Orgovyx and zytiga side effects

Posted by larryf954 @larryf954, Oct 19 4:53pm

I’m a 69 year old, who finished IMRT 5 weeks go and I’ve been on these ADT medications for 4 months now. This last week my fatigue has increased significantly. I’m not surprised but I’m disappointed as I was feeling better after 3 weeks of post radiation difficulty. If you had a similar treatment regiment I’d appreciate it if you would share your side effect experience during the 4-6 month time frame. Wondering what I should expect over the next few months. Thanks

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@jeffmarc

Taking one pill of Abiraterone really does work with a low-fat breakfast. It’s equivalent to taking four pills on an empty stomach. If you end up having to pay for Zytiga it’s definitely a cheaper solution.

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There was an article about low dose Abi here:
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.19.00341
Some people are using it in India to save money.

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@jeffmarc

I looked it up before I replied to you. That’s why I knew that it was an ADT medicine. Have you noticed that the side effects mentioned in here have been fewer with Trelstar, their documentation doesn’t seem to differentiate side effects.?

I know that with estrogen side effects or fewer, and it can be used instead of ADT according to the recent patch trial just completed.

It is so strange after all these years of hearing people talk about their ADT That I’ve never heard of Trelstar.

Did your doctor ever mention why he’s using that instead of Lupron or Orgovyx?

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I ll ask him that question on Oct 31, when I see him and then afterwards I get my butt shot of Trelstar

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@akiwi

There was an article about low dose Abi here:
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.19.00341
Some people are using it in India to save money.

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The weekly online advanced prostate cancer group I participate in with Ancan.org has a few people in it that have gone to one pill a day with a low-fat breakfast. For some reason, not all doctors are familiar with this as an option.

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I get firmagon shot once a month, I take Zytiga 4 pills and prednisone twice a day. As far as fatigue goes, it is somewhat manageable but going through it day after day, mentally, it wears me down. I won't be running any marathon any time soon. Still on my feet 8 hours a day at work and the fatigue has an effect. Hopefully age is playing a part in this, almost 70. All the time we can read on here of those going through fatigue and it's not something enjoyable for sure. All we can do is do the best we can and get by. Best to all.

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One more thing I wanted to mention, I had some really bad leg pain at the beginning, started out as stage 4 metastasized to the bone. No matter how fatigued I get no way will I stop the treatment. Pain or tired, I take tired every time. My meds are forever or until they stop working. Not easy to accept but don't have much choice. And on we march. Best to all.

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@stevecando54

I get firmagon shot once a month, I take Zytiga 4 pills and prednisone twice a day. As far as fatigue goes, it is somewhat manageable but going through it day after day, mentally, it wears me down. I won't be running any marathon any time soon. Still on my feet 8 hours a day at work and the fatigue has an effect. Hopefully age is playing a part in this, almost 70. All the time we can read on here of those going through fatigue and it's not something enjoyable for sure. All we can do is do the best we can and get by. Best to all.

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If you’re having a problem with fatigue, more prednisone may resolve the problem. I was in a ZERO online prostate cancer meeting a couple of weeks ago and one of the doctors was talking about his fatigue. He had a Gleason 9 and was on zytiga and prednisone. He had a real problem with fatigue so he increased his prednisone from 5 mg to 7 1/2 and that helped with his fatigue a lot. I have somebody I was working with, his fatigue was so bad that after getting out of bed he had to go back to sleep for three hours because he couldn’t get up. I told him about this doctor and the prednisone and recommended He ask his oncologist if he could increase his prednisone. His oncologist agreed to increase it to 10 mg. He told me yesterday it made a big difference. He’s gone two days without having to take a nap and he’s less tired when he wakes up.

7 1/2 mg may do it for you. Ask your doctor.

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@jeffmarc

If you’re having a problem with fatigue, more prednisone may resolve the problem. I was in a ZERO online prostate cancer meeting a couple of weeks ago and one of the doctors was talking about his fatigue. He had a Gleason 9 and was on zytiga and prednisone. He had a real problem with fatigue so he increased his prednisone from 5 mg to 7 1/2 and that helped with his fatigue a lot. I have somebody I was working with, his fatigue was so bad that after getting out of bed he had to go back to sleep for three hours because he couldn’t get up. I told him about this doctor and the prednisone and recommended He ask his oncologist if he could increase his prednisone. His oncologist agreed to increase it to 10 mg. He told me yesterday it made a big difference. He’s gone two days without having to take a nap and he’s less tired when he wakes up.

7 1/2 mg may do it for you. Ask your doctor.

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I've been taking 10mg since the beginning, dr said that was recommended dosage. I struggle with it at times but just have to learn to live with it.

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Just a month on Orgovyx so I can't contribute much except to say my fatigue is a bit worse than usual (I am 72.5 yo). I find slow jogging on my trampoline helps. Wish you the best!

A much bigger problem for me is constipation. I have a history of slow intestinal transit, but was able to manage with OTC meds. The Orgovyx seems to have made my constipation much worse. If it doesn't decrease, I will have to stop it. I was scheduled for four months (Gleason 7 (4+3) localized to prostate. PSA 6.7 Anyone else out there experienced constipation with Orgovyx? Thanks!

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@mark1952

Just a month on Orgovyx so I can't contribute much except to say my fatigue is a bit worse than usual (I am 72.5 yo). I find slow jogging on my trampoline helps. Wish you the best!

A much bigger problem for me is constipation. I have a history of slow intestinal transit, but was able to manage with OTC meds. The Orgovyx seems to have made my constipation much worse. If it doesn't decrease, I will have to stop it. I was scheduled for four months (Gleason 7 (4+3) localized to prostate. PSA 6.7 Anyone else out there experienced constipation with Orgovyx? Thanks!

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I have found constipation is quite common when taking prostate cancer drugs, not just Orgovyx.

I’ve been been taking three senna and two colace twice a day for a few years to offset the constipation. Sometimes I even need to take MiraLAX, but not very often.

Stopping Orgovyx could result in you having your cancer come back very quickly. You’ll get the same results with Lupron or Eligard. It’s just something you have to live with, with prostate cancer drugs.

The NCCN standard calls for you to be on ADT for six months, not four.

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@jeffmarc

I have found constipation is quite common when taking prostate cancer drugs, not just Orgovyx.

I’ve been been taking three senna and two colace twice a day for a few years to offset the constipation. Sometimes I even need to take MiraLAX, but not very often.

Stopping Orgovyx could result in you having your cancer come back very quickly. You’ll get the same results with Lupron or Eligard. It’s just something you have to live with, with prostate cancer drugs.

The NCCN standard calls for you to be on ADT for six months, not four.

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Jeffmarc,
Thanks so much for the information. So you have been taking 6 senna and four Colace pills a day, plus occasionally some MiraLAX, for a few years with, I assume, no negative effects. That it really helpful for me to hear. I guess I don't need to be so afraid of those higher doses damaging my colon. I discussed my constipation with my Radiation Oncologist before starting down this path and she made it clear she requires a clean colon to administer the radiation to the prostate. I'll ask her about the NCCN standard. Curiously, before my cardiologist cleared me for ADT, my RO told me I would be fine with no ADT, just radiation. She said ADT would accelerate my atherosclerosis. Once my cardiologist cleared me for ADT, ADT became necessary... Thanks again!

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