Forum Discussion

Sharon01's avatar
Sharon01
Member
7 years ago

Clexane Injection side effects

I am in round 3 of 4 of my first chemo treatments. I was recently diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis and was prescribed Clexane injections twice a day. From the start of the injections, I began having sever headaches and muscle spasms. The spams and headache keep me up at night. Any suggestions on how to alleviate my pain would be appreciated. Has anyone experienced the same symptoms? Any advice to alleviate the pain would be appreciated.
chemotherapy
side-effects
  • Beryl_C_'s avatar
    Beryl_C_
    Member
    7 years ago
    SharonO1 - check with your breast care nurse or GP. I've been on daily clexane injections for almost four years with no obvious side effects. My treatment throughout that time has been x3weekly Herceptin infusions and daily Exestamine.
  • Zoffiel's avatar
    Zoffiel
    Member
    7 years ago
    Hi @Sharon01
    That sounds like the sort of thing you need to investigate with your oncologist. The other expert who may be helpful is a good pharmacist. Unfortunately, we are often not told enough about potential side effects-- I'm not sure if that is some patronising attitude designed to avoid frightening people or, even worse, an attempt to prevent some sort of mass hysteria where we talk ourselves into believing things are happening which are not. Not knowing what is happening is frightening when something we are not expecting crops up and is not helpful.
    Muscle pain and horrible headaches are all too common during chemo but it's rare to be warned about it. The neulasta injections are also a potential culprit. 
    Chemo can do some diabolical things while (we hope) achieving its purpose of bumping off rogue cancer cells. Clexane is  a bugger; I also developed a DVT during my first chemo. The gut jab (following a stint on Warfrin) just added insult to injury. Hang in there and nag until you get some sort of informed explanation. Mxx
  • Sharon01's avatar
    Sharon01
    Member
    7 years ago
    Thanks for the advice. I had minimal side effects from the first two rounds of chemo. After the 3rd round was when I the leg muscle spasms and right temple intense pain began which is the same time as clexane began. I spent a day in hospital with intense right temple pain and muscle spasms. 
  • AllyJay's avatar
    AllyJay
    Member
    7 years ago
    Hi there @Sharon01...not sure if I can help or not. I've been on blood thinners and was changed from my warfarin to clexane prior to starting chemo, as the chemo and warfarin would clash. I stayed on the clexane for almost two years for the chemo, then afterwards until the team were sure my drug regime was stable. I'm wondering if the headacke and muscle spasms are not from your chemo, rather than the clexane? You didn't say which chemo you were having, just that you're between round 3 and 4. The only problems I had with the clexane was massive bruising and big hard lumps under the skin on my tummy. I guess about two years of twice daily jabs (around 1460) will do it . Here's a photo of my belly with the bruises. I had no other side effect from the clexane, but did have problems with the AC chemo. If regular paracetemol doesn't help, I would ask your GP for something stronger and also mention the spasms.