taxol

[Iwouldlike2knowmore]

Hello, I am on Taxol 3 weeks on and 1 week off and I can,t sleep I have taken Melatonin and it does not help, any suggestions please. Helena

[Flute_7]

Hello I really feel for you, the lack of sleep is so hard to deal with. Trying to function normally and go to work is not easy. Unfortunately I can’t offer any suggestions but did suffer similar. When I was on carboplatin/Taxol I found for the first 1.5 weeks I couldn’t sleep and then the following 1.5 weeks were reasonably ok.

Due to a relapse I’m now on carboplatin and Caelyx which also interferes with sleep although I’ve only had my first cycle and lack of sleep only lasted about a week, which gives me 3 weeks or normality (mine is given every 4 weeks), so may get worse due to cumulative effect although yet to find out.

Like you I’m hoping someone might be able to offer some suggestions although in the meantime try and grab sleep whenever you can. Slight downside in my case was that I couldn’t go any longer and thought I’d shut my eyes for half an hour, 4 hours later my husband came home from work to find the house in darkness, cats not fed, dinner not cooked. He came into the bedroom to check I was ok and gave me such a fright I thought the grim reaper had finally come to get me 😂🤦‍♀️

Keeping fingers crossed someone out there may be able to offer some advice for you, in the meantime stay strong xxx

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Flute_7]

Thank You

[Pianoplayer731021]

Hi there, I had sleeping issues also. My dr. put me on a drug called Restoril. I take the generic form and I find this drug to help so much. I know other ladies here in the U.S. that are on this before we go to bed. I don’t know if that is available in the U.K., but it might be worth asking about. Hope things get better, Donna xx

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Pianoplayer731021]

I did ask for Ambien but the gave me Tylenol instead.

[Pianoplayer731021 in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

Just be careful that Tylenol doesn’t hurt your liver. My blood work was showing that my liver was being affected when I was on niraparib. It only happened a couple of times. They told me to not take Tylenol, because it can affect the liver. I actually wasn’t even taking it at all, but they told me to not take it for anything( like pain for instance). Just have to follow the blood work. Donna

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Pianoplayer731021]

Why would my Oncologist even suggest that, I guess I will try something else. Thanks

[Pianoplayer731021 in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

Maybe your blood work was alright to take Tylenol. Just keep an eye on it and it could be that is why your oncologist mentioned taking Tylenol.

[Jenjill47]

Helena, what dosage are you taking? I take 10mg 2 hours before bedtime. The only snag is that I dream a lot. (Nice dreams)!

[MarleyZ]

Your sleep pattern will change, the chemo drugs do that, if your not at work etc then probably change to sleep when you need to more difficult if your working whilst undertaking chemo, carbo/taxol is harsh in itself and throws up a few side effects, don't beat yourself up if you cannot sleep under your normal sleep pattern I found watching t.v. unless there is crap on there or reading or writing on the forum whilst compiling a song list on YouTube helps and you do get sleep finally, my oncologist did ask if i needed some sleeping meds in my case i declined, as am off work and fact that last year covid lockdown meant I was under the vulnerable category, am now with the this recurrence on carbo/caylex tho had to stop after 4 rounds just finished the 2 rounds of solo carboplatin this week, sleep is difficult but routines will come back eventually, i know this as when I finished the first chemo I went back to work full time and routines did come back ... hope you find a happy medium in regards to sleeping pattern if all else fails ask your oncologist to proscribe some sleeping meds etc that will help, think they need to be specific to chemo meds so they do not counter act the chemo infusions your having.

[Jayniiee]

Hi Helena. Sorry to hear that. I find nytol helps me when i can't sleep and my oncologist said was ok to use. Hope that helps you x

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Jayniiee]

My oncologist told me to take tylenol pm and i slept good but still get up early but went to bed early. Thanks Helena

[SUE7777]

Hi, This might be a long shot but I find if I eat a banana it helps me sleep, it contains potassium which aids sleep and the good part is it's not a chemical! Sue x

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to SUE7777]

I'll try that to. Thanks

[SUE7777 in reply to Iwouldlike2knowmore]

It works for me, I'm on weekly Taxel as well by the way. Good luck Sue x

[purfekt10]

My doctor prescribed trazodone for sleep and it works very well.

[Kblaisel]

Zolpidem (Ambien) extended release version, alternating different days with Ativan (Lorazepam) to turn off the “monkey brain” thoughts), 60 mg melatonin (actually use this for it’s anti-cancer effects), magnesium taurate with vitamin B-6 for restless legs, warm empsom salts bath, black-out eye shields, ear plugs, tramadol (ifI have any aches…but I don’t take this if I’ve taken Ambien or Ativan!), half a dropper full of CBD and half a dropper of THC (again I rotate this on days that I don’t take either Ambien or Ativan. This way my body doesn’t get too used to any one thing, so it stays effective). A good nights rest is so important. Good luck!

[Nicky100 in reply to Kblaisel]

This is great advice. Thank you x

[Cumbrianlass5]

I find an antihistamine helps. There are types sold as being non-drowsy. Obviously you go for the ones which warn they can make you drowsy. I take them for a couple of nights then stop for a night or two and start again. They certainly help. Best wishes x

[Iwouldlike2knowmore in reply to Cumbrianlass5]

Thank You I'll try it.

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Hi there Iwouldlike2knowmore

I can see you’ve had lots of replies from our forum community but just wanted to pop by and say I’m really sorry to hear you are experiencing difficulty sleeping. We understand this can have a huge impact on wellbeing. Is this something you’ve discussed with your clinical team? I hope they may be able to offer some personalised guidance on this.

I wanted to share a webinar that Ovacome hosted with Dr Sarah Gilchrist, offering advice for those living with ovarian cancer who are having trouble sleeping: ovacome.org.uk/managing-the.... I hope this might be useful.

In addition, The Sleep Charity provide advice and support to encourage better sleep, with some resources which I hope may be helpful for you: thesleepcharity.org.uk/info.... They also operate a National Sleep Helpline on 03303 530 541.

If you would like to talk through anything with a member of our support team, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0800 008 7054 or 07503 682 311. We’re here Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm.

Best wishes

Annie

Ovacome support

[carolleigh]

I am on Abraxane, which my doc said is a time release version of taxol, though I have no idea. I take 20 melatonin a night and 1 mg lorazapam. I wake up every few hours. I take one of those pills when I wake up. I actually didn't even know that my chemo was doing this. Anyway I often read melatonin is good for cancer. I use sleep healing meditations from youtube that help. Good luck. I have been on assorted chemo 6 years.

[FlowerRose]

I was shocked at how deeply i slept when I did meditation/breathing for stress videos before bed (and usually quite a bit of crying in the process). I wouldn't have thought this drug free method would work, but it did. The one I used most was the Headspace app.