanna007
    nobleanna007 Member Posts: 641
    edited October 2008

    Its so weird how doffrent medical centers do things. I guess they all have their own protocol. My first Herceptin I got benedryl and tylenol over a 90 minute period, and was watch very carefully. My next one was 30 minutes without premeds. I still get flu like symptoms after having it. I am now on a break from it due to low muga scan. Hopefully next muga will show vast improvement or I am going to request to see a cardiologist. I have only been on Herceptin for 4 months and have 8 more months to go. I know the A/C did a number with my heart but they thought it would rebound but it kept declining. Oh Well!! What can we do but hang tough!!

                                                                     Bridget

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  • madarin
    madarin Member Posts: 21
    edited October 2008

    Hey snowyday... I completed a 52 week course of Herceptin in August, and I was given benedryl and steriods with the loading dose, which took 90 minutes. Then for the next 25 weeks I received Herceptin in a 30 minute infusion. At the 26 week point, I asked for and was granted the opportunity to receive the last 26 treatments in three week intervals, (once every three weeks). This was mainly because the weekly co-payments were getting to be too much. My onc said that since I tolerated the Herceptin well, this was okay to do. But I still always received benadryl before each infusion. You can certainly ask your doctor to prescribe it for you, or you can save big bucks and self medicate with that before you go in for the infusion. Just be sure to tell the onc nurse you did so. Good luck with your treatments and hang it there... it DOES get better!

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited October 2008

    Thankyou everyone for your advice.  I am going to take benedryl before my next treatment and ask them why they didn't give it to me.  I have a bit of history with my onc, I was misdiagnosed and I was the one who found it.  They considered me triple negative and when I finally got my surgical path report in May 28/08 I read a supplemental report that showed I was Her2 and boy was I upset, I had finished my previous chemo in Nov/07 and rads in Feb/08, and I felt they wasted so much time.  So then the onc wanted to give me herceptin right away, the day I went in and I said to him " WHAT!, are you nuts?, I'm not taking it without a muga." Well apparently it went through the whole floor my rad onc chuckled to me over it. I had forgotten I said it until he reminded me, but I said it in front of nurses and two interns, so I'm sure I embarrassed him.  I really don't care though because I wasn't doing herceptin without a Muga Scan, I honestly believe he was surprised I knew I should have one before starting it.  Especially after my previous chemo FEC-D I was worried about how my heart would react.  I doing okay though this morning though twice when I bent over to pick something up it felt like a sharp quick pain in my heart area, so I'm just not bending over today. My nurses come tomorrow so I can ask them about it. I had palliative nurses now, wow, didn't know I needed that, but I suppose like someone said before to me they just want to make sure I get the best care at home if I need it.  I am proud of myself I am getting stronger everyday, I make sure I do somethin physical now no matter what, I this belief that I am making my heart stronger, I hope I'm right.  Stained deck yesterday and did two big sections of fence today, wore a mask though and hated it but didn't want to breath in the fumes, I am proud of myself I can do things I didn't think I could and I hope to keep it up over winter.  Here I go again babble, babble and more babble.  Thank you all for letting me know it does get better.  Bridget I hope that your Muga comes up good and you can start your herceptin again.  Everyone have a good day and now I have to look through the site, haven't been on much.  Big hugs everyone.

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  • talbrig13
    talbrig13 Member Posts: 488
    edited October 2008

    I had benedryl and tylenol with every Herceptin over the course of a year.   Don't know why they wouldnot want you to have them...keeps you from side effects.

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  • SusieSwan
    SusieSwan Member Posts: 111
    edited October 2008

    I take my treatments at a large cancer care center and my onc wanted benedryl, tylenol and dex before every treatment.  Because I drive 2 hours, I talked him out of the benedryl so I can drive myself home and not have to worry about falling asleep but I still get the dex & tylenol.  The nurses said he's about the only onc that follows this prototcol, the rest do this for loading dose and first treatment only and then nothing.

    susan

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  • Zzap
    Zzap Member Posts: 77
    edited October 2008

    I had Benedryl and Tylenol when I started Herceptin and Taxol.  When I got Herceptin alone, they didn't give me Benedryl, but I still got Tylenol before each infusion.  If you have any kind of a reaction, they should give you the Benedryl.

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  • ElaineM
    ElaineM Member Posts: 81
    edited October 2008

    I am surprised to read that people take premeds with Herceptin. I never had any and did just fine, except for feeling very tired afterwards. I take Co Q 10. I am going to ask the naturopath about the Carnitine to help protect my heart. Thanks for the info.

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  • mthomp2020
    mthomp2020 Member Posts: 1,959
    edited October 2008

    I started Herceptin when I was getting Taxol, and did get the Benedryl then.  I do Herceptin every 3 weeks over 90 minutes, and I've never taken anything with it.  I've never had any kind of reaction to the Herceptin.  I do take Claritin for allergies though, and that could possibly have helped.  I'm also doing Zometa, and haven't had any problems with reactions to that either.

    If they won't give you the Benedryl, you could just get it over the counter yourself and take it before your treatment.

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  • lafera12
    lafera12 Member Posts: 71
    edited October 2008

     Started by Herceptin this morning..Doctor ordered all the pre-med that I was getting with Taxol/Herceptin. Decadron, Zantac, Adavan and Benedryl...I had to say no to the Benedryl-my nurse checked with the head nurse and they decided it was ok--if I need it later on I can get it.  But so far no problems , also started radiation today..right now the left side of my chest looks like a road map (LOL).

    Angie

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