A little Neulasta...

JojoH · June 2009

...goes a long way, it seems.

I'm 30 y/o, just diagnosed with breast cancer last month, and started TCH chemo about 5 days ago. So far, I haven't been too traumatized by anything they've done to me, except for this Neulasta, which seems to be kicking me in the butt pretty good.

I'm horribly achy, muscles are sore, bones hurt. Tylenol takes the edge off, but really it's not quite enough.

Any of y'all out there care to share your experiences with Neulasta? What helps the pain and the feeling like utter crap? Does it get better within a few days? Will each injection be this bad, or does your body learn to accommodate over time?

Thank you all for your support.

ddlatt · June 2009

neulasta was by far the worst part of chemo for me. it always completely knocked me out with pain and soreness. my doctor prescribed lortab with ibuprophen, which never really helped. finally i was prescribed oxycodone 5mg, and i took 1/2 a pill every six hours after the neulasta shot and for the next three days, and i never felt any more pain whatsoever. it really did change my entire experience with chemo for the better.

glostagirl · June 2009

A lot of women have posted on this in the May 2009 Chemo thread and also in a thread started by those doing the Cytoxan and Taxotere regimen.

Laurie09 · June 2009

Antihistamines have been shown to be effective at managing pain from the neulasta. Claritin or Benadryl can both be helpful.

I had pain from neulasta and took claritin which helped but seemed to wear off after a few hours. I added in tylenol with the claritin and the combination worked very well for me.

Anonymous · June 2009

I took neupogen instead of neulasta and because the injections are spread out over the five days after the infusion, they might be less traumatic to the body. I did get some mild bone pain, but ibuprofen helped. The only thing about neupogen is that you have to inject yourself (or have someone do it), so if that creeps you out, you'd be better off sticking with neulasta.

~Marin

NatureGrrl · June 2009

I too had the worst trouble with my first Neulasta. I tried the generic, non-D type Claritin as recommended here and elsewhere on the internet. My oncologist and his staff hadn't heard of it but saw no harm in trying. It's made a huge difference in my Neulasta SE's -- I just take the claritin nightly and will until I'm done with Neulasta. I won't say I'm completely ache-free but it's like having a very mild crick in my neck (or where ever) as opposed to feeling like I have full-blown flu aches. That first bout was painful and I'm glad to have it under control! If I get hints that I might be getting more aches I take one tylenol (usually just one a day) and so far that's been it. Worth asking your dr.! Good luck...

concernedsis · June 2009

Sis just finished A/C 4 treatments does dense q2weeks. She HATED the neulasta - felt like hit by truck flulike and lots of bone pain especially sternum and ribs. Suffered foe first 2. Found out about the claritan from the boards - doc said ok and WAY BETTER!!! She takes 10 mg I think daily. For the 12 weekly taxol - we're hoping no neulasta - fingers crossed. Good luck - feel better!!!!

LRM216 · June 2009

Claritan and aleve or tylenol before the shot - on day 2 and on day 3 - PLEASE - it will not hurt you and it works for most of us.

Hugs,

Linda

Rufusmama · June 2009

I have only had minor muscle aches with Neulasta, especally the first time that I received it. Aches have been much less after that and last week (#5) I only had very minor neck and shoulder area for about a day after the injection. I've only felt the need to take Advil twice (1 tab) since starting Neulasta. Oncology patients are so lucky to now have drugs to keep their WBC counts within normal and lessen the chance of infection. Not very long ago this was not the case.

Glad to hear that Claritin and Tylenol have helped those with more severe symptoms.

A little Neulasta...

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