Marty,
The dr. prescribed this new compound (Ativan, Benadryl, and Haloperidol)
after the Zofran started having problems controlling all the nausea. The
Zofran was covered by insurance so that cost, at least for us, is not a
concern. The HAB compound was just the next step by Jim's onc. One thing
it does do, which I guess is a great way to get past severe nausea, is to
relax him to the point of dosing or just outright sleeping to get him past
the worst. The couple of times he used it, it really seemed to help a lot,
so we'll keep it for those times when Zofran just can't handle it all. He's
slowly starting to come out from under the worst side effects of his last
bout of chemo. He has to go daily to have his blood checked and, for now
until they start building back up, has daily injections to increase his
white blood count, red blood count, and platelets back up into a more
acceptable range. He's got next week to recouperate a little more before
the week after next when they hit him with his last (at least for a little
while) session of chemo. As each session of chemo has cause him more
problems (nausea, sickness, fatigue, etc.), this 6th session is really going
to be rough on him. After that session, they're going to run another CT
scan on him to see how his tumor is doing and, if it's still reducing in
size, they are going to give him some time off of chemo to let his body
start healing from all of the poison they've pumped into it.
Luv you both,
cindy
-----Original Message-----
From: Martin Auslander <fitecancer@earthlink.net>
To: mol-cancer@lists.meds.com <mol-cancer@lists.meds.com>
Cc: ccrowe@msn.com <ccrowe@msn.com>
Date: Friday, April 10, 1998 3:01 PM
Subject: Re: [MOL] Quickie update on Jim
>Dearest Cindy,
>
>there is a difference between Ativan and Decodran and Benedryl for
>instance.
>
>Ativan acts like a downer and is usually taken at bedtime in dosages of
>.5 mg or 1 mg for relaxation or sleeping. Now this is good to take at
>night after the day of anxiety of treatments, but generally is not used
>as a direct means to control nausea, that is what we were told.
>
>Now, the combination of decodron which is a steroid and benedryl which
>is a hystamine acts as an upper or a preventative for nausea and in
>combination works much better with the antinausea pill...Reglan to
>thwart nasea. In other words benedryl and antivan work against each
>other whereas decodron and benedryl and reglan work in accordance. I was
>given the dosage combination to take just after chemotherapy if you
>wish.
>
>This is just a thought for you so that there is a better understanding
>how these pills work. I am not a pharmacist, but this what we had to
>learn since Barb was on this combination for many months and treatments
>and worked very well. I would suggest you take a look at the dosage plan
>and suggestions. that may also clear up how this combination works and
>just another note...that the three pills of this combination is still
>much cheaper than Kytril or zofran.
>
>The combination of these pills, and there are three distinctive pills
>are very common indeed and one is over the counter, benedryl. So there
>is nothing magical about them and have been around for many years so
>that should not be a problem for your pharmacist and should not be
>expensive either in relation to the other antinausea pills. Just an
>afterthought. HOpe it helps.
>
>Pls let me know, Cindy, I am here for you. OK?
>
>God Bless
>marty
>
>
>Cindy Crowe wrote:
>>
>> Marty,
>>
>> I think the dr. may have just prescribed one of the "cocktails" you had
>> mentioned a while back. It's Ativan, Benadryl, and Haloperidol. It's
too
>> soon to see if it works, there's only one pharmacy in the local area that
>> mixes up compounds like this and, unfortunately is not covered by our
>> insurance, but if it helps him, the money is a small price to pay. I'll
let
>> you know how it works in a few days. Jim's slowly coming out of his
chemo
>> slump (it's been almost 2 weeks now since his last 3 day session) but
he's
>> got another session coming up week after next and, since each session has
>> made him feel a lot worse than the previous, we'll have a chance to
really
>> test this compound.
>>
>> Will write more later.....
>>
>> cindy
>>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an automatically-generated notice. If you'd like to be removed
from the mailing list, please visit the Medicine-On-Line Discussion Forum
at <http://www.meds.com/con_faq.html>, or send an email message to:
majordomo@lists.meds.com
with the subject line blank and the body of the message containing the line:
unsubscribe mol-cancer your-email-address
where the phrase your-email-address is replaced with your actual email
address.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
