I came on here to post about the drowsiness I'm experiencing on Zejula (though I think my allergies + other meds = perfect storm of several factors). I've tried changing the time I take the drug - at night, morning, and now suppertime, but still struggling with drowsiness while trying to get back to work soon. Just wondering if anyone else has this problem and what they did. I'm going to ask my nurse if I can take a break from it for a few days, or reduce the dosage. I started on 300 mg and that was making me very drowsy, then the dr. lowered it to 200mg and that's what I've been on for about 5 months now. It definitely helped at the beginning but seems to have returned.
Also when I was taking it at night it seemed to make it harder to sleep. I feel like I can't win here.
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I am sorry to hear you are experiencing those symptoms. Drowsiness is definitely a tough one. It is good to speak to your team and/or oncologist about this for sure especially if you have a plan to return to work. One thing to keep in mind and to ask about is, could this be a result of the cumulative effect of the drug on your system and not a dosage only issue? I am not on that drug in particular so can't answer as a "I have also experienced" point of view. I would also ask before you stop taking it to make sure that your body is able to tolerate a total stoppage all at once and that it doesn't have to be a gradual and slow come off of it type of thing. Does any of that help at all?
As for returning to work, if this continues and ends up being "you have to live with this side effect issue". Is there any way you can split your workday and get a nap in there somewhere? It is a thought....perhaps after you have your medical answer, you will be able to better work something out with your employment about what your return to work will look like.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
The physical fatigue/general weariness is more manageable than daytime drowsiness. At least with fatigue I can take a nap/rest, but the drowsiness can come on anytime and I can't function with that.
I first started on 300 mg, then was put on 200 mg, and felt fine for awhile then the sleep/drowsiness started to get bad, so it was reduced to 100 mg, but now the drowsiness is back even for that. It's hard to function even on this dose. I'm seeing my oncologist this Wed so will see what she says.
I'm going to ask her about a sleeping pill. Maybe that will help.
Good for you! Those decisions are difficult to make and are individual to us all. Glad to hear that your sleeping has improved as well as the drowsiness. If I have learned nothing else from all of this it is: "Take every day as it comes and like it is a brand new day."
I feel that quite a few of us are feeling quite drained right now and perhaps it is the time of year and the darkness and cold etc or something else. The thing to think about is how to get through it and find something to laugh about not every day but once in awhile to chase some of that away. Like this week when I put a piece of cabbage on my head and told my son (who is a chef) that it was my chef's hat and that I could "make" him one if he wanted one. Just non-sensical humour if you know what I mean.
Here is a quote from a book that I read that I feel fits this:
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
"The choices don't stop, however. Life is choices, and they are rentlentless. No sooner have you made one choice than another is upon you."