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The bad penny always turns up

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10 years 3 months ago #49462 by RHofm50129
The bad penny always turns up was created by RHofm50129
Hi, everyone. I'm back to ask a question. Just celebrated my second year in remission. We travel a lot and my doctor is always a bit worried I might be attacked again when we are overseas. I carry steroids with me wherever I travel. It is his suggestion that I go into a hospital wherever I am which does not appeal. He also suggested taking promacta for 3 days. My promacta was never opened. It arrived as I had started to go up in platelet count. So it is 1 year past expiration. Has anyone ever used promacta as a rescue drug? Did it help? Do you think it would become dangerous after a year. Other drugs which have been followed up on are generally good way past expiration-- just get a little weaker with time.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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10 years 3 months ago #49468 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic The bad penny always turns up
Hey Roberta! I'm glad you are still doing well!

I don't quite understand the question. Are you asking if you should treat while you're on vacation whether counts are low or not just to be on the safe side, or if you should develop symptoms while gone?

Some drugs can actually become more potent past shelf life, so I don't think using expired meds is a good idea.
The following user(s) said Thank You: RHofm50129
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10 years 3 months ago #49472 by RHofm50129
Replied by RHofm50129 on topic The bad penny always turns up
No, he's talking about if I am overseas and it returns, that I should take 60mg of steroids which I carry with me, every day and 3 days of promacta. I wondered if anyone had ever used promacta as a rescue drug and if it worked. I worry a bit before a trip, especially one overseas. It is on my mind a bit now as Saturday we are taking our 2 older grandsons on Amtrak out to California. Thinking about having to disappoint them if anything happened. Generally, I don't think about it.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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10 years 3 months ago #49474 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic The bad penny always turns up
How long will you be gone?
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10 years 3 months ago #49489 by poseymint
Replied by poseymint on topic The bad penny always turns up
I agree with Melinda- carry prednisone and enjoy the trip!

Promacta is not really a rescue drug- I find the suggestion of taking it for 3 days a little illogical. First it usually takes longer than 3 days to be effective. Its a drug that builds in your system. Counts climb (or not) over first few months, they are watched, dose adjusted until deemed stable. Plus there is a risk and warning from the manufacturer that when you quit taking Promacta your counts can drop lower than when you started. So thats not what you want.

I took some expired Promacta once with my hemos permission. It was expired by 4mos I think. It didn't do anything for my counts. Its probably not really worth the risk to take expired meds. Enjoy your remission!
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10 years 3 months ago #49493 by RHofm50129
Replied by RHofm50129 on topic The bad penny always turns up
Three weeks. Always a little spooky to be out of the country that long.
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10 years 3 months ago #49494 by RHofm50129
Replied by RHofm50129 on topic The bad penny always turns up
good point
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10 years 3 months ago #49498 by Winnifred
Replied by Winnifred on topic The bad penny always turns up
Medications have an expiry date for many reason! Most common is because they become less effective. Sometimes a medication can become toxic if it is way past its expiry date!

My suggestion take the promacta into a pharmacy and have it disposed of. As much as I dislike prednisone I say get a count before you leave carry it with you and forget about ITP while you travel!
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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10 years 3 months ago #49504 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic The bad penny always turns up
I think you got some good advice! Enjoy the trip!
The following user(s) said Thank You: RHofm50129
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10 years 3 months ago - 10 years 3 months ago #49507 by RHofm50129
Replied by RHofm50129 on topic The bad penny always turns up
You can look up a medication on line to see how long it is truly good for. I've looked up things like hydrocodone and they have a life far longer than you would think. But I do have my hemotologist switch out fresh prednisone for old when I am going somewhere if they are approaching a year old. Getting a blood test before I go is sort of useless though because last time my platelets dropped like a rock in about 36 hours to zero. And if you are traveling for, say, a month, or even two weeks, the situation could change very quickly. What your count was yesterday hardly matters weeks from now.
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10 years 3 months ago #49508 by RHofm50129
Replied by RHofm50129 on topic The bad penny always turns up
Thank you.
10 years 3 months ago #49516 by
Replied by on topic The bad penny always turns up
"Last time my platelets dropped like a rock..."

'Last time' was 2 years ago right? I think you really need to stop looking for the bad penny, you need to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop, you need to put the umbrella away because you don't have a black cloud over your head!

Take the prednisone with you, forget about it and enjoy your trip - enjoy life, stop waiting for something bad to happen to you!!

(and as poseymint said - promacta is not a rescue drug)
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10 years 3 months ago #49523 by RHofm50129
Replied by RHofm50129 on topic The bad penny always turns up
I always enjoy my life; I generally do forget about it. But, as I said, when I am getting ready to travel and other people are dependent on my going or when I travel out of the country, it crosses my mind. I don't stew about it, but it crosses my mind. Because the truth is that it is rather like a Sword of Damocles and there is no way to say anything else. It happened once... It seems most if not all the people on this site have had multiple episodes. Why should I think it will be any different with me? I always enjoy my trips, and, as I said, when I get into them, I forget about it. But I don't see how it is possible to never give it a thought. Anyway, thanks everyone for your input. It is appreciated.
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