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!