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Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:18 am
by ade7682
Avastin has shot Kenny's BP up, and forced him to go on high BP meds. So, we're really limited on what we can take for the congestion that won't affect his BP. The constant cough is driving both of us crazy.
Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:44 am
by Gaelen
Ask his onc about Mucinex (guifenisen) expectorate only (not time release, not the one w/decongestant.) It's the same ingredient in plain old Robitussin, but in pill form. It shouldn't affect BP meds and it's safe to take up to 2400mg/day. I take 600mg/day (1 tab) and it's sufficiently drying that congestion is mostly a non-issue... Even during the northeast's current monsoon season.
But ask the onc first!
Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:55 am
by Bev G
Another thought: If he is on an ACE-inhibitor for his blood pressure (if you post the name here, I'll tell you if it is if you don't know), one of the very frequent side effects of ACE-inhibitors is an incredibly annoying, chronic cough. When my endocrinologist wanted to put me on one 20 years ago to protect my kidneys from long-term type 1 diabetes, we had to try 4 or so of them before we found one that didn't keep me up all night coughing.
HTH,
Bev
Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:00 am
by ade7682
Thanks everyone. He's had the cough before he went on the bp med. The bp med is valturna. We're trying mucinex now b/c onco said guaifenesin and dextromethorphan ok to take. Going to ask onco today if is ok to take for an extended time period (duration of chemo).
Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:40 am
by Gaelen
ade7682 wrote:We're trying mucinex now b/c onco said guaifenesin and dextromethorphan ok to take. Going to ask onco today if is ok to take for an extended time period (duration of chemo).
Glad you talked to his oncologist.
If it eases your mind about long-yerm safety/use - I've been on 600mg of mucinex/guaifenesin since the late 90s, when my PCP put me on it to clear up persistent sinus infections. I live in sinus-hell CNY, and it was either daily mucinex, or move to the southwest. As beaytiful as the desert is, my job was here, so hello, mucinex!
