Chemo / or Medicine - Side Effect: Disquietness/restlessness

markusranz · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Hello,

my mom got PC, for a few weeks she has been doing chemotherapy and taking medicine..

She always feels this restlessness as she says, she has to move, can't sleep, and has this tickling/tingling/prickling (i am from germany, dont know the correct word)

So does anyone know this side effect, what can we do about it? She takes anti depressive stuff-- but does she have to take this?

What do you think is the reason behind that restlessness?

Thanks for the help!

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2852

Hi Markusranz,

I'm very sorry about this diagnosis for your Mom. Some chemo's can make people feel very uncomfortable and agitated. I went through this with one of the doublets my husband was on. A little anti-anxiety med goes a long way to helping them feel less fidgety and restless. He felt like a caged up lion and it was terrible, but would pass after several days. I'd take him for car rides just to get him out and it seemed to help somewhat to be doing something -- even sitting in the car watching the scenery.

It sounds like two different things may be happening. The tingling/prickly sensations she is having could be peripheral neuropathy. Are they in her hands and feet? Certain chemo's can cause this sensation too. Check where these feelings are located and if they are different than the overall fidgets she is having following chemo. What chemo drugs is she currently on?

Good luck and let us know.

Hugs,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

starseed · Experienced user Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 51

As my mom's caregiver, this is one of the issues that stresses me out the most.

It could be something added to her Chemotherapy.

My mom was/is on Interveinus Gemcitabine Chemotherapy. They add STEROIDS to it, a little secret the nurse let me know about.

My mom would come home and for several days she would run around like a maniac, "Doing Business", and tumbling around. It actually mimics full Bi-Polar Mania. I always worry she might sell her house and invest money to Nigeria.

I don' t like it because it is stressful on me making sure she sits still and does not do something crazy.

Ask if there are Steroids in the Chemo (or anything else).

markusranz · New User Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

I just talked to her, she says it doesn't matter if she has chemo or not, she felt this way for 4 weeks now...

She is having GEMZAR(or so?) chemo
and has been taking much medicince mirtazapin and tavor f.e.

She couldnt sleep this night..

Is it possible that the medicine itself is the problem, not the chemo?

starseed · Experienced user Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 51

That sounds like an aggressive chemotherapy schedule.

I'm assuming she has stage 4 with no option for surgery.

She may want to switch to palliative chemotherapy for comfort.

The chemotherapy should help with pain and slow the spread, but it should not make her life more miserable if she is on "palliative" chemotherapy.

She also has the right to reject chemo if she doesn't wish to fight or feel so sick in her last days. No chemo might mean less time, but better time for her and your family.

Take me with a grain of salt because I do not know too much about your situation, nor am I a doctor.

starseed · Experienced user Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 51

Gemcitabine Chemotherapy is also called (Gemzar®)

It comes with a steroid and that steroid can cause the person to act "crazy". The nurse called it "steroid rage".

It lasts about 2 to 3 days max. Then they should get tired for the rest of the week until they get a chemo break.

I hate that steroid... But what mom needs beats my momentary annoyance with dealing with her in a 3 day steroid rage. I get this twice a month.

Telling my mom she is on a steroid and to calm down does help...

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