emend for Adriamycin

I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience. I did AC-TH and the AC was much harder for me than the T.

When I did AC, I skipped the dex (dex turned me in to an angry, raving lunatic and I was afraid I was going to end up in jail) and took Emend. If I remember right, I was dripped Emend (or something similar) on chemo day and then took the pills for a couple of days after. I remember that the pills came in a folder like blister pak and were insanely expensive for just a couple of pills (thank doG for insurance). I also remember that the Emend, coupled with Zofran and Ativan worked really well for me.

While I was going through chemo, I thought I would NEVER be able to forget any detail of the experience. It's taken over five years, but my memory is fading. I'm hoping your next treatment goes much better and your memory of the last one fades quickly.

I was prescribed Emend which I took the day of treatment and the next 2 days. I was given Aloxi in my drip during treatment. I did not need any other home nausea meds.

I was very lucky my insurance covered the Emend for only $35 copayment each cycle. It was considered a specialty drug. The retail charge would have been about $450 per cycle.

I will say a special prayer that your next infusion goes much smoother as they make adjustments from what they learned this round.

Kicks, my oncologist told me the same thing. He said if you had morning sickness when you were pregnant, or were prone to motion sickness, you would likely have more nausea with chemo. On the other hand, he said if you were a very heavy drinker, you were likely to have very little, if any nausea. He said the chemo drugs effect the same parts of the brain morning sickness, motion sickness, and alcohol effect. That is the same part of the brain Emend acts on. I had totally forgotten we had that conversation until you mentioned it.

Since I am a light-weight, wimpy drinker I knew heavy drinking would be no help to fight off chemo nausea. And while I was pregnant, I had morning sickness so bad that I slept with a bucket next to the bed, and saltine crackers and flat ginger ale on the night stand. But, luckily, I have never experienced motion sickness. I LOVE all kinds of amusement park rides; road trips in any seat of any vehicle; I LOVE the motion of the ocean in tiny little paddle boats, ginormous cruise ships and every other size boat, ship and manner of water travel; and flying any kind of airplane from a fun little Cub or aerobatic 152, to a fully loaded 727, turbulence or smooth air.

I think my brain was so mixed up that I ended up with average, yet very well controlled, nausea from chemo.

One other thing I just remembered my oncologist telling me...Nausea is best controlled proactively. Meaning, take the main nausea meds (Emend and Zofran for me) as scheduled, then supplement (for me it was Ativan) the minute you begin to feel nauseated. For me, it could be a smell or a taste that triggered nausea. Even a memory triggered it once. There are so many weird emotional and psychological things that happen with treatment.

Rodeogirl, I don't think you weren't given Emend because you're on Medicare. Even though Emend is expensive, it's still a whole lot less $ than the ER or hospital. Please ask your oncologist to revisit your nausea meds. For mouth sores, I have a couple of ideas. For your remaining treatments, put ice chips in your mouth as soon as you see your infusion nurse coming toward you with Adriamycin. Make sure your mouth is nice and cold and again full of ice chips when the push is started. Keep ice chips in your mouth the whole time your're getting Adriamycin. Then, drink cold drinks until bedtime or until your urine returns to its normal color, whichever comes first. Also ask your oncologist for the magic mouthwash. I personally never had to use it and don't know what makes it magic, but, I know there's a magic mouthwash out there and it has helped many people.

Please let us know when your next treatment is. I'd like to keep you in my thoughts that day and the next couple days, surrounded by love, warmth, and comfort.

Hi rodeogirl,

I had Emend with my A/C treatments. It is a prescription and it required taking 2 tablets the morning of chemo and then 1 tablet for the next 2 days; so a total of 4 pills taken over 3 days. Hope this helps and I surely hope you are feeling better. Be sure to let your MO know about the nausea issues you had.

Take care,Jacklin

rodeogirl, oh my, I hope you feel better soon. Please do try to eat small amounts of whatever tastes good. Take a bite here and there, all through the day. You must keep up your strength and weight as much as possible. Please update us soon, and gentle hugs to you right now.