Hi, my had her first Alimta last Thursday. on Sunday she had fatigue,loss of appetite, depression and nausea. her first line of treatment was gemzar/carbo and we found when she stopped the steroids (hers is dexamethosone) she became very depressed. my questions are if she has experienced this with first dose alimta will it continue with further doses or get worse or bad? does anyone else have side affects from steroids? mum was feeling great from 2 month chemo break and now feel like we are back at square one. she was diagnosed May 09 Stage 3b wet NSCLC - large cell. had good response to first line treatment but knocked her red blood cells about a bit requiring blood transfusions. she looks and feels great. has no pain or SOB. thanks. Richelle
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Alimta, fatigue and steroids
- By Richelle13
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:02 pm · 5 replies
- In Treatment options
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- By casepres
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 11:22 am
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My husband has been on Alimta since December 2008. He receives a treatment every three weeks. Same diagnosis for the cancer as your mother. Fatigue continues and seems to last longer--from day 2 to day 8 after chemo. The Ongologist is phasing out the steroids with the next treatment--I can't remember why and I know he told us. My husband's white blood cell count has been low--but not low enough for a "booster" shot. Other side effects--drippy nose, bleeding gums, digestive issues, some nausea.
- By mk13usmc
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 11:29 am
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I know that the steroids can give us mood swings. I get really moody and a little mean at times. A friend of mine's mother had the same reaction from the steroids. I've been getting Altima since June 09 every three weeks. I don't get the fatigue that others talk about, guess I'm lucky but I do have a hard time sleeping at night - love my afternoon naps. I had carbo too until the 6th treatment and then I had a real bad reaction from it - I don't get the carbo anymore but that might be the one that causes the fatigue. Getting B12 shot?
- By pw
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 4:40 pm
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They usually give the steroid before the Alimta treatment to ward off any rashes which can be a side effect from this drug. I know steroids can be a Mood lifter when you are on them continuously. So your mom may feel a little down when they wear off. My husband was on Alimta for 8 months or so and he was fatigued as well. Her body may just need to get used to the drug. I can't say my husband felt much worse as his treatments continued. He felt Alimta was one of the milder chemos he had been on. It did keep his cancer at bay for a while. I hope it works for your Mom as well. Good luck!
- By Richelle13
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 9:02 pm
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Hi, thanks for your replies. mum is on folic acid and b12 shots. she takes the steroids for about 4 days in total. always when she has stopped them she gets very depressed. today is day 5 after alimta and she is feeling much better. she has been improving since yesterday. her appetite is returning too.
with the folic acid has anyone noticed their urine being an orange colour? mum noticed a change in colour when she started the folic acid. could it be from the B12 shot?
- By Linnie156
- Posted November 17, 2009 at 12:13 pm
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Hi my husband is on Alimta has been since last Oct.
He handles it okay tired around the 3 day after.
The doc's have put him on steroids everyday now to help with some of the pain from the tumors. Also it has help him with the being tired. He had a first round with chemo 2 years ago that knock him for a loop . Lost his hair and very very tired. The Alimta is a more easier chemo the infusion is only about 10-20 minutes. I hope your mom feel better as time go on with it.
I know some other people on it and they seem to think the same that it is easier to tolerate.
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