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Severe itching on hands and feet during Taxol chemo Treatments

Posted by gmjia @gmjia, Jul 6 3:03pm

I am having excruciating periods of itching of my hands and feet that started 2 days after 7th chemo treatment of Taxol. Does anyone know what helps to prevent or relieve?

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gmjia | @gmjia | Jul 10 4:59pm
In reply to @beebe "I am passing this information on in case you have day time itch. Gabapentin reaches its..." + (show)
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I am passing this information on in case you have day time itch. Gabapentin reaches its peak effectiveness after you have taken it for 4 weeks. The effect of one dose will only last 6-8 hours, that is why I take 100mg three times a day.
The reported half-life (the time it takes for 50% of the drug to be metabolized) is 5 to 7 hours, which necessitates a dosing frequency of 3 to 4 times daily for it to be effective.
It is great that antihistamines during the day appear to be helping you, I was not so fortunate:)

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Thank you for the info, it is good to know how the Gabapentin works.

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beebe | @beebe | Jul 11 12:09pm
In reply to @gmjia "Thank you for the info, it is good to know how the Gabapentin works." + (show)
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Thank you for the info, it is good to know how the Gabapentin works.

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gmja, You are very welcome! Splitting the Gaba dose up has worked well for me, after 4 weeks on 100 mg /3x/day of Gaba, I do not get tired from it now like I did with the initial 100mg dose.
Hope this post helps others as well:)
Wishing you all the best!

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awalton | @awalton | Jul 13 12:26pm
In reply to @drummergirl "I am hoping you are wearing ice gloves and slippers to prevent neuropathy. I never had..." + (show)
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I am hoping you are wearing ice gloves and slippers to prevent neuropathy.
I never had itching, but I did use the ice gloves and slippers. Have a little numbness in my toes, but hands are fine.

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Did you wear them during infusion and/ or at home? I start chemo next week.

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drummergirl | @drummergirl | Jul 13 1:06pm
In reply to @awalton "Did you wear them during infusion and/ or at home? I start chemo next week." + (show)
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Did you wear them during infusion and/ or at home? I start chemo next week.

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I Put them on immediately upon arrival for infusion. Took them off at the end. I also wore an ice cap, but still lost most of my hair.
The chemo nurses will be very helpful. They are angels.

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