Revlimid side effects

Gotta say I agree with you that the Revlimid is what's causing your problem.  I too have diverticulosis, which was not too bad 3 years ago, but had worsened considerably at my last colonoscopy a year ago.  The things I'm taking for it are Prilosec (which was given to me when I started Revlimid), Metamucil, Phillips probiotic, and, as of the last 2 weeks, about a teaspoon or so of coconut daily.  I read about the coconut on the Peoples Pharmacy website, so you might want to have a look at that because I think it's really helping.

I took Revlimid for a year and a half, 25 mg daily for 3 weeks on and a week off.  My bathroom problems were horrendous.  I  was taking senna tablets (senna is a natural laxitive and can be purchased online or at any health food store w/out precsription) and a stool softener twice daily plus a glass of miralax.  When I took my weekly steroids I would add more miralax. 

Even with all that there were 4 or 5 occasions I was so stopped up I had to administer an enema after 2 days without a BM.  The first enema in my my life was after 3.5 days w/out a BM. I called my ONC Nurse and told her I was in pain and should I come to the ER.  She told me to put vaseline on my finger and put it up my butt and pull the feces out.  Of course I wasn't happy with this and said I'd rather go to the ER.  She told me that they would do the same thing at the ER.  So my wife ran to the drugstore and came back with some suppositories.  Thankfully that worked.

Even though I am now in remission,  my BM's have returned to normal and I have been off the Rev/dex for 6 months the experience was such that  I carry senna, softeners, miralax, and suppositories with me everywhere I go.  I stuck with the Rev/dex treatment and am convinced that is what put me in remission.

By the way something everyone here will appreciate is that I recently bought a comic t-shirt.  It was a brown t-shirt and in yellow letters said:  I Pooped Today.  A few years ago I probably would have said "how crass."  Now, like I'll bet the readers here would do,  I smile and wear it with a great deal of satisfaction.

Good luck, best wishes, and most importanly, happy pooping to all.

Hello summerday

I was diganosed with stage3 mm in dec 1995 went through double stem cell transplant 1996 & 1997. In 2010 i was started on velcade iv. Side effects were very bad since the fall of 2010 i've been on revlimid first with dex. Which was stopped due to side effects and warafrin. Theonly side effect i have had is neuropthy in the toes no rash at all. It seems that the drug reacts differently in everyone. As my doctor told me it's a trial and error experiment. Hope you get the results your looking for. I was told a long time ago by one of my doctors treating me that if you manage to stick it out through all the hardships they will come up with new and better treatments for mm. So far it seems he was right. Good luck god bless.

On Sep 21, 2007 12:00 AM Debbi wrote:

 

On 9/20/2007 Summerday wrote:

Hello,

I have been taking Revlimid for the past 4 months.  The first two months the Revlimid was combined with Dex but as it didn't agree with me, the Dex was stopped.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed I had a slight rash developing.  Just about 6 whiteheaded spots on each arm, leg and chest, these irrate (itch).  I have now noticed that my skin has become very rough in places (rather like if you have been sunburnt before the skin peels!). It's more at the top of both arms and on one side of my chest and neck. 

My doctor is not sure if the Revlimid has caused this and, to be on the safe side, has decided to stop the Revlimid for a month.

Has anybody else had the same thing happened to them?

Phyl

 

My dad is on Revlimid and although he has not developed a rash one of the milder side effects of the drug is a rash so your reaction is most likely due to the Revlimid.  I think your doctor did the right thing stopping it for a period of time until your rash resolves.  My dad has had to stop it on two occasions - he's been off of it for four weeks now and will be restarting again in a week.  It's not uncommon to have to take breaks from this medication.  Even with the multitude of side effects, this medication no doubt works.  My dad is 81 - he has had MM for at least 8 years and since taking Revlimid his body is producing healthy platelets - he went from 23,000 to 100,000 during the break period.  That's really miraculous.  Also, his proteins are almost back to normal.  Keep the faith - my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I was on Revlomid for 3 weeks, Lost weight and  appitite.Talked to my Dr. and explained that Revlomid was not doing as well as Velcade.  Was put on Velcade injection once/wk. I noticed that I developed a rash about two weeks after i stoped Revlimid. It has now been over a week and I still have a rash.  Has this happen to anyone eles?? and what did you put on the rash???

On Apr 16, 2012 6:35 PM jmfejg wrote:

Haven't had any rash side effects but have had stomach problems that started when i started taking 15mg of revlimid.  On my 4th month of revlimid and having stomach pain, trouble with food - after i eat am in bathroom several times until system clear and also trouble with physical activity which includes dizzy, gray and pink blotches on arms and legs and very weak.  Have done 34 weeks of valcade/dex and after i finish 4th cycle of rev will be doing stem cell transplant in mid may for multiple myeloma.  Doctors keep telling me revlimid not causing my side effects with stomach problems and bathroom issues and tell me to keep taking it.  Wondering if anyone experenice similar issues on revlimid?

2/25/2013

Framk, I was taken off Valcade 10/30/12 and put on Revimid 12/5/12 to Jan11th 2013, Broke out in a rash Dec27th 2012.as of today 2/25/13 half the rash is gone. Still have itching.  When to a Dermatologlis he said the rash was from the Revimid. Have been using a  $50.00 Jar of skin cream, it does help. Rash is gone from my arms, still on the drunk of my body.

my husband was jus taken off revlimid last week as he had developed a severe rash all over his body.. the week off the rash would go away,,he was sent to a dermatologist who did a skin test and it came back showing it was from a medication.. since revlimid has this side effect and all the other meds do not he was taken off of it..he rash is almost gone now and he was started on velcade shots on tuesday..he gets this once a week..

My father had the same exact rash however he obtained the rash around his torso as this was where he was receiving his shot of velcade.  He was taking revlimid also.  His dr. The first round of chemo, he only has a slight rash of this kind and it went away with ointments and a prescription powder.  The second time, it was much bigger and spread a lot more.  His Dr. prescribed him a medication for Shingles but we seriously doubt he had shingles.  The rash did finally go away.  During his third round, the rash did not come back. 

On Apr 19, 2012 12:01 PM allyparr wrote:

On Sep 20, 2007 12:00 AM Summerday wrote:

Hello,

I have been taking Revlimid for the past 4 months.  The first two months the Revlimid was combined with Dex but as it didn't agree with me, the Dex was stopped.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed I had a slight rash developing.  Just about 6 whiteheaded spots on each arm, leg and chest, these irrate (itch).  I have now noticed that my skin has become very rough in places (rather like if you have been sunburnt before the skin peels!). It's more at the top of both arms and on one side of my chest and neck. 

My doctor is not sure if the Revlimid has caused this and, to be on the safe side, has decided to stop the Revlimid for a month.

Has anybody else had the same thing happened to them?

Phyl

 

High my husband was on Revlimid for 3 months and the same thing happened a bad itchy rash all over his entire body. We stopped the Rev for 7 weeks rash gone but itch very very bad, going crazy even the prescription creams and benedryl not helping. Now 4/26 back on Rev, is it going to flare up again or was it even that??? same situation as you. He is also a diabetic. I am going crazy to see what it could be.

Hi, I was On Revlimid some years ago, had to come off because of kidney trouble. Now back on it, only 5 mg. First round had the itching thing going on. Round middle section of body, may ear lobes, arms, back area, no rash. Took Benadryl, it helped. Going on second around 3/14/13, hope itching doesn't start up again, will let you know. I am not diabetic.

I too broke out about a month after beginning Revlimid.  Mostly on chest and upper back.  Went to dermatologist who diagnosed it as being caused by a medicine.  Had me use Triamcinolone 0.1% cream, plus CeraVe lotion.  My rash was never itchy though.  It cleared up after about 6 months of the above treatment.  I've been on Revlimid (15 mg.) since January of 2010, and the rash has never come back.

my husbands went away when he was on his off weekbut it came back twice..very severe..on top of the rash it looked as though he was scalded and it was also purple.. hes on velcade injections once a week..so far no rash but ichy