On Lupron experiencing major depression and anxiety

I had the same experience from Lupron and just was generally miserable when I first started taking ADT. If you read my posts from last August you will see how bad things were.

My depression got so bad I started having suicidal thoughts, and thoughts of just refusing treatment. I did several things that were helpful. I'm putting down the cost (U.S.) since I know some of these things are expensive but most aren't.

1. Started exercising like crazy. Gym: $20 a month. Walking 3-5 miles: free. Bicycling: Free (if you already have a bike)

2. Joined a support group (free) and this forum (free). Have been attending support group meetings regularly. You can find a good list at Zero (https://zerocancer.org/help-and-support/find-support-group). Some are more focused on physical aspects of treatment, some on emotional/mental and some are balanced. I tried two before finding one I really liked.

3. Began seeing a therapist. $225 a session, my insurance paid $200. If you're on Medicare I think they pay about the same amount.

4. Started taking Wellbutrin prescribed by my GP at the advice of therapist: Cost: $5 a month (with insurance), $15 without using GoodRX or another discount coupon.

5. Volunteer work (free). Let's me help others and do something unrelated to prostate cancer.

I switched from Lupron to Orgovyx halfway through my treatment and things were better, but I don't know if that was due to the change in medication or because I was doing all these other things to feel better. I 100% get how you are feeling. These drugs affect everyone differently. For example, I never got hot flashes. Others never got depression.

I'm newly diagnosed with PC -- new to this site -- and was interested in your post re: Lupron. I've been dealing with low/no T for decades...
I had testicular cancer -- twice -- so, after the second orchiectomy, and without adequate TRT at the time, I developed major depression and anxiety. So, yes, no testosterone can really suck, whatever the cause of the low/no T is.
For me, exercise, meditation and lots of mental health counseling helped much more than a raft of trial-and-error anti-depressants and other psychotropics. (I "fired" my idiot psychiatrist last year. I'm a retired pharmacist myself, and I should have known better than to let him over-prescribe the way he did, but I was sick (duh)...
My urologist will let me know next week if I must stop my testosterone injections now. Frankly, that scares me almost as much as one more cancer does...

I had my prostate removed in April of 21 was doing well until labs early 24 it returned in my lymph nodes started lupron and radiation March 24 finished radiation in May 25 moved out of state started new onocologist last month he’s made tbe changes . I was curious also about tbt T injections the way I understand it they are small doses to ez the side effects I’ll find out more in a couple weeks thanks for the input !!

Did th T injection help with any side effects

I had my prostate removed in April of 21 was doing well until labs early 24 it returned in my lymph nodes started lupron and radiation March 24 finished radiation in May 25 moved out of state started new onocologist last month he’s made tbe changes . I was curious also about tbt T injections the way I understand it they are small doses to ez the side effects I’ll find out more in a couple weeks thanks for the input !!

Hang in there.

I'm a third of my way through two years of Lupron and Abiraterone and the mood swings and depression etc are very real. In the past I've been accused by more than one partner of being too level - I wonder if they'd like the mood swinging version of me! I was never anxious and never depressed.

I don't remember if you had surgery or radiation (if you said) but it seems that both cause serious urinary issues. I had EBRT so my issues should have been less than those who had RP but I can assure you that the nocturia, urgency, weak stream, burning were all introducing me to depression. Tamsulosin helped maybe for a week. I realized that some of the issues were psychological but I couldn't get a handle on them.

My regular doctor prescribed me Bupropion xl tab 150mg x 3 (450mg) at the beginning of my treatments (I took it proactively!) I started at 300mg and recently I asked her to increase it because I felt that the initial benefits were wearing off. I have noticed that this drug really helps me to focus and get things done. But I've still been depressed and mood swingy so who knows if the drug is mitigating this or not. But at least I'm doing much better with my housekeeping!

I had a follow up with my radiologist and she prescribed me Oxybutynin ER 5 MG Tb24. I picked it up that day and took my first dose that night. I was flying to Las Vegas the very next day, with seats booked near the bathroom, and plenty of pads packed. Amazingly I over slept! It wasn't a serious problem, I just had things to do before I left, but I had not set an alarm because I expected to be up many times. I could write a book on how horrible my issues were (to me at least) and how amazing the fix felt.

Push your doctors for drugs, try them, stop them, whatever works. Incidentally I'm down to a 1/2 dose of Tamsulosin and a 2/3 dose of Gabapentin (for hot flashes). My plan is to stop the Tamsulosin next week and then try to get off the Oxybutynin.

So, hang in there, try to get the urinary issues under control, and don't make life altering decisions at the bottom of the mood curve. Realize that it's not a fixed sine wave, you can reduce the troughs and extend the peaks. And enjoy our new found respect for and understanding of women!

Hang in there.

I'm a third of my way through two years of Lupron and Abiraterone and the mood swings and depression etc are very real. In the past I've been accused by more than one partner of being too level - I wonder if they'd like the mood swinging version of me! I was never anxious and never depressed.

I don't remember if you had surgery or radiation (if you said) but it seems that both cause serious urinary issues. I had EBRT so my issues should have been less than those who had RP but I can assure you that the nocturia, urgency, weak stream, burning were all introducing me to depression. Tamsulosin helped maybe for a week. I realized that some of the issues were psychological but I couldn't get a handle on them.

My regular doctor prescribed me Bupropion xl tab 150mg x 3 (450mg) at the beginning of my treatments (I took it proactively!) I started at 300mg and recently I asked her to increase it because I felt that the initial benefits were wearing off. I have noticed that this drug really helps me to focus and get things done. But I've still been depressed and mood swingy so who knows if the drug is mitigating this or not. But at least I'm doing much better with my housekeeping!

I had a follow up with my radiologist and she prescribed me Oxybutynin ER 5 MG Tb24. I picked it up that day and took my first dose that night. I was flying to Las Vegas the very next day, with seats booked near the bathroom, and plenty of pads packed. Amazingly I over slept! It wasn't a serious problem, I just had things to do before I left, but I had not set an alarm because I expected to be up many times. I could write a book on how horrible my issues were (to me at least) and how amazing the fix felt.

Push your doctors for drugs, try them, stop them, whatever works. Incidentally I'm down to a 1/2 dose of Tamsulosin and a 2/3 dose of Gabapentin (for hot flashes). My plan is to stop the Tamsulosin next week and then try to get off the Oxybutynin.

So, hang in there, try to get the urinary issues under control, and don't make life altering decisions at the bottom of the mood curve. Realize that it's not a fixed sine wave, you can reduce the troughs and extend the peaks. And enjoy our new found respect for and understanding of women!