anyone taking Nevirapine/Viramune at the same time as doing taxotere chemotherapy.

[greatjohn]

my doctor said that doing this combination (although I'm only 60 and athletic and have great bone density) would require me to do the Neulasta with each treatment to help my white cells from dropping. The Neulasta is a killer ....horrible bone pain... and I'm just wondering if anyone else was on the medication "viramune" aka Nevirapine when they started this Chemotherapy. The Viramune is an HIV drug. I went to the internet and can find that they do "react" but there is nothing about how they react when taken together. Just curious.....

[BigM62]

Im not on both drugs, but im in my 4th cycle of docetaxel and usually end up with 2 or 3 nuelesta each cycle. It was the WORST the first few times. Until I was given advice on this forum to take clariton allergy pills with the nuelesta shots. Without my asking, my MO also suggested the clariton. Worked like a charm. Now the nuelesta is no big deal.

[greatjohn in reply to BigM62]

thanks so much for your reply Mr. Big....

I wasn't told about the Claritin until the nurse that administered my Chemo called me on the Monday (I had the chemo on Friday) to ask how I was doing...He caught me with my bones exploding...I ran and got the Claritin and it did help..but I still felt bone pain for 3 days...god knows how bad it would have been without the Claritin! THANKS so much for you help!

John

[BigM62 in reply to greatjohn]

I srat taking it day before and for 3 days after.

[greatjohn]

THANKS! ~~I've also noted one thing. I haven't had more than 3 hours sleep in a row in a long time. I recently tried Nyquil and I slept 7 hours straight before waking up...got up..peed...and went back to sleep. I tried Zquil thinking I didn't need the other stuff..but it didn't work...went back to NyQuil and step (amazingly) 8 hours straight. It's my new "go to"...I hope it's okay for fairly frequent use..it's really been a life saver. Just thought I'd add that...not sure how you sleep.

John

[BigM62 in reply to greatjohn]

I take dexamethesone starting the day before chemo for 3 days - and i just dont sleep. MO said to just roll with it. Otherwise i sleep ok unless im having a weak attitude and am worried. Those nights i might take a valium, but im not having a real problem.

[greatjohn in reply to BigM62]

hmmm "rolling with it" ...is more like tossing and turning with it ...LOL. I don't know why the NyQuil worked...but, if I was you...I might give it a try. I'm dreading going to heavier things like Valium...I was always a great sleeper naturally and don't like to mess with Mother Nature...but she's messed with us lately...so I guess it's inevitable. ALL the best!

John

[wifeofvet in reply to greatjohn]

nyquil has always been a sleeping drug for many people. it has a sleeping aid for those nasty cold/flu nights when you need to be knocked out to get sleep.

[StephanB in reply to greatjohn]

I definitely wouldn't recommend valium since it disrupts deep sleep cycles but you could give zopiclone or zolpidem a try. It is though a prescription item and would have to bring it up with your MD. NyQuil has Benadryl-like adverse effect like drowsiness which helps but not sure about sustained use...and it contains a mix of medications too depending of what you buy.

How is chemo? Did you have your second infusion? For me the worst was the second to fifth day after chemo with fatigue but otherwise no side effect. Didn't feel SE from Neulasta either but it would be hard to distinguish since my bone mets sometime act up. I assume your onco doc knows about nevirapine. It is a drug that often increases the metabolism (elimination) of other drugs such as possibly docetaxel. Hope your are doing well. And aren't those ice gloves and slippers a bitch?!

[StephanB in reply to StephanB]

Oh and there's also trazodone for sleep, but for me it stopped working after a few weeks, so went back to zopiclone. Sleep is important!

[greatjohn in reply to StephanB]

I did my second chemo on Friday (Oct 27th)...Friday, Saturday were both wonderful...felt euphoric...Sunday morning was good, but by noon...started feeling a bit of the bone pain ...but it's much less with Claritin (it feels like I have a flu, basically). Slept so well last night that I have a lot of energy...but it comes in spurts! The reason the doctor put me on the "Lunasta" was because of the Nevirapine(Viramune). He said it would be harder on my white cells. Mine was good and my bone density was good...but he said this was the pre-caution that we'd have to take. I'd have much rather (had I known) switched my HIV med a few months ago....and NOT have to take Lunasta. It's a bitch. As far as normal chemo things...like nausaea and throwing up...I have only had light "faint" feelings of nausea every now and then that don't last....and food still tastes delicious! The ice is ICY....but I'm hoping to keep my nails intact! oh, and I've been shaving my head since my mid 30's...but now my beard has fallen out so much I shaved it off this morning.

[StephanB in reply to greatjohn]

I'm a little confused John, I'm sorry. But by Lunesta, do you mean Neulasta? Since you've been talking about sleep issues, you could be taking Lunesta which is a "Z" drug like zolpidem (Ambien) and zopiclone (Imovane). And Neulasta is given in prevention of neutropenia (low white blow cells) often caused by chemo.

[StephanB in reply to StephanB]

My beard also started falling out but it just got thinner and kept it through chemo. Sounds great that you have no major side effects. I only did 5 cycles of docetaxel because my PSA doubling time were worrying, but I have to say, chemo was quite manageable. I think the younger one is, the easier our body manages also. If you don't mind me asking, what are the other meds in your HIV combo? Worked in an HIV clinic for many years and did presentation, so it's coming from a good place

[greatjohn in reply to StephanB]

only Viraminune and Epzicom . I guess you saw...the "lunesta" was a brain fart ...I meant Neulasta....

[StephanB in reply to greatjohn]

Haha. I figured. My neutrophil held up pretty well through Taxotere and never needed Neulasta or Neupogen, but I think it's a good prevention, and if they see that your neutrophils get too high, they'll stop it, so I'd say, push through the bone pain, and I do know how painful it can be!

[greatjohn in reply to StephanB]

yes...that's a "lupron" mind switch I made as typing...LOL.

[StephanB in reply to greatjohn]

Believe me, since ADT, I cry at the opening of an envelope. It definitely plays with our body and mind!