Taxol without Benadryl

I have been on weekly Taxol for nearly two years, while they don't use Benadryl in New Zealand one of the antihistamines they give as part of the premed does make you very sleepy and you are not allowed to drive after. I had that changed pretty quickly to a non drowsy one, I have also had the Dex dropped significantly as I felt I had more issues with that than the actual Taxol. I also have had over time all my premeds changed from IV to oral which speeds up the process significantly. Everyone reacts differently to Taxol but I think it's certainly worth asking your MO about changing things so they suit you better.

I'd had several rounds of taxol when I told a chemo nurse how much I hated the Benadryl, which seemed to make me not only sleepy but a little high (or something). She told me patients who couldn't tolerate the Benadryl were sometimes given hydroxizine. We got the MO to agree to this and it makes a huge difference. I still get a little sleepy, but nothing like with Benadryl. It's also given orally, so it shortens the whole infusion process. Hope this helps.

After my first 3 Taxols, and I had no reaction. I asked to stop the Benadryl because it was making me sleepy in the afternoon and I had so much trouble sleeping at night. Next infusion they asked that I take 20 mg of Zyrtec at home before infusion, and I didn't get anymore Benadryl. Zyrtec didn't cause me any drowsiness, so I could drive if I needed to. I did that for my remaining infusions and it worked out fine.

I found it. I am massively allergic, and allergies run in my family. I was paranoid about a reaction for my first taxol infusion, but I needn't have worried. I will accept the benadryl with gratitude. Anaphylaxis is a traumatic experience.

And the itchy, drippy nose begins. Gotta stay on top of this.