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How can I minimize side-effects from LUPRON ?

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Posted 11/16/2009 6:45 PM (GMT 0)

Started Casodex ( 50mg. for 30 days) last week and

the brochure that came with it mentions possible side-

effects of nausea, diarrhea, itching and feeling weak.

 

The only change I have noticed so far and is not

mentioned is extreme dryness inside the mouth’

during the night.

 

It does wake me up so I get a small glass of water

and that helps to get me back to sleep.

 

Next week I get a Lupron ( 22.5 mg, 90 day) shot but

the side effects listed for that seem so much worse:

hot flashes, increased sweating, night sweats, tiredness,

swelling of the feet, mood changes, depression, ETC !

 

None of these I’m looking forward to so I’m wondering

If there are precautions I can take to minimize

these possible conditions ?

Posted 11/16/2009 10:37 PM (GMT 0)

J.B.:

Everyone reacts a little differently to Lupron, I've been on it for a couple of months and the only side effect I've noticed is hotflashes.  I think this is the one side effect that we all seem to have.  The longer you are on the stuff, the more side effects you seem to have.  There will be some guys that have been on it much longer than me, that will be able to give you more info.  but for me so good so far I guess.

David

Posted 11/17/2009 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
The PCRI web site has a lot of information on HT side affects.
Ask your doctor about Femera or a like substitute as it will stop any breast growth. Also there is a new drug, I think it's called Estis or something like that that will eliminate hot flashes. My neighbor who has been on HT for 12 years just started taking it and said it was wonderful.
You must start an excercise program that includes weights. This will prevent muscle and bone loss and help if you have a tendency for depression.
Ask your doctor about supplements; Vit D3, Calcium, COQ10 if you are on satins,
Make sure your doctor gets you a bone desnity test to establish a baseline and an Echo Stress test because HT does affect the cardiac system. If he has not already done this then I would look for another doctor that is more experienced in administering HT and its side affects.
Different people react differently to HT and side affect go from minimal to severe so it is important to get treated by an experienced oncologist who can manage the dose and side affects.
JohnT
JohnT
Posted 11/17/2009 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I had my first Lupron injection on 10/21/09, 3 weeks ago more or less. Dosage was 30 mg, 4 month shot.

To date, I have had a few night sweats, which may be a result of Extra Strength Tylenol I take at night for arthritis pains, and not the Lupron. I am waiting for other symptons to appear, but nothing to date (not even a desire for shoe shopping).

Whatever comes is going to come anyway, so go with the flow is my plan. Lupon is going to help me a lot.

All the best.

Roger

 

Posted 11/17/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Ditto on John T's information line on this, myself did 2 yrs. of ADT3 (the max deprivation blockage plan), it was not much fun. The only fun is watching the psa numbers decline, little Willy will decline too (lol). You can get through this and it ususally does render results, you having surgery in Feb hopefully will be done with this stuff, but for others hopefully do not have to do this protocl super long term, maybe intermittent or quit at some juncture. There are other drugs and therapies that are useful and can be used, most uro-docs either don't know about them or don't want to know about them or heaven forbid find these others unprofittable, if you fail psa on these drugs you need to see an onco-doc as that is their realm.

 

Fyi-surgery after taking these types of drug therapies, shrinks the gland and also makes it more difficult for surgery, some surgeons do not wish to or like to work on patients whom have done this prior to surgery....have you heard that. Might make the gland more of a sticky mess to cut is the concept, I believe.

Post Edited (zufus) : 11/16/2009 6:47:40 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/17/2009 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Lupron so I could safely delay surgery until I got through tax season. I didn't notice any real affects for the first month. I sort of wondered what was going or not going on. After a month I got nightly hot flashes and 0 libido. I exercised almost daily but my wife still noticed a decline in muscle tone. It was a three month shot and but the effects didn't seem to end until for four months after I got it. Now that my wife is getting hot flashes she appreciates that I can understand what she is going through.
Posted 11/17/2009 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Lots of great advice has been shared on this topic, I would however like to add the need for exercise to offset some of the fatigue. I was on Lupron Casodex for two years and there were times I was so tired I could not get off the couch, but I would force myself to get moving and it always made me feel better. Stay as active as you can physically and mentally.

peace to you
Dale
Posted 11/18/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JB,

I've had only two Lupron shots (4 mos ea. 30 Mg).  At first, I felt that I was depressed.  I am the first to admit that I am not very much in touch with my feelings, but was probably correct about depression.  Sometime after the 1st shot, I also felt a lot of fatigue.  It went away after a month or two and so did the depression.  I have tried to counter the side effects with treadmill and 5lb bar bells.

You will almost certainly get hot flashes.  I mentioned them to my uro and he asked if I wanted something for them.  I'm already on a bunch of meds and declined.  The flashes sometimes make me sweat some, but a tower fan quickly compensates.  They are not a big deal, and since the Lupron has brought my PSA down to 0.5 from 3.9, I have no complaints.

I echo the advice of a number of others here; be sure to exercise.  You will actually feel much better.  Second, check out Vitamin D and Calcium - ask your doc.  I am on a supplement of 2000 IU of Vit D, Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, and Boron.  My uro says it's the best supplement he knows of.

I may be one of the lucky ones, but I'm early in the HT treatment.  Can't really find much to complain about.

Good luck.

Gene in Md

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