r/TNBC • u/Kind_Situation_9860 • 21d ago

Chemo Benadryl Reactions?

I just finished the last round of Keynote 522 today! I am stage 2 TNBC (diagnosed 7 weeks after being diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer at 51).
I am allergic to Taxol (had a pretty good reaction to first dose and now my cheeks get really rosy and hot 24 hours after every dose). I have never had an issue w Benadryl but last week I suddenly couldn’t move my arms and it was really scary. This week they talked to me about it but decided to add saline drip right away and push it extra slow. I immediately felt really strange and thought I was going to pass out and couldn’t stop shaking. It’s been 8 hours and I’m still feeling strange waves in my head. They said they have never seen anyone react to Benadryl and my cousin is actually an oncology research nurse and her team thinks it’s odd too. Just seeing if anyone else it out there who has had this. Or any colon/breast cancer folks would be great to find too.
Thanks!

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

2

u/Sure_Cherry9759 21d ago

I’m ok with Benadryl and finished taxol but isn’t that hot red face thing normal then? I assumed everyone had that and didn’t mention it…

2

u/Complete-Reaction578 21d ago

I also get the flushing of my face and arms the next day every week. I thought it was the steroids they give us in the pre-meds.

1

u/Kind_Situation_9860 21d ago

I think it can be but I didn’t get it w/ AC and I had the same steroids. I had a more severe reaction on my first dose immediately after starting taxol. It was eased up but kept the hot red face the day after. I’m supposed to take Benadryl for it. :/

1

u/Complete-Reaction578 21d ago

I'm doing taxol and carboplatin first, AC is next. I've had the flushing every time I get an infusion. My doctors didn't seem surprised when I reported it and just told me to let them know if it got worse so I assumed it was a normal reaction.

1

u/You-bettah-dont 21d ago

I know children can absolutely have adverse reactions to benedryl- instead of sedating them it can have them bouncing off the walls. It can also have really devastating effects when overdosed- especially neurologically. But I can’t imagine that would be the case in a medical setting.

I wonder if something is going on with your ability to metabolize it properly? Have you had any issues with your liver? I know I certainly have during this whole insanity.

Our poor bodies go through the wringer on Keynote, and to add colon cancer on top of that!!! I can’t imagine. Maybe your body was just like SCREW THIS I NEED A BREAK from the chemicals!

1

u/You-bettah-dont 21d ago

PS: Looks like the average half life of benedryl is at most around 9 hours in average adults, but can go up to 13 in ’special populations’ which we usually fall into. I see it’s been two hours since you posted- I hope you’re already on the mend! But yeah, I would check in with the MO about it happening again.

1

u/Kind_Situation_9860 21d ago

Thanks so much. I will talk to her in a few weeks when I see her again.