Should I be concerned? My husband will start his first immunization post transplant next month. Currently he is taken Revlimid 5 mg.
He has had some side effects from the Revlimid -- low platelets, loose bowel movement, flu-like symptoms.
I would like to know what to expect. Is he is at any risk of getting sick with the immunization shots.
Thank you
Mary Ann
Forums
7 posts
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Re: Immunization / vaccination & Revlimid maintenance?
Hi Mary Ann,
Sorry to hear about the problems your husband has had with Revlimid maintenance. Is he tolerating the drug better these days?
Did your husband's oncologist (or myeloma specialist) order the vaccinations? Or is this something that was requested by your husband's GP, or perhaps even a nurse practitioner?
There is another discussion here about vaccinations after transplantation that you may want to read:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/vaccination-childhood-vaccine-t1343.html
My reading is that getting vaccinated again after a transplant is common, but by no means the rule. However, it's also very clear from the discussion that the shingles vaccine is something to be very careful about. Apparently, the most common -- if not the only -- shingles vaccine uses a live virus, and that's very dangerous in post-transplant myeloma patients.
Interestingly, there's also another discussion here about a study that indicates that Revlimid may make vaccinations more effective:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/revlimid-and-vaccination-t825.html
My other question for you is whether your husband's white blood cell counts are close to, or within, normal range. I'm not a doctor, but it seems like that might be something to consider when thinking about whether or not he should be vaccinated.
Sorry to hear about the problems your husband has had with Revlimid maintenance. Is he tolerating the drug better these days?
Did your husband's oncologist (or myeloma specialist) order the vaccinations? Or is this something that was requested by your husband's GP, or perhaps even a nurse practitioner?
There is another discussion here about vaccinations after transplantation that you may want to read:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/vaccination-childhood-vaccine-t1343.html
My reading is that getting vaccinated again after a transplant is common, but by no means the rule. However, it's also very clear from the discussion that the shingles vaccine is something to be very careful about. Apparently, the most common -- if not the only -- shingles vaccine uses a live virus, and that's very dangerous in post-transplant myeloma patients.
Interestingly, there's also another discussion here about a study that indicates that Revlimid may make vaccinations more effective:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/revlimid-and-vaccination-t825.html
My other question for you is whether your husband's white blood cell counts are close to, or within, normal range. I'm not a doctor, but it seems like that might be something to consider when thinking about whether or not he should be vaccinated.
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JimNY
Re: Immunization / vaccination & Revlimid maintenance?
Hi Mary Ann,
Sorry to hear about your husband and the Revlimid side effects. I'm on Revlimid as a maintenance for 1 1/2 years now. Started with 10 mg and it'd been up & down between 10 and 5 mg. I have the same side effects as your husband, low platelet and low white count. They had to keep adjusting the dose, stop for a week then started back up again.
I have almost completed my vaccinations -- have 1 more to go. I didn't have any problem with the vaccines except for some bruises where I got the shot because of low platelets. I didn't get sick from the vaccines either.
Good luck and hope your husband get better. Hang in there, it will get better.
Kaew
Sorry to hear about your husband and the Revlimid side effects. I'm on Revlimid as a maintenance for 1 1/2 years now. Started with 10 mg and it'd been up & down between 10 and 5 mg. I have the same side effects as your husband, low platelet and low white count. They had to keep adjusting the dose, stop for a week then started back up again.
I have almost completed my vaccinations -- have 1 more to go. I didn't have any problem with the vaccines except for some bruises where I got the shot because of low platelets. I didn't get sick from the vaccines either.
Good luck and hope your husband get better. Hang in there, it will get better.
Kaew
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Kaew
Re: Immunization / vaccination & Revlimid maintenance?
Thank you very much for the links, JimNY. They were very informative.
He still has loose bowels and is taking Imodium [loperamide] once a day.
My husband's oncologist did order the vaccination. She told me that it is a standard procedure after 1 year post transplant.
My husband's white blood cell count is in normal range.
He still has loose bowels and is taking Imodium [loperamide] once a day.
My husband's oncologist did order the vaccination. She told me that it is a standard procedure after 1 year post transplant.
My husband's white blood cell count is in normal range.
Last edited by mary ann on Tue Jun 17, 2014 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Immunization / vaccination & Revlimid maintenance?
Thank you, Kaew ,for your well wishes and hopefully my husband will be fine after his vaccinations.
Re: Immunization / vaccination & Revlimid maintenance?
Hello Mary Ann,
Post stem cell transplant immunization is routine at virtually all transplant centers around the world.
Patients lose their immunity from a transplant. The immune system loses its "memory" of past infections and immunizations and therefore repeating immunizations is necessary to protect patients from infection (bacterial and viral).
All transplant centers will have a policy and exact recommendations on post transplant immunization and it should be followed strictly in followup after the transplant. Immunizations tend to begin between 6-12 months post transplant. Generally patients tolerate the immunizations quite well.
I wish you and your husband all the best fighting this difficult disease.
Post stem cell transplant immunization is routine at virtually all transplant centers around the world.
Patients lose their immunity from a transplant. The immune system loses its "memory" of past infections and immunizations and therefore repeating immunizations is necessary to protect patients from infection (bacterial and viral).
All transplant centers will have a policy and exact recommendations on post transplant immunization and it should be followed strictly in followup after the transplant. Immunizations tend to begin between 6-12 months post transplant. Generally patients tolerate the immunizations quite well.
I wish you and your husband all the best fighting this difficult disease.
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
7 posts
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