[hopeful27]

How much Revlimid do you take?

by hopeful27 on Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:25 pm

Just got back from the specialist. My mom has been on 25 mg of Revlimid for 6 months. The doctor wants to decrease her to 15 mg. I'm just scared it's too soon for such a reduction. How much do you take?

Thanks.

[Cheryl G]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by Cheryl G on Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:34 pm

I can't recall if your mother is on Revlimid as maintenance therapy or as part of an induction regimen. If it's maintenance therapy, then the responses to this weekly poll may be of help:

"Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose," Beacon Weekly Poll started Oct 24, 2012.

[JBarnes]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by JBarnes on Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:07 pm

According to my multiple myeloma specialist, maintenance treatment should not exceed 15 mg. That's what I've been taking for the last 1.5 years.

[NStewart]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by NStewart on Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:28 pm

I was taking 15 mg of Revlimid during induction with 40 mg of dex. Both brought my numbers down very quickly. When I relapsed 3 years after my ASCT, I was restarted on 15 mg of Revlimid and 20 mg of dex. Again, this regimen brought my numbers down quickly and kept them under control for a year and a half until May of this year, when my WBC's, Hgb, etc. tanked. After a month without any Revlimid, my blood counts recovered, and my doctor started me back on Revlimid, but at 10 mg. I've been stable with this lower dose and some of my numbers have improved with the lower dose.

Your mother's doctor will be monitoring her at the lower dose. So, if she doesn't remain in good control, he will adjust her medication again. It's better to be at a lower dose as long as things remain in control than staying on a higher dose which can cause its own set of problems over the long term.

Nancy in Phila

[Wayne K]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by Wayne K on Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:01 pm

When my M protein spiked after my SCT I was put on 15mg. I did have a lapse due to low blood counts and I'm back on it now. I'm not on any steroids.

[Bill Babcock]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by Bill Babcock on Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:20 pm

I started out on 25 mg of Revlimid when I began my induction therapy (RVD), but it was dropped down to 15 mg within the first month of treatment. Last December after my ASCT, I began maintenance therapy with 15 mg of Revlimid as part of a clinical trial. My blood counts have been in the normal range.

[acebass]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by acebass on Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:35 am

Hello,

I've been on 25mg of Revlimid for about a year. It chased away the cancer and put me into 100% remission.

Good Luck,

Rob

[coachhoke]

Re: How much Revlimid do you take?

by coachhoke on Wed Nov 05, 2014 11:03 am

I started taking 15 mg of Revlimid for maintenance (M-spike 0.5 g/dL) for 4 months. After 4 months, M-spike dropped to 0.3 and my Revlimid was reduced to 10 mg. After 5 months, my M-spike was 0.2 (where it has remained for one year) as the dose was reduced to 2.5 mg.and two months ago I stopped taking anything.

The reduction was due to annoying side effects (nothing real serious) and my own questioning about if it makes sense to take it forever. So far my M-spike has remained at 0.2 and if (and when) it gets back up to 0.5 I'll start taking Revlimid again at 2.5 mg.

P.S. I never had a stem cell transplant, just induction with Velcade and dex.