i have been on acastin since september 2, 2009. i have had 3 treatments, and am scheduled for the 4th weds this week. i went to my alternate doc last week, and had him test my blood pressure, i felt like i was crawling out of my skin. it was 146 over 104. he make some adjustments, and when i left it was 143 over 98. so i went back to day for a followup-it was 187 over 111. he did some adjustments, and it was 143 over 107. so i called my onc nurse, and she told me i need to go to my primary care doc. well i have one, but i never need to go. my questions is, anyone gone thru getting the blood pressure under control? i have never had high blood pressure, except for when my anxiety is rearing its ugly head. i want to stay on avastin, it is working, and i do not want to be taken off it. please help me feel better, i am loosing control right now. god bless, sherry
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avastin and hypertension
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 3:45 pm · 53 replies
- In Side effects of treatment
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- By PLE
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:18 pm
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sbender...I have been on Avastin again for my first recurrence since April and my BP has always been high with this. My PCP put me on 3 different antihypertensives and it has been under control since then. I am surprised your gyn/oncologist doesn't check your BP each visit. At my institution, If you are on a clinical trial with Avastin and your BP is high, they usually won't give you that drug until it goes down.
Good luck and hang in there.
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:23 pm
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they are checking it each time-but when i was on steroids it was high-but it was never high on a regular basis. since on the avastin, it was 130 over 80 before treatment 2, and 158 over 97 before treatment 3. then like i said, it was up last week and this week. i have an appt tomorrow with primary care doc, my gyno oncol will not prscb high blood prssure meds. are you on one medication, or did it take you a while to get it under control. i just do not want to have to reschedule my chemo on weds. it is doing what it needs and i don't want to loose this chance. so i guess i just would like to know how long did it take to get under control, and did you have to stop your treatment for any time? thanks, and god bless. sherry
- By PLE
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:38 pm
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sherry...I didn't have to stop treatment. I was already on one medication for my BP and when I had initial OVC diagnosis in 2007 I was on clinical trial and wasn't sure I was getting the Avastin, but my BP kept going up so we were all sure I was getting it. My PCP then put me on two other medications and now my BP stays around 120/70. They unblinded me in the study in 2007 and I was on the Avastin. It put me in remission for 16 months and now just finished 8 chemos for my first recurrence and will be on Avastin now for another 12 months. My CA 125 is now 15...down from 1350 in April. AVASTIN WORKS!! Keep us posted.
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:38 pm
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i am sorry to bother you again, but once more question-was your blood pressure normal before the avastin? i just really want to keep on my meds-i wanted to take this over a year and a half ago, and my insurance declined, so we waited and tried other drugs, which got me to here. i am blessed to be in good health, i exercise as much as i have time to, actually back to a daily routine, alternating my workouts. i try to eat right, and do everything to keep my blood pressure ok. i am just scared now, thanks and blessings, sherry
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:43 pm
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thanks for getting back with me, i am so relieved that you are under control. also relieved to know that you already had to be on the high blood pressure med before you went on avastin, so i am hopeful everything will work out for me. if you don't mind me asking, how high was your blood pressure before they had to put you on additional meds? i am freaking out about the blood pressure, but i do have anxiety and take valium for that, i need to take another pill, haha. i see a doctor tomorrow, and i am sure they will prescribe something, i get chemo weds, and i am praying it will be ok. they have me chemo when it was 158 over 98. thanks, prayers and blessings to you. sherry
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 4:43 pm
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praise god for your good luck with the avastin too..,..
- By PLE
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 5:01 pm
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Sherry, I have a BP monitor at home and just checked some of my previous readings. In May it was as high as 178/86 and then stayed high until I was placed on the 3rd medication then it started dropping in the 140/70 range and now stays pretty normal.
The clinical trial I am on now is researching why Avastin causes high BP so I am sure they will be solving that soon. Try not to stress and worry because that will make it high too. My nurse told me they can fix things because they have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves.
Prayers and blessings to you too...Good luck on Wednesday!!
- By pat813
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 5:06 pm
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sherry,
Just got home from Chemo Carbo/taxol/avastin and having blood pressure issues too. My BP was 168/107 first thing then went down to 156/98...they were not going to allow me to get avastin. So, spent an hour..listening to IPOD and trying to relieve stress and BP dropped to 146/89 and they administered the avastin.
Avastin is known to causes high blood pressure. I was told to take BP every day and to call if it is consistently 150/90 or higher. If is stays up, I will need to see PCP to start on BP drugs. I understand that if you can control the BP, they can still continue on with Avastin.
Good luck!
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 5:55 pm
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thanks for getting back with me-they went ahead and treated med with ithigh last time, so i am going to say that the lord will give me peace. i just got off the phone with my mom, and she has high blood pressure, and told me to try and be calm, because being upset will just make it go up. that is why it has been high of and on when i see the doctor, but when i don't have to see the doc, it is llike 10 over 70. i thankyou for sharing. i pray the lord will give me peace. i wish you continued good luck with your treatments. god bless, sherry
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 5:59 pm
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i cannot have a cuff at home toi take my blood pressure- i have anxiety, and the thought of taking it just makes me uptight. so at least i know now that tomorrow i will see a doc, and weds, god will let me get my avastin, and the medication they give me will start the process to lower my blood pressure. i am going to start getting massages, i think that will help me alot with my stress levels. i am type a, and have anxiety, so i have managed quite well since july of 2006 and after going thru 84 chemo treatments and being drained 28 times. the lord has never failed me, and he will not fail me now. he has used you all on this site to bring me peace. we are all vessells of him, his arms, legs, feet and hands. thanks for sharing. god bless. sherry
- By Jennali
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 6:50 pm
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I am not on Avastin, but am having blood pressure issues with weekly Taxol. It happens that I have my regular every 6 month check up with my PCP this coming Friday, so I will address it with him. I have been on BP meds for years. Immediately after Taxol (for about 36 hours after) my BP has been as high as 190/112. It gradually starts going down. It's kinda scary, though. I would hate like anything to survive ovarian cancer and then die of a stroke!
- By sbender3
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 7:33 pm
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jennali-my mom tells me that blood clots cause the strokes-so that is not a worry-but i hate worrying about not getting my chemo. i have committed myself to believe god will take care of this his timing was for me to get this drug now, and it is working, praise god. satan will not take away my life sustaining hope on this earth. when i was on taxol, i never had any issues. they say it does weird things to most people's blood pressure, i was blessed. i have been blessed thru this entire ordeal, and i know god will continue to bless me. thanks for sharing, i wish you the best. god's love, sherry
- By Sunny01
- Posted October 12, 2009 at 10:51 pm
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Hi Sherry.
I am on the clinical trial where you get either the Avastin or placebo. It is believed I am getting the Avastin based on my results and the side effects I am having. I was not on BP meds before the trial, but I am now. I have tried 3 different combos before it was controlled. I know how you feel about not wanting to miss a dose. I had it happen once and had to go back a week later and try again. Of course you're worried it will be too high the next time, and so yes...it is elevated, you're trying so hard to relax, but thinking please don't be high again. I have had such good results, I hate to miss a dose. I am due to complete the study the beginning of December and am having anxiety because I don't want to come off it!! Hope you are able to find the right combo for you that does the trick!
- By verlinda
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:12 am
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Sherry,
Blood clots can cause strokes, but you don't have to have blood clots to have a stroke. I don't know how to explain the other type, but imagine way too much water flowing through a tube too fast. The tube will blow.
Don't worry; just push your doctor to give the meds to get in under control. If the onc won't give you the Avastin, think of it as God's protection. He'll work things so you get what you need.
Blessings.
- By leshapiro
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 7:58 am
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Hi All,
I have been on Avastin continuously since June, 2007. Had minor blood pressure issues but was under control with diet and weight loss until the Avastin. I was told it was the most common side effect and where I go for treatment, Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, the pharmacy will not send my med down to the lab unless my blood pressure is okay. I love this, the nurses say try to relax so you won't raise your blood pressure from nerves when you know you won't get your treatment unless your blood pressure is down. Kind of a paradox, don't you think? Anyway, I started on one med, went to two and then had the dose doubled. There is serious heart disease in my family so I go to a cardiologist regularly as well. I was told that I can't get my treatment if my numbers are over 160 on the top and over 90 on the bottom. It's been close a couple of times but I always make it. Yesterday, for example it started at 153/90 in doctor's office with tech, PA came in and retook it, down to 130/83 which is what she recorded and when I got to the infusion room, it was back to 140/78. When I was done, it was 126/73. At home, I'm usually about 117/73 or something like that. I don't usually take antianxiety meds but do take a Xanax before bed the night before my treatment and morning of. I know this isn't great for a lot of reasons but the Avastin (with cyclophosphomide) is working for now (I actually was in remission for over a year but stayed on the Avastin alone). They consider me stable so I'm willing to take my chances. However, your blood pressure must be constantly monitored on this drug. God's blessings to all of us battling this disease.
Linda
- By sbender3
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 8:42 am
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thanks for all your quick replies to my anxiety. it really has helped. since i really never had a blood pressure problem, unless it was the white coat symdrome..or the steroids...both of which resolve themselves, i am sure the lord will bless me. they gave me my treatment 2 weeks ago when it was 158 over 98 or 97. i see a pcp today, since i go to an alternative doc, i never have to go to a doctor, except my onc gyn surg doc-so this is causing me stress. my husband says so what if you have to wait a few days, i say, i want to stay on course. but i guess, i could get it every 3 weeks. lets all agree, i am going to be fine, i am going to get my chemo tomorrow. that is that, and my blood pressure will be back to normal. which for me has been as low as 90 over 60 when i was pregnant-and in the hospital . i can't help but think my anxiety has something also to do with with. so i think i need to start taking my valium regularly. that might help...god bless you all, and thankyou for your support. sherry
- By Mimi25
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 11:18 am
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Since most of you in this discussion group are on Avastin, I would like to know how often you receive your treatment. Replies appreciated.
Mimi
- By SONGBIRD49
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 1:26 pm
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Dear Sbender3, I am also on Avastin and start my 4th month next week. I have to take lisinprol (for blood pressure) every day since I have been on Avastin as it does increase my blood pressure. I had been on it before (by my primary @ AUG2008 when all this pre-surgery stuff started but was taken off after all the stress ended. But my oncologist put me on this time and I do need. Alot of time I forget to take it and bingo my blood pressure is high but when I take it regularly as I am supposed to, my blood pressure is perfect. So take it and know that it is a side effect of the Avastin, Good luck by the way, I have not felt better since before all of this ovca started for me.
- By SONGBIRD49
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 1:29 pm
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dear sbencer, it got under control immediately. What I don't understand is WHY your oncologist will not prescribe the Linsinprol. The prescrip pad is in their pocket! And they know this is a valid side effect easy to control. Get a second opinion.
- By SONGBIRD49
- Posted October 13, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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Dear leshapiro, I am on Avastin and have the high blood pressure from it and keep it under control with Lisiniprol daily. I wanted to write because I had my surgery and all my docs are at Fox Chase but I chose to have my chemo close to home (NJ); my first opinion guy is Dr. Schilder directing my local oncologist what I should take and I see after everty scan. I think he is #1 so hoping you have him as well. My surgery @ Fox was Sept2008 and been on chemo since NOV2008. Avastin (w/Taxol) is the first of many other combo drugs that have worked for me.
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