Cytoxan & nausea

[NicShaf]

I have been on Cytoxan since the beginning of the year, and in the past week, I have been getting more nauseous at night, right before or when I lie down to go to bed.
I was getting upset stomach or slight nausea since a couple weeks into my treatment, but it has gotten worse, and I was wondering if anyone has experienced this from prolonged exposure to the medication? Or if this may be something to cause alarm? Or did I just eat something that didn't sit well with me, and now it's in my head that I get sick every night?

Thanks,
Nicole

[Jules]

Yes, yes, yes Nicole! Ended up in the bathroom 'heaving' through the night even when nothing left inside me (sorry, gross I know!). I think in my own case it was then in my head that this would happen . . . made it worse when I ate late in the evening. However, then had spell in hospital for plasma exchange and this seemed to break the pattern and thankfully haven't been bothered since.

From one newcomer to another, this medication can be scary stuff cant it. If you are in any doubt I would get it checked out.

[ArlaMo]

My nausea with the ctx lasted for about a month. Occasionally, I seem to have a little bit here and there, but it was mainly in that first month of taking it. Oh, and experienced it a bit more when they upped it from 150mg to 200mg - my creatinine was going up - but the stomach calmed down again after a couple of weeks. Hopefully, yours will too!

[NicShaf]

Yes, yes, yes Nicole! Ended up in the bathroom 'heaving' through the night even when nothing left inside me (sorry, gross I know!). I think in my own case it was then in my head that this would happen . . . made it worse when I ate late in the evening. However, then had spell in hospital for plasma exchange and this seemed to break the pattern and thankfully haven't been bothered since.

From one newcomer to another, this medication can be scary stuff cant it. If you are in any doubt I would get it checked out.

Thanks Jules! I think you're right, this can be scary, I would rather be safe than sorry...I'll email my doctor today.

[NicShaf]

My nausea with the ctx lasted for about a month. Occasionally, I seem to have a little bit here and there, but it was mainly in that first month of taking it. Oh, and experienced it a bit more when they upped it from 150mg to 200mg - my creatinine was going up - but the stomach calmed down again after a couple of weeks. Hopefully, yours will too!

Thanks ArlaMo! It helps to know I'm not the only one, I will still see what my doc thinks about the sudden onset. Thanks for your inupt.

[Sangye]

Nicole, are you taking it with food? Also, I assume you're on pred. Are you on an acid-blocker?

[NicShaf]

Sangye,
I don't always take my Ctx with food, usually breakfast is the only time I take my food and Ctx together. Yes, I am on Preds too, but not on any acid blocker. I always take my Preds with food in the morning, I was told that would help.

On the plus side, the night before last when I woke up with nausea, I had a small glass of milk to try and counteract any acid in my stomach that might be upsetting it....I figured I was already sick so it was worth a try. It seemed to help. So last night, I had a glass of milk with my dinner for the same reason, and I actually made it through the night without getting sick to my stomach. I'm going to continue with this for the week, see if it continues to help.

[Daggar]

You should be using ranitidine or other form of acid blocker - usually a dose in the morning and one before you go to bed.

Holly's doctors stressed the need for using it to avoid ulcers. There are more powerful forms of acid blockers but the ranitidine (basically zantac) has done the job so far.

She also took ondansetron during the early stages of treatment due to severe nausea. The downside to that drug is the extreme cost - but it saved her a lot of suffering.

[Ginger]

Yah, At first, i would take a ZAntac in the morning, and then i would be good for the rest of the day. But by the midddle of the night i would have nausea and bad heart burn. Then, we cut the zantac in half with a pill cutter and take half in the morning and half at night. Now, i only get heart burn ocasonally or get nausea when i don't take my pills on time. Then, i just use an ondansetron ( Isn't that the coooolest name?! it sounds like one of those cool dance machines at the arcade!)

hope that helped

[marta]

That's funny Holly/Ginger,

Ondansetron, I'll never look at that name the same way again.