Hi Nancy,

The other side effect that comes to mind was the low blood pressure and some leg cramps. I've off Rev for about a month and will start again next week. I'll keep you posted.

Kathy

One thing worth being aware of. DVT is the same thing causing problems to airline sardines on long flights but it can occur from myeloma treament.


The symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are related to obstruction of blood returning to the heart and causing a backup of blood in the leg. Classically, they symptoms include:
pain,
swelling,
warmth, and
redness.
Not all of these symptoms have to occur; one, all, or none may be present

Hi Nancy,
I have been on Rev 5mg. Had to stop for a week or two because of catching the flu/bug. I was on baby aspirin also to keep from getting blood clots. I had a few charlie horses. On my last blood work they found my potassium was low, I am now on big horse pills. I was having a hard time with fatigue and not sleeping deep at night also.
I am on it for maintenance.
Ed

Thanks guys. I see my doctor on June 3rd, but I know he is going to want me to keep trying and see if they go away. I'm on Rev 25mg daily and Dex 40mg every Monday. Been a rough weekend. Never went through this cramping and loss of appetite the first time around. I have been taking baby aspirin daily for years, recommended by my regular physician as I also have high blood pressure and acid reflux. Have a great day and wish you all well. Nancy

Thanks for all the input, seen the doctor today and when I told him about my leg pain he called the hospital and they were waiting on me when I got there to do a ultra sound for DVT. Good news no blood clots. Says I may still continue to have pain, and that I can take a calcium supplement. But all is good so far. Nancy

Good Day Nancy-
I've been taking 10mg to 15mg Revlimid for last 28 months. I've experienced all of your side affects. Some muscle cramps so bad I can only lay on the floor and have my spouse assist me. Chronic diarrhea for a couple years. I've stayed in CR up until 6 months ago. At that time I moved up from 10mg/day to 15mg/day and I went back into CR so I'll put up with the side affects....My myeloma specialist has me eat bananas to restore potassium to relieve the cramps, don't know if this helps but I do love bananas.....

Hi Nancy,
There is a lot of potassium in foods. Oranges, banana,broccoli, are some that come to mind. I started on Revlimid June 21. I am in remission. The big problem I have is that most of my medications have the same side effect , except for DVT and pulmonary embolism. I have no idea if the revlimid or some of the other medication is causing my problems. Nausea is one of my problems, but I had that symptom long before This medication.

To Average and Toots814, thanks for the comments. I started on some calcium, don't know for sure if it has helped but the cramps have eased up/stopped, but they feel like they may be coming back. Instead of being off the 7 days in between I was off 16 days while they were trying to find funding for me for the Rev. Sort of feels like they may be trying to come back, I hope not. As for the potassium I try to eat things that are good for that, but may ask the doctor next time about potassium pills, I cannot stand bananas, not even the smell of them. Hopefully the cramping is over. I know one thing this time around the side effects for Dex/Rev are much worse than the first time I was on this in 2008. Was taking Rev in the morning but it made me to sleepy so I started taking it at dinner, works much better that way. Nancy

I guess I was very lucky. I was on revlimed for 4 months with my initial chemo therapy. I also took the weekly dex. That and the velcade got me into remission in less than 5 months with the only side effect being continuing Peripheral nueropathy.
I've been off everything for about 4 months while I had my arm surgically repaired and went through stem cell collection. My Doc didnt want to start me back on Rev because of the PN I am sufferring but since my chem markers are trending up I am going back on the Revlimed next week. I do like bananas though so I might be able to avoid low potassium. I just hope my PN doesnt get worse.

Hi Nancy,

I was advised to take my Rev in the evening as it will cause you to get sleepy. I also take 2 potassium pills daily. I try to foods high in potassium, but it's not enough. My doc did say that low potassium can cause leg cramps as well other problems. Good Luck and Keep us posted.

Kathy

I've been experiencing leg and stomach cramps lately, but I didn't know it was a result of the revlimid. Boy, do they hurt, especially the stomach cramps.

I think it is the Revlimid, I also take Dex, 40 mg on Mondays. I never had leg cramps or stomach cramps until I started the Rev. Yes the stomach cramps are really painful at times.

I was taking Rev in the morning but had to fight to stay awake for about 4 hours at work.
Started taking it at night and has been much better for me. I haven't taken any postassium, but doc said ok to take calcium. I try to get up and walk around the apartment if I feel a leg cramp coming on before it gets to bad and it usually helps. I go back to the doctor in August and am going to ask about being taken off the Rev and just stay on the Dex. I can't stand the side effects of the Rev, the Dex I can pretty much deal with and it keeps my numbers down by itself.

Hi Nancy,

Are taking any blood thiners, such as bayer asprin, or the shots. You shoud be on blood thiners due the REV. Don't forget to ask doc, because the Rev can cause blood clots.

I started my Revlimid on June 21,2011. The first week I started to have symptoms. First it was nausea, lost appetite, loss sense of taste, and was constipated. The second week I had headaches, muscle spasms both feet and lower legs, feet swelling and painful. Checked with cardiologist and ruled out heart problems. I could barely walk the pain was so bad. I had a lot of symptoms that made me very uncomfortable. My blood work showed a big decrease in red blood and I had to get 2 units of blood. I hate this drug. I am on my week off right now and all the symptoms are decreasing. I hate to think what will happen when I start back on July 21. The dose has been cut to 7mg. I was on 10mg. I am in remission and was put on Revlimid for maintenance. If I have to be this sick to stay in remission, I my as well skip this drug and see what happens.
Toots