[Beacon Staff]

Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Beacon Staff on Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:36 am

This week’s poll is about Revlimid dosing for maintenance therapy.

A few clarifications:

First, this poll is for people with multiple myeloma who have taken Revlimid maintenance therapy within the last year.

Second, maintenance therapy is any treatment given for a prolonged period of time after completion of induction (initial) treatment. Generally, maintenance therapy regimens are less intensive -- involving fewer drugs and/or lower or less frequent doses of drugs -- than induction therapy regimens.

Third, if you required any dose modifications, possibly in order to manage side effects, please vote for the dose that you found most tolerable or used for the longest part of your maintenance regimen.

Fourth, if you are a caregiver or family member of a myeloma patient, feel free to answer on their behalf.

As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback in the space below. They can be very useful to other readers.

In particular, if you selected "Other," please describe your dosing regimen below. Please also feel free to describe any dose modifications.

[Joanne V. in Texas]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Joanne V. in Texas on Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:55 am

I have been on Revlimid for about 5 months now as a maintenace. I have had no side effects and my lab work has all been good.

[Anonymous]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Anonymous on Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:28 pm

Joanne V. in Texas wrote:
> I have been on Revlimid for about 5 months now as a maintenace. I have had
> no side effects and my lab work has all been good.
Do you know how long you'll stay on REV? i was on 10mg for 24 months i stopped in feburary, so far i still have clean blood tests.

[Anonymous]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Anonymous on Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:57 pm

I was on Revlimid for almost three years. The first two was 10mg 21 of 28 days. The last year I was on a 14 day on 14 day off regimen due to the fatigue I was having with the other dose. I’ve come off everything for now to see how long I can stay in remission. Kind of like playing remission roulette. Then when it comes back see if I can knock it back down with good ole Revlimid again.

[avantromp]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by avantromp on Wed Oct 24, 2012 4:45 pm

I started taking lenalidomide in March 2010 under a Hovon 87 research project in the Netherlands, immediately after diagnosis. My dose has always been 7.5mg. 21/28 days on the basis of alternating days with 1 and 2 tablets of 5 mg. I was considered too old for SCT (66 at the time). I have been taking lenalidomide as maintenance since beginning of 2011. My M-protein was approx.12 at the end of 2010 and since then has gone down several decimal points each month and is now approx.4. I have no peripheral neuropathy. My only problem is recurring diarrhea.

[Plymouthrock]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Plymouthrock on Wed Oct 24, 2012 7:50 pm

Diagnosed Nov. 2011 received radiation for a humerous tumor - ha ha -started Velcade and Revlimid 25mg Currently on 10mg maintain. 21 per mo. Only s. Effects are slight per. Neuro. Taking gaba. Which works well . I am 66 old and blame that and my inactivity for my stiffness . However after reading these posts I think my recent increasing intolerance of other drivers may be chemo brain a term I hadn't heard . This is my first attempt at talking with others who have multiple myeloma and I feel like I could yak for days but I'll stop now . God bless

[barbsarb1]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by barbsarb1 on Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:27 pm

I was started on a maintenance dose of Revlimid after a succesful stem cell transplant (Feb 2010), but the fatigue was very troubling. My oncologist agreed that I could stop taking the Revlimid, and just worry about treatment again when my numbers start going back up. So far, so good...

[Judy Malkiewicz]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Judy Malkiewicz on Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:22 am

After my 1st autologous stem cell transplant, I was placed on Revlimid 10 mg for 14 days on and 14 days off with Velcade. I relapsed within 2 months. I have high risk myeloma with 4:14 and 1q21 cytogenetics.

[Maureen in Colorado]

Re: Weekly Poll - Revlimid Maintenance Dose

by Maureen in Colorado on Thu Oct 25, 2012 12:55 pm

I am 19 months past stem cell transplant(my own) Been on Revlimid 10 mg 21/28 with weekly Dex since September 2011. I struggle by 3rd week with fatigue, diarrhea or constipation. I am not sure which I hate more constipation or diarrhea. I am now halfway through a 2 year plan that also includes Velcade every 3 months. The good news is that I am in remission with the strict criteria. The not so good news is that I have the translocation of 4:14 gene. I wonder if I can tolerate another year of this program. Will talk about the risk/benefits with my physician next month