Neulasta

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.

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.

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 

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.

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!

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.

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.