[Mandy_Pandy1]

GI upset during Revlimid treatment

by Mandy_Pandy1 on Thu Jul 21, 2016 8:53 pm

Hello all,

I am a concerned daughter asking on behalf of my father, who is currently on his third cycle of Revlimid (25 mg) and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma.

For roughly the last 3-4 weeks he has been experiencing day-long upset stomach with bouts of diarrhea. He takes Imodium (loperamide) as needed, but gains little relief. It is effecting his quality of life.

Is this a common side effect of the medication/s, or could there possibly be something else going on?

Thank you so much.

[JBarnes]

Re: GI upset during Revlimid treatment

by JBarnes on Sun Jul 24, 2016 11:38 pm

This is very typical for Revlimid. Your doc should be able to give you some drugs to help with these side effects.

[NStewart]

Re: GI upset during Revlimid treatment

by NStewart on Wed Jul 27, 2016 2:08 pm

In addition to better drugs to help with controlling the diarrhea, your father might have the conversation with his oncologist about trying a lower dose of Revlimid. Gastrointestinal (GI) problems (diarrhea or constipation) are well known possible side effects of Revlimid.

I've never been on 25 mg of Revlimid. I started with 15 mg, and am now on 10 mg. Part of the reason for decreasing the dosage was because of GI problems for me. I still have problems (diarrhea), but I tend to be able to identify when it will happen and what foods / beverages aggravate it, so I can manage it fairly well. I take Imodium (loperamide) when it is really bad, otherwise I work around it. But, if your father is having so much trouble that the Imodium doesn't help, his doctor should know about this so that s/he can prescribe something that is more effective.

All the best,
Nancy in Phila

[indy mike]

Re: GI upset during Revlimid treatment

by indy mike on Fri Sep 09, 2016 6:02 pm

I was on 25 mg of Revlimid as maintenance but had to discontinue in March due to a pul­monary embolism. For the first two years I took Revlimid, I didn't experience any gastrointestinal (GI) prob­lems, but gradually that began to change and bouts of diarrhea became more and more frequent.

Oddly, this seemed to continue for 3 months after I stopped taking Revlimid, and then things re­turned to normal. I honestly don't know if that was a lingering side effect or something else.

Is it possible for the Revlimid to affect one's GI system for that period of time even after dis­con­tinuing?

I can't think of any other reason why these bouts were occurring. I don't eat a high fat diet and greatly limited my coffee and other caffeine intake.

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

[Guest]

Re: GI upset during Revlimid treatment

by Guest on Mon Sep 12, 2016 10:20 pm

I have been on Revlimid 25 mg for 39 months. I take a probiotic if diarrhea manifests itself. This works great for me.