I am in my fourth round of induction with RVD [Revlimid, Velcade, and dex]. I have a dropping absolute neutrophil count (ANC). Doctor has ordered 4 subcutaneous doses of Neupogen so we don't have to hold off on any Velcade. (He held Velcade one week last month when the ANC was 0.49, and the ANC came up, but it is now down again to 0.76.)
A nurse mentioned that Claritin (loratidine) can help if I get bone pain. I happen to have Zyrtec (cetirizine) on hand here from last year for an unrelated allergic reaction.
Question is: Does it have to be Claritin (loratidine) as the antihistamine for this bone pain? Or can it be the Zyrtec so I don't need to go purchase something else?
Thank you.
Forums
-
heddleandhook - Name: heddleandhook
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
My husband was also told to use Claritin while receiving the Neupogen injections. The Claritin worked really well. We also have Zyrtec, but it didn't help his bone achiness at all.
Also, at his last Zometa infusion, the nurse suggested using Claritin for his achiness and it helped immensely. I don't know what's in the Claritin that works on the achiness, but it does work.
Also, at his last Zometa infusion, the nurse suggested using Claritin for his achiness and it helped immensely. I don't know what's in the Claritin that works on the achiness, but it does work.
-
JoanieR
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
I was told by my chemo nurse today only the Claritin has been found to work and, from what I have been told, with the Neupogen shots it is better to be safe than sorry with the possible bone pain.
The conversation came up because I have an upcoming stem cell harvest scheduled for July.
The conversation came up because I have an upcoming stem cell harvest scheduled for July.
-
Rhonda - Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
Thanks, Rhonda and Joanie. My daughter is picking up Claritin (loratidine) on her way home for me.
-
heddleandhook - Name: heddleandhook
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
Sadly, in my experience, nothing will help. But everyone here has different experiences.
My treatment plan is similar (I know, most are), and when I had to do the subcutaneous doses of Neupogen as part of my stem cell harvest, I was OK for a day or three. Great, I thought, my wonderful streak of zero blowback, side effects, neuropathy, or any pain or issues whatsoever was continuing. Then my lower back hurt like a beast and I could barely walk for two days. Nothing helped.
I suggest you have everything on hand and keep trying something until you feel better. Go purchase something else! The ten bucks you invest is well worth it, compared to the unparalleled misery of crippling back pain, even temporary back pain.
My treatment plan is similar (I know, most are), and when I had to do the subcutaneous doses of Neupogen as part of my stem cell harvest, I was OK for a day or three. Great, I thought, my wonderful streak of zero blowback, side effects, neuropathy, or any pain or issues whatsoever was continuing. Then my lower back hurt like a beast and I could barely walk for two days. Nothing helped.
I suggest you have everything on hand and keep trying something until you feel better. Go purchase something else! The ten bucks you invest is well worth it, compared to the unparalleled misery of crippling back pain, even temporary back pain.
-
timcd
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
Hi heddleandhook,
I think the Claritin will probably be enough for any bone pain you may experience for the Neupogen treatment in your case.
However, if you want to prepare for the case where the pain is much worse than expected, I recommend going through the discussions you'll find here in the forum by typing "neupogen" into the forum search box. There have been a lot of discussions here about Neupogen and bone pain, and they have many useful suggestions ... as well as some caveats.
On the caveat side, for example, see the discussion in this thread,
"Neupogen and bone pain (SCT prep)" (started Sep 21, 2013)
which mentions that, for some other possible medications you could take to help with the pain, you have to be aware of the fact that they may not be a good idea if you have kidney damage.
I also thought I had seen some people here in the forum who have used Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain, but I think I was mistaken. The only mentions I could find of the medication being used was in connection with itchiness from rashes.
In any case ... Good luck! (And let us know how things work out for you.)
I think the Claritin will probably be enough for any bone pain you may experience for the Neupogen treatment in your case.
However, if you want to prepare for the case where the pain is much worse than expected, I recommend going through the discussions you'll find here in the forum by typing "neupogen" into the forum search box. There have been a lot of discussions here about Neupogen and bone pain, and they have many useful suggestions ... as well as some caveats.
On the caveat side, for example, see the discussion in this thread,
"Neupogen and bone pain (SCT prep)" (started Sep 21, 2013)
which mentions that, for some other possible medications you could take to help with the pain, you have to be aware of the fact that they may not be a good idea if you have kidney damage.
I also thought I had seen some people here in the forum who have used Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain, but I think I was mistaken. The only mentions I could find of the medication being used was in connection with itchiness from rashes.
In any case ... Good luck! (And let us know how things work out for you.)
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
I was also told Claritin would work, but it did not. What worked was on 10 mg Oxycontin (oxycodone), which I am already taking, along with one 500 mg regular Tylenol (paracetamol, acetaminophen), which was recommended by a nurse. Worked like a charm when nothing else I took would work.
-
Maribel
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
I followed the advice of someone somewhere and started taking Claritin the day before my first Neupogen injection and took it daily. Got injections for 6 days; Day 5 and 6 were collect, and my bone pain was so slight as to be nearly non-existent.
Don't know if staying ahead of it with Claritin vs. treating symptomatically made a difference, but it couldn't hurt to try.
Don't know if staying ahead of it with Claritin vs. treating symptomatically made a difference, but it couldn't hurt to try.
-
moonscape - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/2015
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
I was told the healthier you are, the more the severe the pain is. I'm referring to the bone pain with the 10 days of Neupogen shots prior to harvest. I had no pain until Day 5 and then it hit me like a ton of bricks – like a horse had kicked me in my lower back. I was at work and just left and was in tears while driving home. I couldn't get to the Vicodin fast enough and I normally never take pain relievers. The nurse had told me about the Claritin but I didn't take it. I really regretted it. The pain lasted only about 24 hours and was replaced the next day with the pain of a Hickman catheter installation. Good times!
-
Janet1520
Re: Claritin vs. Zyrtec for Neupogen-related bone pain
I too was told to take Claritin for potential bone pain with my Neupogen shots. I started the shots and the Claritin the same day. However, on Day 6, the bone pain was so excruciating (like the creature from Predator was ripping out my spine) that even the oxycodone barely touched it. Thank goodness it only lasted about 8 hours. I have to say that not being told by my stem cell transplant coordinator, or doctor, that this level of pain was possible was quite upsetting, I would have premedicated with stronger pain pills.
Janet: I hadn't heard about the "healthier you are" theory, but I was told that it usually means that you will produce a lot more stem cells, which for me was actually the case. They collected 16 million stems cells in 2 hours from me - not really sure it was worth that much pain though, I would have been happy to come back for a couple of days to avoid that level of pain.
Kathleen
Janet: I hadn't heard about the "healthier you are" theory, but I was told that it usually means that you will produce a lot more stem cells, which for me was actually the case. They collected 16 million stems cells in 2 hours from me - not really sure it was worth that much pain though, I would have been happy to come back for a couple of days to avoid that level of pain.
Kathleen
-
kshornb - Name: kshornber
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
13 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Return to Treatments & Side Effects