[Joannem]

Numb lips after Velcade, steroids, and pre-meds?

by Joannem on Tue Apr 12, 2016 9:10 pm

Today after receiving his steroids and Velcade my husband experienced numbing and tingling of his lips and tongue. It did go away in about an hour. He also received some pre-meds of Benadryl, Tylenol, and more steroids.

Is this a familiar side effect for anyone? Just curious.

[jendunk]

Re: Numb lips after Velcade, steroids, and pre-meds?

by jendunk on Wed Apr 13, 2016 4:28 pm

Hi JoanneM,

Thank good­ness! I'm not crazy! I have experienced this while on treatment as well. I am on Revlimid,Velcade and dex and occasionally have used Benadryl.

The tingling did not last very long, and I couldn't pinpoint which medication caused it, but it was a very odd sensation and I was happy when it went away!

Sincerely,
JenDunk

[Jonah]

Re: Numb lips after Velcade, steroids, and pre-meds?

by Jonah on Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:09 pm

My guess is that it's the Benadryl pre-med that is causing the numb lips.

Split off a quarter of a Benadryl tablet sometime and chew it in your mouth for 20 or 30 seconds. Then swallow it, or spit it out, depending on whether you want the anti-allergy / drowsy effect.

As you're chewing the quarter tablet, the first thing you'll notice is that Benadryl is REALLY bitter. The next thing you'll notice is your gums going numb.

[jendunk]

Re: Numb lips after Velcade, steroids, and pre-meds?

by jendunk on Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:34 pm

Jonah,

I did cut the Benadryl in half because the whole pill was too strong for me. I didn't chew it though. I swallowed it as fast as I could. I didn't notice the tingling right away ... it was a bit later. My gums were fine, just my lips were tingling. (Who knows how numb I would have been if I had chewed it!)

Thanks,
JenD

[mikeb]

Re: Numb lips after Velcade, steroids, and pre-meds?

by mikeb on Thu Apr 14, 2016 10:03 am

Hi Joannem,

I sometimes would have numb or tingling lips after Velcade treatment too. Strange sensation, but it did not last long. Also a slight aluminum taste. I did not receive Benadryl as a pre-treatment. I assumed the numbness was a transient form of peripheral neuropathy, or at least somehow related to peripheral neuropathy.

Best wishes to you and your husband. I hope the treatment works well for him.
Mike

[Joannem]

Re: Numb lips after Velcade, steroids, and pre-meds?

by Joannem on Tue Apr 19, 2016 9:28 pm

Thanks for the responses. I can tell him not to worry. But we do have a worry about his diabetes and neuropathy. Before treatment his feet were numb to his ankles and his finger tips were numb. Now after seven treatments of Velcade and dex his legs are numb to his knees and his hands are numb to his wrists. We are hoping that this will eventually reverse as walking is be­coming difficult and dropping things is frustrating for him.

We do have an appointment with our regular PCP Thursday and with his oncologist next Monday and I really want some answers.

I love this forum, it somehow helps to voice these concerns.