I'm going for my first infusion of Rituxan on Friday and I was told that they normally give you Benadryl ahead of time. However, I'm allergic to Benadryl (face swells, gets red and itchy).
I'm wondering what other kinds of allergy medications people have been given before infusions? Every day I take Zyrtec in the morning and Singulair in the evening, but it still doesn't control all my allergy problems. When it gets bad, I take pseudoephedrine, but I know that's not good for my blood pressure.
call the infusion nurses and check with them. I know that at my center if you are on prescription antihistimines they don't give you any more (as long as the dose has been with in the last 12-24 hours depending on the med) < =text/>_popupControl();I agree with Buckeye. Call your infusion nurse and see what they say about what they will give you before your infusion. You never know, what you are on might just be sufficient enough and they won’t have to give you anything.
I am given Claritin before my infusions.
Unfortunately what I am on isn't even sufficient enough for my current allergies, so I think they should give me something additional. I'm sure they are experts at this, but just in case, I'd like to know what that "something else" can be. (BTW, Claritin does nothing for me anymore.)
I remember a few years ago when I had an epidural nerve block done. As they were prepping me, I noticed that it said "no allergies" on the front of my chart. They never even asked me before they slapped that label on!
Since I didn't like the way the IV Benadryl made me feel (knocked me out for several hours) my RD let me take Zyrtec in place of the Benadryl.
I know Claritin can also be substituted for the Benadryl, so be sure and ask your RD about this.
I always take my Allegra 180 everyday and even for my Remicade infusion, and they have never given me anything extra. YOu would have to check with the nurse. I just took my normal morning meds, and told them when I got there and they wanted to give me claritin. She said that the Allegra would be fine. I have never had a problem with that.
Edited because of pain meds