Perplexed abt Avastin & BP

[Kygrl]

I am in 3rd OC recurrence. First diagnosis 2006, w/9 yr remission after surgery & Carbo /Taxol. During this 3rd recurrence, I had Doxyl/Avastin. I had had Doxyl during first recurrence, but never had Avastin till recent recurrence. I had miserable non-stop congestion & runny nose, eyes watering, mouth sores, & fatigue. My wonderfully low-side BP became moderately high but I didn't take BP meds bc I knew it was temporary. It turned out, almost 3 mos after being off all chemo & Avastin (taking a break bc side effects were too much for me), my BP has NOT gone back to normal. In fact, it is higher than its ever been. I got sent home from PT today & told to stay home, life down & rest & take a Trazadone & keep checking afterwards. My dr told my PT therapist that, if the diastolic didn't get back down below 100, I was to go to ER. My BP had gone up to 187/117! It took hours for it to finally get down to 154/89. That's still to high, but an improvement. I will have to get on some BP meds, even though I'm not even in the Avastin any more! Have any of you had the experience of your BP remaining very high after going off Avastin? My onc said, a couple of mos ago, it shld go back to the way it was b4 Avastin, but it's still way too high (even higher) after 3 mos of being off. Thanks for your replies.

Ky Girl

[Lyndy]

Yes mine never really returned to normal. To think I used to have low bp! I also have horrendous white coat syndrome- even when I take my own!! ( because I am worried by it) Laughable really I have to sneak up on myself....

[Hidden]

Hi Kygrl. I can't help really with your question but I've a couple of things to tell you that may help you. I've been on avastin (as maintenance) for several years. Raised blood pressure is one of its commonest side effects, as I'm sure you know. My BP had always been low, as far as I know. It has slowly risen whilst on avastin & I have to take meds for that as the trial requires it to be not above 139. When I could no longer achieve 139, even when on meds, a GP at the hospital suggested I take my BP at home and bring it in to the hospital on appt day. This has worked a treat. I record it 3 times per day for the week preceding my appt. The 1st one is often too high but then it settles.

Then there is the problem of the day I'm at the hospital to receive my avastin. Due to the white coat syndrome, I know my BP will be too high, so I do the button-pressing myself, until I get the required number. If the nurses do it by coming & going, I never seem to fully settle, whereas I'm confident I'll achieve the desired result before too long if I do it myself. Hope it helps. Best wishes. Pauline.

[LittleSan]

Mine took a few months to come down, I can't remember how many now though. I came off the BP tablets very gradually by reducing the dose and my blood pressure has been fine. I'm now on cediranib which has the side effect of increasing hypertension and I'm back on the merry-go-round! I have white coat syndrome too so you have my sympathies. 💐😘

[Heddy]

I am currently on taxol/avast in and before that just Avastin (avastin by itself did not work fir me). I have been on no meds ever since and I think it takes a long time to get back to normal afterwards but everyone is different. I had Doxil last year and that has proven more tedious. I have to have an echocardiogram every 3 months for the rest of my life! At least that’s what they are doing in the US. A daily pill to keep your bo in check is preferable to going for this test at the hospital. Luckily no heart issues found so my cardiologist is moningvto every 4 or 5 months. All the best to you

Heddy

[Heddy]

I have been on blood pressure meds since