Allergic to Herceptin

Hi , I can’t help you personally but JoDec had issues with Herceptin! She doesn’t come on here much now as she’s too busy enjoying life  thank goodness! But I can text her tomorrow and point her in this direction. If no one else has come on to reply! Sal xx

I've just replied to another post about this. I had a hypersensitivity to Trastuzumab (Herceptin). I had rigors, high temp and a flushed face and neck. They stopped the infusion and gave me IV Piriton, steroids and paracetamol but were happy to finish the infusion after they observed me for a while. I now get all those drugs as premeds before each infusion...I've had 5 infusions now and had a reaction to the 1st and 4th...weird!

Thanks Sal, I'd appreciate that. It's quite scary when you start to react badly and you don't know what's happening to you. Don't see the oncologist until next Wednesday so hoping she has a plan. It's making me anxious all the time.

Babs ️

I had the same as you and then I got pains in my back, chest and stomach, and then had severe vomitting and diarrhoea. They'd just stopped the infusion but I'd had most of it. I'm hoping the oncologist has a plan when I see her. 

I forgot I got lower back spasms too but connected this to the rigors as my muscles were tensing up. I only got the Herceptin that day...they didn't go ahead with the Perjeta because of the reaction...then I got the Perjeta a few days later with Paclitaxel. How do you know which drug you reacted to?

Hi Babs, so sorry to see you join our club, but glad you’ve found Sal. I didn’t react badly to Herceptin while on chemo, as I was allergic to Docetaxel, so was given Piriton drip and steroids beforehand. My real reaction came when the chemo and steroids finished and I was given the ongoing Herceptin injections. Within around 10 minutes of the first one I was violently vomiting and started to pass out. They said it was a bug and the next injection had the same reaction but much faster. No pain though, or spasms, just severe vomiting. They decided to give it to me by IV thinking it was additives in the injection, but within around 2 minutes I projectile vomited and was covered in big red blotches. They still carried on, but gave me IV Piriton before each infusion and aside from feeling knocked out, I was fine. Your reaction sounds more severe than mine, but you have to trust your oncologist. If they decide to continue, it’s because you need it. If they stop, it is because it may do you more harm than good. Just get through this. This community helped me so much and even if no-one else is experiencing what you are, they will understand and be there when you need them. I finished chemo in Dec 2017, Mx in 2018, finished Herceptin Nov 18 and I feel great. Life is back to normal so you can get there. Just hang on and reach out when you need to. I’m here if I can help too, so just ask Sal to text me. Good luck and hugs, xxx