› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Yervoy side effects
- This topic has 15 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 9 months ago by
Mat.
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- March 7, 2015 at 6:35 pm
My father has Stage 3C melanoma and is in a clinical trial receiving Yervoy. He's had four treatments so far and has progressing intestinal symptoms most commonly diarrhea. His oncologist is aware and says it is a normal side effect. He takes Imodium. Have any other Yervoy patients had success with any other OTC treatments or herbal/home remedies for diarrhea and stomach cramping?
Thank you,
Stephanie
- Replies
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- March 8, 2015 at 12:07 am
You might try for the stomach a hot cup of water with a couple spoons full of jello powder stirred in. Drink slowly.
Artie
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- March 8, 2015 at 12:07 am
You might try for the stomach a hot cup of water with a couple spoons full of jello powder stirred in. Drink slowly.
Artie
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- March 8, 2015 at 12:07 am
You might try for the stomach a hot cup of water with a couple spoons full of jello powder stirred in. Drink slowly.
Artie
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- March 8, 2015 at 1:22 am
My husband was in the same clinical trial. He was on the 10 mg yervoy arm. He managed the GI system with immodium and diet modification. Even now, a year since the last infusion, he cannot eat whole grain or drink milk. During treatment, he ate a lot of white race and chicken. He also made a smoothie of Greek yogurt, bananas, apple sauce which he believes kept things under control. He drank soy milk but can now drink lactaid. Avoid nuts, popcorn. He could eat salad but avoided creamy dressing. He still has his daily smoothie. If things got really bad, he took a Vicodin which was prescribed for him after the lymphendectomy. He also took calcium carbomate( tums) which also helped. Hope that helps. Feel free to contact me to share the clinical trial experience. Good luck.
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- March 8, 2015 at 1:22 am
My husband was in the same clinical trial. He was on the 10 mg yervoy arm. He managed the GI system with immodium and diet modification. Even now, a year since the last infusion, he cannot eat whole grain or drink milk. During treatment, he ate a lot of white race and chicken. He also made a smoothie of Greek yogurt, bananas, apple sauce which he believes kept things under control. He drank soy milk but can now drink lactaid. Avoid nuts, popcorn. He could eat salad but avoided creamy dressing. He still has his daily smoothie. If things got really bad, he took a Vicodin which was prescribed for him after the lymphendectomy. He also took calcium carbomate( tums) which also helped. Hope that helps. Feel free to contact me to share the clinical trial experience. Good luck.
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- March 8, 2015 at 1:22 am
My husband was in the same clinical trial. He was on the 10 mg yervoy arm. He managed the GI system with immodium and diet modification. Even now, a year since the last infusion, he cannot eat whole grain or drink milk. During treatment, he ate a lot of white race and chicken. He also made a smoothie of Greek yogurt, bananas, apple sauce which he believes kept things under control. He drank soy milk but can now drink lactaid. Avoid nuts, popcorn. He could eat salad but avoided creamy dressing. He still has his daily smoothie. If things got really bad, he took a Vicodin which was prescribed for him after the lymphendectomy. He also took calcium carbomate( tums) which also helped. Hope that helps. Feel free to contact me to share the clinical trial experience. Good luck.
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- March 8, 2015 at 5:49 pm
My husband is on Yervoy as well, dose #2 on Tiesday. We've been told repeatedly do not take OTC for any GI distress. May need a low dose steroid. Please make sure your doctor is well aware of all side effects even if you don't think they are related. Best wishes!
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- March 8, 2015 at 5:49 pm
My husband is on Yervoy as well, dose #2 on Tiesday. We've been told repeatedly do not take OTC for any GI distress. May need a low dose steroid. Please make sure your doctor is well aware of all side effects even if you don't think they are related. Best wishes!
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- March 9, 2015 at 2:58 am
I am sure that my husband would have had severe side effects without the otc medication. Steroids are not benign or without side effects. I strongly feel prevention is the best medication so do what you can without steroids. Your husband will probably not have GI issues until after the 3rd dose and probably not as severe as my husband who was on 10 mg. He never needed steroids and we are grateful as steroids suppress the immune system. I have recently read that is a different mechanism of suppression for GI issues than immune suppression that effects melanoma. But why risk that?
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- March 9, 2015 at 2:58 am
I am sure that my husband would have had severe side effects without the otc medication. Steroids are not benign or without side effects. I strongly feel prevention is the best medication so do what you can without steroids. Your husband will probably not have GI issues until after the 3rd dose and probably not as severe as my husband who was on 10 mg. He never needed steroids and we are grateful as steroids suppress the immune system. I have recently read that is a different mechanism of suppression for GI issues than immune suppression that effects melanoma. But why risk that?
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- March 9, 2015 at 9:55 pm
It is fine to take Immodium. If the diarrhea is a symptom of colitis (the real concern), then Immodium will not stop it. The rule of thumb (at least for my onc) is that if Immodium will not stop the diarrhea within 24 hours, then call. At that point, your dad will likely need steroids (prednisone). Colitis is diagnosed (confirmed) with a colonoscopy (possibily a CT for severe (but not moderate, at least in my case) colitis). Marianne is correct that there was a study showing that prednisone did not seem to adversely effect ipi. I don't believe that Remicade (a bazooka steroid) has been studied. As an alternative to Immodium, your dad could try Lomotil (which was my preference)–it is prescription but I found that it also helped with cramping.
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- March 9, 2015 at 9:55 pm
It is fine to take Immodium. If the diarrhea is a symptom of colitis (the real concern), then Immodium will not stop it. The rule of thumb (at least for my onc) is that if Immodium will not stop the diarrhea within 24 hours, then call. At that point, your dad will likely need steroids (prednisone). Colitis is diagnosed (confirmed) with a colonoscopy (possibily a CT for severe (but not moderate, at least in my case) colitis). Marianne is correct that there was a study showing that prednisone did not seem to adversely effect ipi. I don't believe that Remicade (a bazooka steroid) has been studied. As an alternative to Immodium, your dad could try Lomotil (which was my preference)–it is prescription but I found that it also helped with cramping.
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- March 9, 2015 at 9:55 pm
It is fine to take Immodium. If the diarrhea is a symptom of colitis (the real concern), then Immodium will not stop it. The rule of thumb (at least for my onc) is that if Immodium will not stop the diarrhea within 24 hours, then call. At that point, your dad will likely need steroids (prednisone). Colitis is diagnosed (confirmed) with a colonoscopy (possibily a CT for severe (but not moderate, at least in my case) colitis). Marianne is correct that there was a study showing that prednisone did not seem to adversely effect ipi. I don't believe that Remicade (a bazooka steroid) has been studied. As an alternative to Immodium, your dad could try Lomotil (which was my preference)–it is prescription but I found that it also helped with cramping.
-
- March 9, 2015 at 2:58 am
I am sure that my husband would have had severe side effects without the otc medication. Steroids are not benign or without side effects. I strongly feel prevention is the best medication so do what you can without steroids. Your husband will probably not have GI issues until after the 3rd dose and probably not as severe as my husband who was on 10 mg. He never needed steroids and we are grateful as steroids suppress the immune system. I have recently read that is a different mechanism of suppression for GI issues than immune suppression that effects melanoma. But why risk that?
-
- March 8, 2015 at 5:49 pm
My husband is on Yervoy as well, dose #2 on Tiesday. We've been told repeatedly do not take OTC for any GI distress. May need a low dose steroid. Please make sure your doctor is well aware of all side effects even if you don't think they are related. Best wishes!
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