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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diagnosed With S Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Getting Severe Chills, Abdominal Pain, Anxiety. What To Do?

I am a newly diagnosed NHL patient receiving Rituxan Infusions. The first dose could not be completed because of severe chills, rigor, abdominal pain, fever and flushing. It was restarted after protocol medication. Again it had to be stopped for the same reasons. It was successful the next week with decadron 4m po the day before and the night before. The infusion went well with premedication of Tylenol, benadry. po and decadron and zantac IV. The next day I took post med of decadron 4 mg po the day and 4mg po again the night. However, the next day I went inot rigor and chills for two hours. Sent to ER and remained for 24 hour observation. Now the doctor is saying it was not a reaction to rituxan, but anxiety. I was NOT anxious because I had a great experience up unit the rigor returned full force when meds were stopped. I don t trust the judgements being made with my health. What to do?
Wed, 27 Nov 2013
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for this question. As you have pointed out in your situation, your symptoms of rigors, chills etc. stopped during second time when you were premedicated with the list of medications mentioned in your vignette. But subsequently you again developed similar symptoms despite adequate premedication. Hence there appears a scope for doubt that this time around your symptoms were Not due to Rituxan but those of anticipatory anxiety to medication infusion. This might happen some time & you should not fret over this too much. You have been diagnosed with a serious medical illness & are successfully coping with the same. Hence I would suggest you should consult your doctor about sos use of a benzodizepine like clonazepam or etizolam to help you cope up better with these manifestations. Wishing you good luck!!
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Diagnosed With S Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Getting Severe Chills, Abdominal Pain, Anxiety. What To Do?

Hi, Thanks for this question. As you have pointed out in your situation, your symptoms of rigors, chills etc. stopped during second time when you were premedicated with the list of medications mentioned in your vignette. But subsequently you again developed similar symptoms despite adequate premedication. Hence there appears a scope for doubt that this time around your symptoms were Not due to Rituxan but those of anticipatory anxiety to medication infusion. This might happen some time & you should not fret over this too much. You have been diagnosed with a serious medical illness & are successfully coping with the same. Hence I would suggest you should consult your doctor about sos use of a benzodizepine like clonazepam or etizolam to help you cope up better with these manifestations. Wishing you good luck!!