Tagrisso

[Blayneygirl]

Hi. Mom has a very particular mutation. She graduated hospice New Year’s Day and has been on a newish drug Tagrisso for a couple of weeks now. She’s off all other drugs bar calcium & vitamin D. Her most challenging side effect is trouble sleeping at night. She says her brain is racing. Oncologist gave her trazadone to help but it’s only helps for a few hours. Wondering if anyone has similar symptoms or any solutions?

[Jenniferroseolson]

Wow! I’m so glad the new drug is helping. My “brain racing” is psychological, not necessarily a side effect of another medication, so my situation may not be helpful. But i take daily prozac anti-anxiety med, and melatonin if i don’t have more than a few hours left in the night or ambien if I have 8 more hours to sleep. Be sure to continue to talk to her doctor about what isn’t working

[anrean]

Hi Congratulations on your mom being able to graduate from Hospice. Trazodone is an anti-depressant that also helps with anxiety but I take it for sleep issues, too. My pain management doctor prescribes it, and I take 50 mg tablet every night. Many times I need 100 mg (two tablets) in order to sleep through the night. If your mom is on a low dose, you might want to talk to her oncologist about changing the dosage so that she gets more in order to sleep through the night. I have been on it for many years, and find it is very beneficial. Because I have been on it so long, my pain management doctor allows me to choose when I need the extra tablet and when one is enough...but usually I need the extra tablet! Using two tablets, for a total of 100 mg does not make me sleepy or drowsy through the day, it just helps me sleep through the night Hope this helps. You can look it upon on webme.com i love it because it reolly do

Lauri-Anne

[cbeachinn]

I have been on tagrisso for three months now. This drug is given because the tumor was egfr positive. That means I have a genetic mutation in the tumor. I also have issues sleeping, but in no way different from what they were prior to taking tagrisso. My mind races when I'm awake alone at night--about having cancer -- stage 4 lung cancer. I don't think inability to sleep has anything to do with taking tagrisso. For me it's just about dying.

This is not on the list of side effects. After 3 months I've had pretty much any side effect. It can change vision, can cause very dry and itchy skin, and toenails and fingernails do weird things like split or detach from the nail bed. Also I have a nausea or upset stomach at times.

A vitamin called l-theanine that is very helpful for sleep issues and not narcotic. Doesn't even require prescription.

This is a relatively new drug. it comes with a 1-800 customer service number on it where there is a nurse practitioner you can call to report any new or unusual side effects and to get help with what to do about them. 1-844-275-2360. Also the pharmacy she gets the medication from will have access to a pharmacist to explain side effects.

Best wishes to you and your mom.

S

[Beanh4]

Hi I have been on Tagrisso for 18 months it is wonderful, a lot fewer side effects then some I have been on. I take gabapentin for neuropathy from all the chemo and it helps me sleep. My mind raced continually for years. I have had NSCLSC for 14 years. I was one happy person when Tagrisso become available because I was at the end of meds that were available. My toenails and fingernails do awful things.

Best wishes and prayers for you and your Mom.

[Pessa in reply to Beanh4]

14 years! What an inspiration. I was diagnosed 5 years ago. On Tagrisso 10 months. Hoping for many more......

[Esthersm in reply to Pessa]

I’m still on Tarceva for 7 yrs w stage4 met to brain twice , EGFR mutation.

[Pessa in reply to Esthersm]

Wonderful to hear. wishing you many more years in Tarceva.