[sandragarcia90806]

Velcade and hiccups

by sandragarcia90806 on Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:34 am

My dad was diagnosed with multiple myeloma July 14, 2013. He was in pretty bad shape his kidneys were falling, his back hurt and his anemia was acting up. We are seeing a multiple myeloma specialist. He put my dad on Velcade, dox, dex(dvd) and Zometa (monthly).He also put him on allopurinol, acyclovir, alpha lyptic something to prevent neuropathy. I'm sad because he sad to be on all this medication.

He is on Velcade sub q. It causes redness & itches him from what I'm reading its pretty common.since the injections his stomach sags & muscle seems to be swollen.

He complains of hiccups that hurt his ribs so he told the doctor & he put him on baclofen. I'm scared for my dad he seems depressed. Have any of you had any hiccups and what did you do to get rid of them? And, how are you coping?

This is really hard for to deal with sometimes. I'm an RN (ortho) but when its your parent that is sick and you can't do anything. It takes a toll & I hate seeing my dad so sick.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Velcade and hiccups

by Ron Harvot on Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:45 pm

Hiccups are a common side effect of dexamethasone. I used to get them when I was on 40 mg. My level of dex was reduced over time and with it the hiccups went away. Generally the hiccups only last a day or two following the dex. If they are really bothering him perhaps you can discuss a reduction in the amount that he takes.

Ron

[LadyLib]

Re: Velcade and hiccups

by LadyLib on Sun Sep 01, 2013 12:08 am

My husband has the hiccups usually the day after he takes the dex (40mg once a week). I was told with an impaired kidney, the body just naturally is trying to get the toxins out. Hiccups are common. My husband does nothing, but just eat or drink constantly the day after treatment.

[bond007]

Re: Velcade and hiccups

by bond007 on Sun Sep 01, 2013 2:48 am

What I found years ago that helps the hiccups with dexamethasone or prednisone aside from a lower dose, is to take motilium (domperidome) 10 mg 1/2 hr before meals and at bedtime for 1-2 days after the dex. This drug speeds gastric emptying and prevents hiccups for me. With a higher dose of dex if hiccups still occur then rebreathing in and out of a paper bag will stop them as it raises CO2 levels and affects the vagus nerve function .

[Tomuch1]

Re: Velcade and hiccups

by Tomuch1 on Wed Apr 30, 2014 1:53 pm

Thank you very much with you information...

I have been up all night with hiccups and I just started my second day of 10 tabs x 40mg of dexamethasone 4 days a week. Another haematologist said I shouldn't be on that higher dose and so dropped it to 5 tabs a day of dex 4 days a week, saying, *I think you will have problems if you stayed on that amount... ooops*! I don't want mistakes when I am already stressed?

[InQ]

Re: Velcade and hiccups

by InQ on Thu May 01, 2014 7:11 pm

Yes, we are on CyBorD, and the dex causes the hiccups.

[RayGunter]

Re: Velcade and hiccups

by RayGunter on Tue May 06, 2014 2:07 am

I have the same thing - caused by the steroids.

A friend gave me a way to help with it though. Kind of like a "scare them out of you" or "drink water upside down" kind of cure, but this I found actually worked pretty well.

1. Have someone stand behind you and plug both of your ears real good.
2. Then drink a bunch of water (accentuating the swallowing I felt helped too)

Voila - no more hiccups.

The only thing I've noticed with it is that you can't do it right after they start. You have to give them a few minutes to settle in. But when I waited, it worked every time. It doesn't stop them for good, but it gives you a few hours break at least.

Good Luck!