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Chemical castration with Lupron- any info? Was No Subject

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Posted 6/29/2010 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
I was watching a show called lock up on tv the other night and they was talking about chemical castration for sex offenders.And I never gave this subject much thought until I heard what they use to perform this feat.When I heard the word lupron my ears perked up and started listening.then as usual I fell asleep now I am going to do a little research. I turned down my injection of lupron after my post rad psa.If anyone has any insight on this subject I sure would like your input.

Zach

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Post Edited By Moderator (James C.) : 6/29/2010 7:28:35 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/29/2010 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have much information to offer about Lupron but I did receive my first and only shot of it during the last of this past February. I'm still having some hot flashes and the sex drive is down to ZERO. Now, although I am "up in age" - 73, I was still quite sexually active until I got the PC Dx and the Lupron really took care of all desire. Hope this stuff wears off soon. Also, noticed the testicles have gotten MUCH smaller. When this stuff wears off, I hope to be back to "normal" what ever is normal for this 73 year old chap.
Posted 6/29/2010 6:12 PM (GMT 0)

"Lupron is a man-made form of a hormone that regulates many processes in the body. Leuprolide overstimulates the body's own production of certain hormones, which causes that production to shut down temporarily. It reduces the amount of testosterone in men or estrogen in women.

Less serious Lupron side effects may include:

impotence, loss of interest in sex"

Much more here: http://www.drugs.com/lupron.html

 

Posted 6/29/2010 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Zach,

Just out of curiousity what was your post rad psa?? I think you had your info posted, or maybe I am confusing you with someone else. Thanks.

Lynne

Posted 6/30/2010 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Zach:

What Lupron does is chemically signal your brain that the body is making too much testosterone. The brain signals the testicles to stop making it.

That's why it is called "chemical castration". Unlike real castration however, when the drug is stopped, normal function returns (hopefully)

I've often thought about that same thing on sex offenders.

I've been on Lupron for about nine months now and let me tell you for sure that you not only lose the ability to get an erection, but you don't even WANT to play anymore. (loss of libido). It is a VERY weird feeling.

You might want to Google "YANA" which will take you to the You Are Not Alone site which has some great information about hormone therapy and every other therapy as will.

...Don

Posted 8/18/2011 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

 I'm on my second injection(4 months) of Lupron and like most of you I have Zero interest in sex and haven't had an erection since I started this stuff. I cannot get any support/advice on possible ways to treat these side affects and I'm starting to believe there are no other options. My urologists suggested I say on this stuff for 2-3 years......not a chance in hell.....I'm doing 9 months and that's it.....I'd be interested in hearing other people's stories and how they're dealing with this treatment.....btw I'm 52 and previous to this we had a pretty healthy sex life! 

I'm  at stage T2c, Gleason grade 8-10 and a PSA level of 10.6 and was not showing any symptoms whatsoever......I just went for a PSA test because my brother was diagnosed several years ago. Despite my lack of symptoms, my diagnosis is considered a high risk disease and my treatment recommendations are External Beam Radiation + Radiation Seed Implants + Hormone Treatment. I just started taking 50mg of Bicalutamide tablets per day and I'm scheduled to get 22.5 mg Lupron Depot injections every 3 months.

Posted 8/18/2011 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Glenn,

Welcome to HW. Sorry you find yourself here.

You'll find a lot of comment on HT these days, as several of us are facing it as part of our Surgery > RT > ?? paths.

You may want to open a new thread so that others will recognize that there is a new face in the crowd.

Posted 8/18/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
 >>When this stuff wears off, I hope to be back to "normal" what ever is normal for this 73 year old chap.<<

my testosterone went from 6 to 540 in three months.  i feel like the incredible hulk on most days.  i'm stronger than i have been in years and my libido is back but my function isn't quite the same but good enough.  also i am detoxing celexa which has given me quite an attitude but has really increased my energy like i'm on speed or something.  through dieting i've lost more than half of my hormonal mantle of fat and still losing at a good clip.

tomorrow i go in for my latest PSA reading.  i could call right now and get the number but i'll wait till i see my doctor.  guess what i want to hear

cool  ?

ed

 

Posted 8/18/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Less serious Lupron side effects may include:

good point Steve.  the side effects we generally whine and wail about are the less serious side effects.  the lupron could just kill you or worse cool .

ed

Posted 8/19/2011 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
My U-doc pretty much told me that after you have been on Lupron or any of its clones for two years or more, the damage is pretty much done and the chances of anything coming back are slim....But when you are in the Gleason 8+ boat, you don't argue with the doctors TOO much...But I'm thinking like Glenn, I'll do a year but then I'd like to see if the radiation worked or not.....
Posted 8/19/2011 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
So when does Lupron kick in to the fullest. Ive been on it for 36 days now and have yet to have a hot flash and still have sex with my wife....its a challenge...but the interset is still strong and I am able to use a ring to maintain my erection.

I'm not so sure it kills all your sex drive....my last testosterone reading 2 weeks ago was 82...so Im thinking by now its close or at castration level. I asked my dr and he said I should already be at the right level.

maybe I will be one of the lucky few who suffer no side effects.

It has lowered my PSA from 94 to 17 in just 35 days though.

Posted 8/19/2011 1:57 PM (GMT 0)

Fairwind said...
My U-doc pretty much told me that after you have been on Lupron or any of its clones for two years or more, the damage is pretty much done and the chances of anything coming back are slim....But when you are in the Gleason 8+ boat, you don't argue with the doctors TOO much...But I'm thinking like Glenn, I'll do a year but then I'd like to see if the radiation worked or not.....

 

 

Normally I would agree with you about not arguing with the Doctors, but my URO recommended 2-3 years and my local raditation OCO agreed.....then my HDR OCO said that there's no proof that the HT has any value after 1 year.....there is also supporting documantation about doing the on/off HT. I had convinced my local OCO to take me off the HT all together but my HDR OCO suggested I stay on for at least 9 months for my treatment to be effective

The hormones, when used in prostate cancer can have different goals.

The way I see it in your case, the Bicalutamide (used short term) helps

prepare the body for the injections.

The injections are used to starve cancer cells (as part of the treatment

process). A starved cell is less likely to resist against radiation

therapy. Since the cancer cells in your case were more aggressive, it is

recommended to starve them for a longer period of time.

Some studies have shown that higher doses of radiation (HDR) combined

with hormone injections for more that a year, have proven to give better

long term outcome.

 

Posted 8/19/2011 1:59 PM (GMT 0)

Casper319 said...
So when does Lupron kick in to the fullest. Ive been on it for 36 days now and have yet to have a hot flash and still have sex with my wife....its a challenge...but the interset is still strong and I am able to use a ring to maintain my erection.

I'm not so sure it kills all your sex drive....my last testosterone reading 2 weeks ago was 82...so Im thinking by now its close or at castration level. I asked my dr and he said I should already be at the right level.

maybe I will be one of the lucky few who suffer no side effects.

It has lowered my PSA from 94 to 17 in just 35 days though.

What dosage of Lupron are you on?

Posted 8/19/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Glenn, I am on the 4 month dose of 30MG.  I get 3 shots for the year.
Posted 8/19/2011 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
my last testosterone reading 2 weeks ago was 82...so Im thinking by now its close or at castration level.

that's not castration level.  when you view women with about as much interest as a seagull you'll know you are there.  my testosterone went to 6.  good luck.

ed

 

Posted 8/19/2011 2:15 PM (GMT 0)

Casper319 said...
Glenn, I am on the 4 month dose of 30MG.  I get 3 shots for the year.

 

I'm on 22.5mg every 3 months......did you do the the 30 days of Bicalutamide (used short term) helps prepare the body for the injections? and are you having any symptoms at all?

Posted 8/19/2011 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Glenn, no...didnt do the Bicalutamide...just the Lupron. I hear they have a new shot thats good for 6 months...Lupron 45. I guess as long as it adds to 90 MGs for the year you are good.

I have had no side effects yet and the docs told me it should be in full effect. Im on a cliniacl trial comparing Lupron to GTx so its all free for my insurance.

No hot flashes yet but its not easy getting an erection but I still feel the desire and can have good sex usin a ring to maintain my erection. Maybe I just havent waited long enough. My last testosterone reading was 82 but it was 2 weeks ago at day 28. Im thinking by now its closer to 50...will find out next week. It had my PSA go from 94 to 56 to 32 to 17 in 4 weeks so I'll just wait and see. The good thing about being in a clinical study is they do PSA bloodwork once a week for the first 2 months or so.

I just thought I'd give others a little hopw who dont want HT who are afraid to lose there sex life. Maybe I'll be singing a different tune a month from now...LOL
Posted 8/19/2011 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ed...I believe I was going thru the testosterone spike they talked about where it goes up the first 2 weeks. I thought catration level was below 50.
Posted 8/19/2011 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
I was on HT for 6 months. I am now on a vacation.  My last injection was in February. Started with Casodex two weeks prior to my first injection of Zoladex(similar to Lupron) and two weeks after the first injection. This was to avoid any T flare. After three months my PSA dropped to <.04 where it remains today and my T levels dropped to .08 and then .07 nmol/L where it presently remains (chemical castration levels).

Jack

Posted 8/19/2011 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
"So when does Lupron kick in to the fullest. Ive been on it for 36 days now and have yet to have a hot flash and still have sex with my wife....its a challenge...but the interset is still strong and I am able to use a ring to maintain my erection." <Casper>

You will hit the wall at about the 3 month mark..Hot flashes, no libido, no erections..At 6 months, you will start noticing the weight gain and maybe some breast development..Most of your body hair will be gone..

Good luck....
Posted 8/20/2011 1:08 PM (GMT 0)

Fairwind said...
"So when does Lupron kick in to the fullest. Ive been on it for 36 days now and have yet to have a hot flash and still have sex with my wife....its a challenge...but the interset is still strong and I am able to use a ring to maintain my erection." <Casper>

You will hit the wall at about the 3 month mark..Hot flashes, no libido, no erections..At 6 months, you will start noticing the weight gain and maybe some breast development..Most of your body hair will be gone..

Good luck....

Oh come on now.....you're stretching the side effects a tad.... confused

The most common side effects of Lupron Depot include: hot flashes/sweats, injection site reaction/pain, general pain, swelling, testicular shrinkage, difficulty urinating, fatigue/weakness, headache, and joint, GI, and respiratory problems.
Posted 8/20/2011 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
true glenn but Ive also read about body hair loss, weight gain and breast development as being side effects on some people too.

I think it just depends on the person. My docs told me you may get 1 or 2 or many of the symptoms but they also told me you may not get any. I'm just going to wait and see.
Posted 8/20/2011 1:35 PM (GMT 0)

Casper319 said...
true glenn but Ive also read about body hair loss, weight gain and breast development as being side effects on some people too.

I think it just depends on the person. My docs told me you may get 1 or 2 or many of the symptoms but they also told me you may not get any. I'm just going to wait and see.

I hear ya......I'm sticking with thinking positive, eating healthy and continuous exercise.....I'm back on my bike Sept 1!
Posted 8/20/2011 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Glenn...could you please tell me how you get your response to show up outside the other persons quote box.....every time I doo it it goes with the other quote and looks like one persons paragraph. Ive tried tabbibg and entering but didnt work.
Posted 8/20/2011 2:02 PM (GMT 0)

Casper319 said...
Glenn...could you please tell me how you get your response to show up outside the other persons quote box.....every time I doo it it goes with the other quote and looks like one persons paragraph. Ive tried tabbibg and entering but didnt work.

I just use the "quote this post" tab in the top right had corner and this window pops open and start my post after the last quote!
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