Side effects of Doxil

[katditty]

Hi, I'm back after sometime.  I am 2 1/2 post cycle#2 of Doxil and I have felt as bad as I have ever felt my whole life during this time: nauseaous, exhausted, weak, unable to accomplish even getting cleaned up and dressed without breaking out into pouring sweats, no appetite.  Blood tests done yesterday show nothing that might be causing me to feel so ill - in fact, other than the fact that I'm OVCA stage 3c on my 3rd line of chemo, my blood tests show I should be healthy as a horse!  Even my CA-125 has not gone up as much as expected during the first 2 cycles.  So I am at a loss as to my condition.  I am just physically so weak and so shaky.  My Gyn-Onc doesn't think this is from the Doxil, since it is so far out from the 2nd cycle, but then, she's never had Doxil.  Have any of you who have had Doxil for Ovarian cancer treatment experienced these kinds of ongoing symptoms?  I'm still taking Phenergen for nausea quite often!  I'm just so worn out, I feel like weeping all the time.  Can anyone shed any light on this?  thank you so much!

[medresc]

Phenergen is ok, but I agree with rmarie...look into Zofran (generic/scientific name: Onadestron).  It's quite common nowadays and is popular.  There are orally disentigrating tablets if you have trouble swallowing.  If you have a PICC or Port you may look into IV Onadestron (although this is more cumbersome if you are unfamiliar with doing this but it's not hard to do, just takes extra steps compared to tablets)...home health care should support this.

SimplyStar is correct with CoQ10...the main component of Doxil is Doxorubicin and CoQ10 has shown in studies to prevent the heart damange associated with that drug.  It has not been studied with Doxil but it is recommended due to the same chemo drug.  Low side about 100mg a day, best range (and also cancer fighting) is 390mg a day (spread it out or all at once, see what works best for you)

Hard to tell what else to do, though...I would suggest keeping a journal of food, activity, feelings, etc. to see what may be triggering this with the chemo.  For example maybe you are in a certain position that triggers it more often than not.  Also look into the NCI website, they can even send you free books on nutrition and managing side effects.

There are also anti-nausea drugs such as Kytril (I believe) and more if Zofran does not work.  In other words, there is plenty of options out there now and even look into increased dosage.

Something else that might assist would be 'Reglan' (trade name) that empties your stomach before eating and assists with nausea.

[SimplyStar]

Leslee is on Doxil  getting her 6th infusion this coming Monday. Except for the foot and hand syndrome and the mouth sores she has felt fairly well. Do you take COQ10?  that should be important to you.  she takes a daily multi vitamine, cranberry capsules, Vit C,  B12 Dot in the morning, diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies,  drinks sage, ginger and green tea.   there are many energy producing foods allowed plus many that are recommended for aiding the chemo results. She eats activa yogurt at work daily, has a green salad, and has been eating oatmeal from bkft  3 to 4 times per week. She just told me today that her energy levels are back to normal for her.

[rmarie]

Did have nausea with Doxil, but none of the other symptoms.  Ask for a change to an different antiemetic and you might feel better phenergen is not a first line antiemetic, but used as an antihistamine.  Ask for compazine or zofran, they are first line antiementics, and see if that makes a difference.  Check out the side effects of phenergen and you might see that you have some of them.  We look too the nasty poisions first, but it can be the other drugs they give us.  Good luck.