lorazepam
lorazepam Has anyone else on here been given these sedatives whilst goint through chemo. I am now on Cmf and to help with sickness i get after chemo onc has given me these.He said they are ok and will just help me sleep, but i’m scared as what happens if i start wanting to be sick in night and don’t wake up? Would really appreciate knowing other peoples experiences on these, just for reassurance as so don’t want to be sick again. So fed up of this chemo and now been told i have to 5 more rather then thinking i had only want more to get through now will have total of 11 if i go through with it. Sorrry to moan !!!
Don’t worry Hi mounties
I’m new to the board, just started chemo (FEC) last wednesday.
My doc also gave me lorazepam. I take it as needed. So I took it before my first chemo and was actually pretty calm. I also take it every night without any problems. It really helps me sleep. Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure you’ll wake up before you get sick. Just try half dose to test it out.
Good luck!
Jen
hi mounties. you sound really fed up, why 5 more? what happened yesterday, how did it go??? im around if you want to chat,
Ange
My experience I had my first lorazepam just before chemo on Thursday. (vinorilbine) It left me feeling nicely calm and sleepy.
What other anti sick meds are you taking? When I had AC 3 years ago I had kytril and domperidone and was never sick so if you are being sick it might be worth getting some different anti emetics. Lorazepam alone won’t do the trick.
See from your profile you get lethargy with chemo…the dreaded ‘faitgue’ is the worse side effect of chemo in my book so sympathise.
Take care
Jane
I’m sorry you are having a rough time.
I can only echo what others have said. If you do feel sick, phone the chemo help people and get the antisickness pills changed. I don’t think lorazepam has any antisickness properties and is used to make you feel more relaxed, sleepy and forget what is happening.
I took lorazepam once when I was stressed at chemo and I felt very sleepy and out of it and when I got home I wandered up the road in my pjs and dressing gown to collect the dinner cooked for us!!! I’m sure the neighbours still talk about it as it was a fluorescent pink dressing gown so I was hardly a subtle figure!!
I am sure you would wake up to be sick but if you are being sick them tell them and get the antisickness meds changed - there are loads of options.
I am constantly amazed by how different hospitals treat us with the same chemos/ herceptin etc. I only had lorazepam once for vinorelbine when I was very upset but never had it or wanted it on the other 11 occasions. Some hospitals seem to use all sorts of ‘pre-meds’ and I don’t undertsand why it is so different.
Mounties - did they not tell you then about how many chemo sessions you would be having or has something changed and that’s why you are having more? I’m really sorry - chemo is horrible but with the right changes in medication you should not be feeling sick - the tiredness is hard to cope with. I feel I just live in my bedroom half of the time.
Hope things improve for you and everyone else.
Kate
lorazepam Hi Mounties
I’m having 10 cycles of chemo and due to horrendous sickness that started with my fifth cycle my oncologist prescibed lorazepam for me to take, one the night before chemo and the second on the morning of chemo. It is commonly used for anti sickness with chemo and not really meant as a sleeping tablet in this use, although it does have a calming effect. There is lots of information about the use of it during chemo on the internet.
I tend to find that i sleep during my chemo which probably isn’t a bad thing. I also have steroids, ondansetrone and cyclizine following chemo to help with the anti sickness. I also find that drinking loads of water helps as well. Have tried ginger in every combination, sickness bands, mints etc without much success. I’m sorry you are feeling so lousy just hang on in there and try and think of the positives.
Take care and good luck
Chanel
Hi Mounties,
I have just be prescribed Lorazepam, but mine is to help me relax before my treatments. I am having lots of pain in my veins, during and after each treatment. They are already running extra saline through and taking longer to give me the drugs, but the pain is sometimes unbearable. The nurse said that if I am more relaxes it may help.
Poor you, If I am right this is the second time they have increased your treatment. Whats going on?
Let us know. We are all here for you.
SusieXX
Felt like I was drunk Hi Mounties,
On my first cycle 4 x AC they gave me Lorazepam to calm me down as I hate needles and have tiny veins. I have to say it was very relaxing and put me to sleep for most of the cycle. But, when it was finished I felt like I had the best part of a bottle of wine in me and couldn’t talk or walk properly. They told me to take some more if I was having problems sleeping which I did but it didn’t seem to have any effect and I think it ended up making my system even more confused than it is on the chemo…what with the dex I was all over the place. I’ve got a 2 and 4 year old and a shift working police officer husband. The whole drug cocktail was just freaking me out and I felt very out of control and not with it.
I have now just had my second cycle and have decided not to take the Lorazepam except for on the actual treatment day to help me relax about the needles. I also and haven’t taken the Dex or the Pravin because I was convinced that they just made me feel worse too. Infact, I have just taken the two days of anti nausea drugs that they stipulate you have to have and then I’ve taken stemetil if I have felt sick. It’s now day 5 and I have only taken one stemetil and I feel good.
I guess its personal choice and you need to do whatever helps you gets through it. Our bodies all react differently so fingers crossed it will work well for you.
Good luck with your treatment
Flishy