Neulasta plus Claritin

[KElizabeth]

I had been on neupogen shots every other day besides infusion days for 8 months with marginal results. I was getting very tired of the frequent 45 minute trips to the hospital interrupting my work day. I convinced my doctor to let me try neulasta though he was worried it was too strong for what I needed. I was worried about bone pain but decided that would be tolerable if it gave me more time. My oncologist's nurse suggested I take Claritin on the day before and the day of injection to help prevent bone pain and so far I have not had any bone pain. I don't know if it's due to the Claritin but it's not hurting anything. Has anyone else tried this?

[BeansMama]

I get Neulasta after every infusion due to low counts, the Claritin definitely helps!! I start taking it 24 hours prior to the Neulasta injection. Not sure if you are comfortable with it but I give myself the Neulasta injection 24 hours after the pump disconnect, that way I don't have to go back to the onc's office to get it. Neulasta also has an on body injector but it is twice the cost of just the shot. I was using that but my insurance company decided they wouldn't pay for it anymore.

[Soccermom2boys]

I had to have Neulasta shots after four of my rounds of Folfox. Don't know the science behind it, but I too was told by the nurses at the infusion center to take Claritin or Zyrtec (which is what I already had at home so I used it instead). They said to take it the day of the shot plus for two days afterwards so that is what I always did. I never had any bone pain that I can recall so I guess it worked! How they determined that taking an allergy medicine to prevent bone pain from a chemo drug is beyond me, but hey, it works!