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Continuing fever/chills while on Zelboraf
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Continuing fever/chills while on Zelboraf

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Continuing fever/chills while on Zelboraf

  • Post
    • July 22, 2013 at 11:09 am
    out4air
    Participant
      My husband has had quite a time adjusting to Zelboraf. Here is sequence of events:

      – started Zelboraf on 5/20 960 mg am and 960 mg pm
      – on 5/22 started with high fever and chills
      -taken off Z for 3 days and put on 20 mg Perdnisone for 1week
      -started Z on 5/26 at 720 mg am and 720 mg pm
      – many side effects including rash, tenderness in feet, warts, squamous cells (now removed) and very red face, high sensitivity to sunlight (continuing to take 10 mg of Prednisone entire time)
      -taken off Z 7/8 for one week to calm down side effects
      -7/15 started back on Z 720 mg am and pm
      – as 7/17 taken to emergency room with high fever we could not get down
      -as of 7/18 Oncologist put him on 480 mg of Z am and pm and continue with 10 mg of Prednisone
      – since 7/18 he has had fever and chills off and on almost always in early evening and night, however temperature has not been as high as when he went to ER. He has been taking Tylenol every 3 hrs and alternating with Advil every 3 hours

      Question is has anyone else dealt with this on and off fever/chills while on Zelboraf and what was your treatment for same?

      Good news is no new Melanoma on scalp and CT scan on 7/18 was all clear so clearly the Zelboraf is working.

    Viewing 7 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 22, 2013 at 1:08 pm
        awillett1991
        Participant
          Toxic, toxic stuff. You can check my profile for all the details but yes, I had all this. I was on prednisone the full time I was on it, plus 2 Aleve every twelve hours and would sometimes still get the chills. Fever for more than a couple of days and I’d have to go off for 3 days. My dr doesn’t believe in the 2×2 dose ongoing, instead he finally had to change me to 2 wks on/1 wk off instead. I hope this helps you.
          • July 22, 2013 at 1:08 pm
          awillett1991
          Participant
            Toxic, toxic stuff. You can check my profile for all the details but yes, I had all this. I was on prednisone the full time I was on it, plus 2 Aleve every twelve hours and would sometimes still get the chills. Fever for more than a couple of days and I’d have to go off for 3 days. My dr doesn’t believe in the 2×2 dose ongoing, instead he finally had to change me to 2 wks on/1 wk off instead. I hope this helps you.
            • July 22, 2013 at 1:08 pm
            awillett1991
            Participant
              Toxic, toxic stuff. You can check my profile for all the details but yes, I had all this. I was on prednisone the full time I was on it, plus 2 Aleve every twelve hours and would sometimes still get the chills. Fever for more than a couple of days and I’d have to go off for 3 days. My dr doesn’t believe in the 2×2 dose ongoing, instead he finally had to change me to 2 wks on/1 wk off instead. I hope this helps you.
              • August 3, 2013 at 4:27 pm
              Cabronication
              Participant
                How is he tolerating the Zelboraf now? I had similar issues, had two bad reactions and was taken off for a week, given anti histamines and reduced dose of Z. Always spiking a fever, extensive rash, sore feet, eye problems, bad taste, poor appetite.
                Now have been back on Z for 3 days…6 tablets per day. Ok so far but early days I guess.
                I have metastatic melanoma of brain and lungs and in early stages of treatment. I have had whole brain radiotherapy initially.
                I hope he is tolerating it now as there are some good results coming through from it. Best wishes.
                • August 3, 2013 at 4:27 pm
                Cabronication
                Participant
                  How is he tolerating the Zelboraf now? I had similar issues, had two bad reactions and was taken off for a week, given anti histamines and reduced dose of Z. Always spiking a fever, extensive rash, sore feet, eye problems, bad taste, poor appetite.
                  Now have been back on Z for 3 days…6 tablets per day. Ok so far but early days I guess.
                  I have metastatic melanoma of brain and lungs and in early stages of treatment. I have had whole brain radiotherapy initially.
                  I hope he is tolerating it now as there are some good results coming through from it. Best wishes.
                  • August 3, 2013 at 4:27 pm
                  Cabronication
                  Participant
                    How is he tolerating the Zelboraf now? I had similar issues, had two bad reactions and was taken off for a week, given anti histamines and reduced dose of Z. Always spiking a fever, extensive rash, sore feet, eye problems, bad taste, poor appetite.
                    Now have been back on Z for 3 days…6 tablets per day. Ok so far but early days I guess.
                    I have metastatic melanoma of brain and lungs and in early stages of treatment. I have had whole brain radiotherapy initially.
                    I hope he is tolerating it now as there are some good results coming through from it. Best wishes.
                    • August 3, 2013 at 4:48 pm
                    out4air
                    Participant
                      He has been a reduced dose of 2 am and 2 pm of Z and that is as low of a dose as they will go. He has stage III T2a N1a unresectable metastasized melanoma on his scalp.

                      The fevers and chills have ceased for now but our Oncologist prescribed Fluconazole for the Thrush in his mouth and he had been taking it for about 4 weeks and getting sicker and sicker. I did some research on drug interactions and found out that Fluconazole and Zelboraf should NOT be taken together – it could possibly be life threatening. I talked to the Pharmacist at the Specialty Drug Co where we get Z from and she verified that it is a big NO NO to take these two together.

                      We have an appointment with our Oncologist next Tuesday and hope to find out why this was prescribed.

                      He has stopped taking the Fluconazole 4 days ago and already is feeling way better. I am treating his thrush with the old fashion Gentian Violet, by painting the inside of his mouth daily and guess what the thrush is just about gone!

                      Thanks for your post and hope you will have excellent results with Z.

                      • August 3, 2013 at 5:11 pm
                      Cabronication
                      Participant
                        Glad he is improving. I also get recurrent oral thrush. I was told it was the steroids I was on and was given Fluconazole which cleared it. Then I started zelboraf and it reoccurred and was told was unable to have Fluconazole due to interactions. How worrying that an oncologist wasn’t aware of this. Hopefully he will become physically stronger soon. I know that I feel exhausted and a bit low in mood but I do think this is because I’ve started taking the Zelboraf again after a break.
                        Wishing you both positive things.
                        • August 3, 2013 at 4:48 pm
                        out4air
                        Participant
                          He has been a reduced dose of 2 am and 2 pm of Z and that is as low of a dose as they will go. He has stage III T2a N1a unresectable metastasized melanoma on his scalp.

                          The fevers and chills have ceased for now but our Oncologist prescribed Fluconazole for the Thrush in his mouth and he had been taking it for about 4 weeks and getting sicker and sicker. I did some research on drug interactions and found out that Fluconazole and Zelboraf should NOT be taken together – it could possibly be life threatening. I talked to the Pharmacist at the Specialty Drug Co where we get Z from and she verified that it is a big NO NO to take these two together.

                          We have an appointment with our Oncologist next Tuesday and hope to find out why this was prescribed.

                          He has stopped taking the Fluconazole 4 days ago and already is feeling way better. I am treating his thrush with the old fashion Gentian Violet, by painting the inside of his mouth daily and guess what the thrush is just about gone!

                          Thanks for your post and hope you will have excellent results with Z.

                          • August 3, 2013 at 4:48 pm
                          out4air
                          Participant
                            He has been a reduced dose of 2 am and 2 pm of Z and that is as low of a dose as they will go. He has stage III T2a N1a unresectable metastasized melanoma on his scalp.

                            The fevers and chills have ceased for now but our Oncologist prescribed Fluconazole for the Thrush in his mouth and he had been taking it for about 4 weeks and getting sicker and sicker. I did some research on drug interactions and found out that Fluconazole and Zelboraf should NOT be taken together – it could possibly be life threatening. I talked to the Pharmacist at the Specialty Drug Co where we get Z from and she verified that it is a big NO NO to take these two together.

                            We have an appointment with our Oncologist next Tuesday and hope to find out why this was prescribed.

                            He has stopped taking the Fluconazole 4 days ago and already is feeling way better. I am treating his thrush with the old fashion Gentian Violet, by painting the inside of his mouth daily and guess what the thrush is just about gone!

                            Thanks for your post and hope you will have excellent results with Z.

                            • August 3, 2013 at 5:11 pm
                            Cabronication
                            Participant
                              Glad he is improving. I also get recurrent oral thrush. I was told it was the steroids I was on and was given Fluconazole which cleared it. Then I started zelboraf and it reoccurred and was told was unable to have Fluconazole due to interactions. How worrying that an oncologist wasn’t aware of this. Hopefully he will become physically stronger soon. I know that I feel exhausted and a bit low in mood but I do think this is because I’ve started taking the Zelboraf again after a break.
                              Wishing you both positive things.
                              • August 3, 2013 at 5:11 pm
                              Cabronication
                              Participant
                                Glad he is improving. I also get recurrent oral thrush. I was told it was the steroids I was on and was given Fluconazole which cleared it. Then I started zelboraf and it reoccurred and was told was unable to have Fluconazole due to interactions. How worrying that an oncologist wasn’t aware of this. Hopefully he will become physically stronger soon. I know that I feel exhausted and a bit low in mood but I do think this is because I’ve started taking the Zelboraf again after a break.
                                Wishing you both positive things.
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