Talk Cancer

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My mother is 79, has fought off ovarian cancer since 1993 with cis-platin (three times) and taxol (once). After the taxol, she began to suffer excruciating and debilitating peripheral neuropathy in feet and hands, both numbness and shooting pains. 10mg Elavil was prescribed, but although her course of taxol ended over a year ago (and in her case, at least, did not keep the cancer at bay as long as the cis-platin), her pain has continued and the sensation has now climbed part way up her calf. Her oncologists eventually blamed the taxol, but can’t explain why the PN has not reversed, and in fact continues to get worse, and recommended that she triple or more her Elavil dose. On refilling her Elavil prescription, the pharmacist for the first time gave her the warning insert, which listed PN as a possible side-effect, along with several other less important symptoms, which she nevertheless identified immediately–such as occasional blurring of vision, preventing reading, and weight gain.

elavil can cause weight gain at the dosage level prescribed.  it is used to help deal with neuropathic pain in diabetes at one quarter the dosage level used to treat depression, near what is now used for your mother. i doubt the elavil is causing her neuropathy but given her weight gain associated with its use and blurred vision it would not hurt to try other treatment approaches. you might wish to ask a neurologist to investigate your mother’s pain. the tools available to this discipline may differ what her oncologist uses in dealing with her neuropathy.  further diagnostic work might reveal some unexpected cause of her discomfort. you might also ask her doctors if one of two gaba analogues developed by park davis might be appropriate for treating her peripheral neuropathy. neurontin is the name of the gaba analogue i use for depression which has helped my peripheral neuropathy, a most unexpected side effect for me.   one possibility in your mother’s case is that increased weight has changed how she sits.  at times pn can be a result of physical pressure on the nerves responsible for guiding feet from the hips.  a dear friend of mine was helped with the aid of pillows and an exercise bike fitted to her rump and her range of flexure at her ankle.  tis a complex problem to resolve the pains associated with ovarian cancer.   let us know how you both are doing.  witnessing a parent suffer can be hard, very hard. melynda melynda reid   who wears hats but does not type caps   snail: p o box 378 greensboro, florida 32330

Response:

My mother is 79, has fought off ovarian cancer since 1993 with cis-platin (three times) and taxol (once). After the taxol, she began to suffer excruciating and debilitating peripheral neuropathy in feet and hands, both numbness and shooting pains. 10mg Elavil was prescribed, but although her course of taxol ended over a year ago (and in her case, at least, did not keep the cancer at bay as long as the cis-platin), her pain has continued and the sensation has now climbed part way up her calf. Her oncologists eventually blamed the taxol, but can’t explain why the PN has not reversed, and in fact continues to get worse, and recommended that she triple or more her Elavil dose. On refilling her Elavil prescription, the pharmacist for the first time gave her the warning insert, which listed PN as a possible side-effect, along with several other less important symptoms, which she nevertheless identified immediately–such as occasional blurring of vision, preventing reading, and weight gain. Has anyone else experienced this perverse side-effect of Elavil, and has anything else given relief? She has tried the electrical stimulators, with minor relief. Thanks. Michael Odza, 415/883-7600

Response:

My mother is 79, has fought off ovarian cancer since 1993 with cis-platin (three times) and taxol (once). After the taxol, she began to suffer excruciating and debilitating peripheral neuropathy in feet and hands, both numbness and shooting pains. 10mg Elavil was prescribed, On refilling her Elavil prescription, the pharmacist for the first time gave her the warning insert, which listed PN as a possible side-effect, along with several other less important symptoms, which she nevertheless identified immediately–such as occasional blurring of vision, preventing reading, and weight gain.

That is odd, my doctor prescribed that same thing for me, to alleviate the side effects of neuropathy.

Response: