Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
ade7682
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:55 am
Facebook Username: ashley.danielle.eldridge

Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?

Postby ade7682 » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:18 am

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.
7/16/11 colon resection, 3 cm tumor obstructing
8/5/11 stage 4
8/12/11 Folfox/Avastin
1/23/12 8 met liver resection/abation
3/9/12 lt lung resection
4/12/12 folfiri
5/12 clot in port vein
5/21/12 new port placed
8/12 rt lung resection, resume folfiri

User avatar
Gaelen
Posts: 3833
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:57 am
Location: CNY
Contact:

Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?

Postby Gaelen » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:44 am

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!
Be in harmony with your expectations. - Life Out Loud
4/04: dx'd @48 StageIV RectalCA w/9 liver mets. 8 chemos, 4 surgeries, last remission 34 mos.
2/11 recurrence R lung, spinal bone mets - chemo, RFA lung mets
4/12 stopped treatment

User avatar
Bev G
Posts: 5856
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:19 pm
Facebook Username: Bev Golde
Location: Quechee, VT

Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?

Postby Bev G » Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:55 am

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
58 yo Type1 DM 48 years
12/09 Stage IV 2/22 nodes + liver met, colon resec
3 tx FOLFIRI, liver resec 4/10
9/10 6 mos off chemo, Neg PET&CTC CEA nl
2/11 finished total 10 rounds chemo

9/13 ^17th clean PET/CT NED for now

ade7682
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:55 am
Facebook Username: ashley.danielle.eldridge

Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?

Postby ade7682 » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:00 am

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).
7/16/11 colon resection, 3 cm tumor obstructing
8/5/11 stage 4
8/12/11 Folfox/Avastin
1/23/12 8 met liver resection/abation
3/9/12 lt lung resection
4/12/12 folfiri
5/12 clot in port vein
5/21/12 new port placed
8/12 rt lung resection, resume folfiri

User avatar
Gaelen
Posts: 3833
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:57 am
Location: CNY
Contact:

Re: Help for constant cough/congestion on Folfox/Avastin?

Postby Gaelen » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:40 am

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! ;)
Be in harmony with your expectations. - Life Out Loud
4/04: dx'd @48 StageIV RectalCA w/9 liver mets. 8 chemos, 4 surgeries, last remission 34 mos.
2/11 recurrence R lung, spinal bone mets - chemo, RFA lung mets
4/12 stopped treatment


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 119 guests