[dnalex]

Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by dnalex on Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:33 am

Hello,

By way of background, my mom received her ASCT in December of 2010, and since February 2011 has been on Velcade/Revlimid maintenance therapy. Up until two weeks ago, Velcade administration was i.v. and is now subcutaneous (abdomen). Coincidentally (or not), two weeks ago my mom began to experience some itching at the site on her arm where blood is drawn. It has progressively gotten worse, and her scratching has made it worse.

I have two questions:

1. Has anyone (or family member) begun to develop itchiness after switching to subcutaneously injected Velcade?

2. What has proven to help with the itchiness?

Thank you very much for your answers and support. I will also talk to my mom's doctors about this, but would very much like to hear from you.

Alex

[Marcia]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by Marcia on Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:02 pm

My husband had the same problem. He took Bendryl which helped somewhat with the local reaction. Each week the reaction got progressively worse....the site of the injection would get red all round with itching. His last subq injection was the worst--itching, red, and it peeled. He felt horrible. Ultimately, he had to start getting the Velcade by IV again. He has had no reactions with the IV; however his neuropathy is worse with the IV. I read that only a small percentage of people have local reactions to the subQ.

[Laura]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by Laura on Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:46 pm

I developed some itchiness after my first subcutaneous injection. The itchiness continued beyond that first injection, but has never driven me crazy. The itchiness is not necessarily at the injection site, more on my forearms and around my ankles. It wasn't very severe, so I was able to use regular moisturizer to hydrate the skin. If it had been worse, I probably would have use cortisone or calendula creams. Benadryl sounds like a good idea, too.

[dnalex]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by dnalex on Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:50 am

Thank you for your responses. I wonder if I should ask for my mom to be switched back to iv. She does not experience the neuropathy.

[Marcia]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by Marcia on Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:18 pm

What does the doctor say about the itching? Is it actually at the site where she receives the subQ Velcade? If it is, it will most likely be necessary to switch to IV. Hope a solution to her problem is found soon.

[dnalex]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by dnalex on Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:04 pm

We go to see the doctor tomorrow.

There is quite a bit of reaction at the site of injection, plus general pruritus. When I had the switch made, I had the doctor prescribe either iv OR subcutaneous. So, it should not be a problem to switch, but I think she will need something for the itching and rash.

[NStewart]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by NStewart on Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:28 pm

Ask what the dose of the subQ injection is. People have been talking about the fact that it needs to be diluted more than the IV solution. I don't remember the details, but it should be in the archives.

[bond007]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by bond007 on Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:27 pm

The concentration of the IV Velcade is 1mg/ ml while the subcutaneous is usually 2.5mg/ml ( more concentrated ) as the volume needs to be reduced for the s.c. injection. To prevent confusion when mixing, some centres use the same 1mg/ml concentration for both that would require 2 s.c. injections if the volume is too large for one.

[dnalex]

Re: Itching (Velcade/Revlimid)

by dnalex on Mon Mar 05, 2012 4:33 am

UPDATE:

It has been two weeks since my mom has switched back to iv Velcade administration, and all the itching and rash are gone. Nothing has changed other than going back to the iv.