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New Member Parpro Needs Help with Dad's Problems, Possible Side Effects of ADT and RT

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Posted 7/25/2018 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
I found a first post by a new member on a very old thread.

parpro said...
My father started experiencing elevated sugar, increased frequent urination ( every 2 hours all night long so he couldnt sleep) and vision changes including double vision ( when using both eyes and distance), blurred vision, shadows, hazy and ghost vision inconsistently. We saw a neurologist and an opthamologist for the double vision and despite multiple visits and a battery of tests ( including MRI) the root cause of the double vision changes are still a mystery and exist on a daily basis. We realized that the increase in urination, the vision changes and the sugar spike occurred 8 weeks after his Eligard shot dose. He started Radiation about 1.5 weeks after these symptoms started ( so not related). Drs argue it’s not related but it is listed as a rare side effect. It’s a 3 month shot, so what’s the alternative when the next shot is due? Has anyone else experienced this??

Make Parpro welcome.
Posted 7/25/2018 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Parpro,

Much of what you mention can be side effects of the Eligard. Frequent urination, especially at night, and blood sugar spikes are not particularly rare but the vision effects are more unusual.

There are two common types of hormone therapy drugs that are used for men with prostate cancer (often along with radiation treatments). They do opposite things but both achieve the same result. Eligard is a GnRH agonist that shuts down testosterone production by overstimulating receptors on the pituitary gland so it wears itself out and stops producing the hormones that control testosterone production. There are other drugs called GnRH antagonists that totally block those same pituitary receptors so they can't be stimulated-- this also results in the halting of testosterone production.

You might want to talk to his oncologist about switching to a GnRH antagonist (like Firmagon) for his next shot. The antagonists have their own side effects but its worth a try.
Posted 7/25/2018 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much! I am concerned since the sides effects ( double vision & up every 2 hours all night so is now sleep deprived) have a serious impact to his quality of life even before the radiation starts. I have discussed with his Urologist ( who doesn’t agree these side effects are related to Eligard since he’s never heard of double vision or sugar spikes from his previous patients) and suggested he find an alternative therapy preferably in oral form so it can be discontinued if side effects are too much to bear. I will mention the Firmagon. I hope to raise the profile on these side effects ( which are listed on the drug’s profile) since I suspect people may not associate certain side effects months after administration.
Posted 7/25/2018 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
When you say sugar spikes are you checking his blood glucose at home?
How old is your dad? The glucose, frequent urination and vision problems are all
symptoms of diabetes. I am sure you know that but do you have glucometer at home?
He may need insulin? I will go look up eligard- my husband gets his first shot next week.
I was a Public Health RN for 35 years- not an MD- but, if his blood glucose levels are
consistently over 200-250 he needs to see an endocrinologist?
Posted 7/25/2018 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Parpro,

The chances are your dad's urologist is right and the problem isn't related to the Eligard. Many of your dad's symptoms are listed as occasional side effects of Eligard but they don't happen very often and Kit is right that they are more common as symptoms of diabetes. You mentioned a neurologist and an ophthalmologist so I assumed you had talked to his primary care doctor to rule that out.

Firmagon is also a shot that lasts a long time but not as long as Eligard. Eligard comes (as I recall) in three and six month doses while Firmagon comes in one and three month doses. The main complaint we hear with firmagon is injection-site reactions. It's a shot you get in the fat under your skin on your stomach and about half the time the site will get red and sore (like having been stung by a hornet). This is worst for the first dose (which is bigger) and not generally as bad for maintenance doses.
Posted 7/25/2018 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Found an article that links eligard to “incident diabetes”. The SE of these meds are mind boggling.
Eligard and firmagon both are thought to mess with insulin receptors.
Sorry to ask again but do you have a machine to monitor your dad’s glucose?
Hate that he isn’t sleeping.
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