Cyclizine - Thought I was dying.
Posted , 3 users are following.
Yesterday I had IV administered Cyclizine. Within 10 seconds I experienced severe
visual disturbances in the form of full vision stripy patterns. When I closed my eyes
these patterns became much bigger and appeared to come towards me. I experienced
palpitations, not just a momentary episode but banging, deep rapid thudding. My arms
felt floppy and I couldn't lift my hands up from the bed without them dropping down.
I couldn't form my words properly and found it difficult to speak - I thought I was
dying - could I have died I wonder, even though it wasn't Anaphylaxis.
This drug is not a life saving drug and therefore medics/nurses should inform the
patient if they would rather bear the sickness or the terrifying side effects they have
the potential of experiencing - the most frightening experience of my life.
0 likes, 2 replies
jessica89193 tina63779
Posted
Hi Tina,
I can really relate to your experience when I had cyclizine IV in August 16. I was shaken up for days. I actually shook in bed for about 8 hrs after the dose. I had the deep rapid thud and the unable to lift my arms, legs etc and truly thought I was dying. You have probably read my post. My mum watched the whole thing and also thought she was loosing me. It doesn't seem a common reaction and as a midwife myself I have never seen that reaction when I have given it in the past, though the nurse who gave me it to me pushed it through the IV in about 10 seconds and it should be between 3-5 mins.
It's really scary isn't it. Hope your ok
Since when I'm asked about any drug allergies I say cyclizine and I can't even describe the reaction properly as it was so severe but I didn't need an antidote. Just time for my body to process it.
Jess
tina63779 jessica89193
Posted
Hello Jessica89193
I understand what you say about the drug being administered slowly.
The Nurse administered the drug through the canula in 10 seconds as
with yourself and then asked if I "could feeling anything", which at the
time I thought this was a strange thing to say. Then everything just
happened. Brown herringbone patterns filling my entire field of vision
that were spinning around and got bigger and closer when I closed
my eyes. The occasional palpitations experienced by us are nothing
compared to the ferocity of these. I don't know how you dealt with
a trauma like that for 8 hours. My episode lasted 30 minutes. My heart
rate came down a lot between monitoring but I'm concerned about
any delayed consequences to the heart actually. Ideally I think they
could have said that although this drug was available that there is a risk of
some particularly nasty side-effects. No one like to be sick but I
would prefer it to this reaction. As you say, it really did feel like
I may die. Thanks so much for your reply - I saw yours just after I
clicked on Send. Kindest regards