DEFINITIONS

Agrans - are the stem cell counts once they start to graft.

Acyclovir - is an anti-viral medication.  It's used as prophylaxis for a varity of viruses that are more or less in the chicken pox family of viruses.

Voriconazole - is an anti-fungal medication.  It's used as prophylaxis for a variety of fungi and or mold that you may be susceptible to once you're neutropenic.

Neutropenic - is when your counts are so low, you have no immune system.  500 is the magic number for your agrans, before your immune system starts to rebuild itself.

Hickman IV - is an IV which is surgically inserted above the heart, with two tubes on the outside to make it easier to administer different medication, draw blood & infuse the stem cells.

Ceftazidime - is an antibiotic.  It provides broad coverage for lots of different bacteria.

Vancomycin - is an antibiotic used to treat specific bacteria, such as the one which grew out of Charlies blood.

Ondansetron or Zofran - is an anti-nausea medication.  It works best for nausea associated with chemotherapy or radiation.

Ursodiol - is a medication used to protect your liver from the effects of the chemotherapy and radiation.

Tacrolimus - is an immunosuppresive medication which is used to suppress the immune system and prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD).

Lipids - are an IV form of fat.  In Charlies situation, it is being used as a vehicle to deliver the tacrolimus.  When tacrolimus is infused this way, you are able to get a better steady state than when infused twice a day over an hour.

Methotrexate - is a medication used to prevent the graft from coming in too soon.  It is given as an IV push on days 1,3,6 and 11.

Dilaudid - is a pain medication used to treat mucositis.  It is not habit forming when used in the type of situation.

Morphine - is a pain medication used to treat mucositis.  This was used for pain, but was switched to dilaudid because the morphine was contributing to his headaches and probably with is itchiness as well.

Ativan - is a medication used to treat nausea and anxiety.

Tylenol - is used to bring fever down.

Baclofen - is a medication used to treat hiccups.

Derma cerin cream - is used to treat dry skin and itch.  (Charlie doesn't like this)

Aveeno lotion - for dry itchy skin.  (blue cap)

Diazepam - is an anti-anxiety medication used to treat insomnia.

Benadryl - is used to treat itch and nausea.

Hydrocortisone cream - is a medication used to treat itch and the pain of hemorrhoids.

Hydroxyzine - is a mediation used to treat itchiness.

Insulin - is used to treat high glucose/sugar levels while you're receiving TPN.  (you will not become a diabetic!)

TPN - stands for total parenteral nutrition.  It combines proteins and carbohydrates to provide the calories you need to build a new immune system.

Viscous lidocaine - is used to treat mouth pain.  Most patients don't think it works all that well, especially with throat pain.

Demerol - is a medication whose original purpose was to treat pain associated with surgery, but was found to be ideal when used to treat the rigors or chills of fever.

Oxycodone - is a pain medicine.  It only comes in tablet form.

Ambien or zolpidem - is a sleeping medication.  (it doesn't seem to work for Charlie)