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Real members of MyLeukemiaTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Has anyone had a situation where they passed out prior to chemo, had chemo then was sent to ER and admitted overnight.

A MyLeukemiaTeam Member asked a question 💭
Hutchinson, KS

The only diagnosis being given is a medication reaction. Nothing more about it.
I do take heart meds to support my blood pressure, pain meds and
antispasmodics. No change in diet, fluids, etc.
This has happened 4+ times and Noone has any answers.

May 16
 · 
Reactions
A MyLeukemiaTeam Member

As article mentioned…push your medical team/doctors for definitive answers…more tests or whatever to figure out what is going on & why. Also, if they don’t have the answers, get new doctors. You have that choice..your life & health come first.

May 16
A MyLeukemiaTeam Member

I avoided chemo for those same reasons. I requested medication which might have possible ill affects but chemo has many ill affects.

May 16
MyLeukemiaTeam

Has this happened to anyone else — passing out before chemo, receiving treatment, then ending up in the ER overnight, with the only explanation being a "medication reaction"?

That sounds incredibly frightening and exhausting, especially when it keeps happening and no one seems to have a clear answer. You deserve better Show Full Answer

Has this happened to anyone else — passing out before chemo, receiving treatment, then ending up in the ER overnight, with the only explanation being a "medication reaction"?

That sounds incredibly frightening and exhausting, especially when it keeps happening and no one seems to have a clear answer. You deserve better than a vague diagnosis, particularly when it's happened four or more times. Since you're taking heart/blood pressure medications, pain meds, and antispasmodics alongside chemotherapy, there are several possible interactions worth pushing your care team to investigate more thoroughly. Some things worth raising with your oncologist or a specialist include:

- Drug interactions between your current medications and your chemo regimen — these can sometimes affect blood pressure dramatically
- Blood pressure drops (hypotension) which can cause fainting, especially when chemo is administered
- Cardiac monitoring before and during chemo sessions, given your heart medication use
- Requesting a cardiology consult if one hasn't already been arranged

A MyLeukemiaTeam member shared a similar experience where stress and heart-related symptoms during treatment led them to a cardiologist, which helped rule out serious causes and guided their care team toward better answers. It may also be worth asking your oncologist whether your current chemo regimen or dosage needs to be reviewed. Sometimes adjusting the treatment plan can significantly reduce severe reactions like this.

Most importantly — don't accept "medication reaction" as a complete answer. Push for a specialist referral and ask specifically what steps are being taken to *prevent* this from happening again. You have every right to those answers.

May 16

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