Connect
Lupron dosing: side effects for 3 month dose vs. monthly dose
I have been very fortunate in my Prostate cancer recovery. I have had virtually no side
effects from the radiation, and until the last six months, no side effects from the Lupron
injections that I am scheduled to receive for a total of 24 months.
Initially I took several shots on a monthly basis, then took a 3 month dosage. Again no
real side effects. Since I was going to be away from the Mayo Clinic in Florida for
several months I took a 6 month dosage shot.
Within 3 weeks I was a wreck. No energy at all. Did not even want to get out of bed in
the morning. Muscle aches and constant cramping, especially in calves. I could
remember names or dates and felt like I was in some insane type of dream.
It was horrible. I considered quitting the Lupron even though my doctor said it was a
vital part of my treatment.
So, I decided to go back to a monthly shot, hoping it would not be as lethal to my health.
Within 2 weeks I had so much more energy it felt as though I was given some other type
of drug. Muscle pain and cramping lessened and overall I felt much better.
I am writing this to the group to see if anyone else has gone through this when going to
the longer acting dosages. I could find nothing on any sites or any studies that even
mentioned dosage and side effects comparisons.
For now I will continue with a monthly program and hope the better feeling continues.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Connect
Thank you for this info I am seeing my Dr to change my dosage to one month.
I am on my 4th month of a 6 month and have noticed greatly increased fatigue while walking. I normally walk between 5 and 8 miles a day in 2 and 3 mile increments several times a day. At the end of my trips when ascending very slight grades my fatigue is so great I almost have to stop and rest before going on. At times I also become dizzy. My heart rate is only ~ 110 bpm.
I remember that same feeling. I felt so bad that I went to see a cardiologist. Really frightened me until my doctor said every single one of the side effects could be attributed to the Lupron. The good news, I hope for you, is that when I changed back to a monthly shot I seemed to immediately have much more energy and less muscle and joint pain. I will NOT do a multi month shot of Lupron again. It is a nasty drug but effective.
I just finished my third month of single month Lupron injections. The change in mental sharpness motivation, absence of most cramping, muscle and joint pain, has been amazing in my case. Don't know if you will have the same results or not, but all my blood numbers, (PSA and T Levels) have remained the same. I only took one three month dose and it did not affect me enough that I noticed. Hope this helps. I can't wait to get off this crap!
Thanks I am going to give it a try next go around for me is July so I think I will take a one or two month holiday from Lupron and try your approach and see how it affects me. I really appreciate you telling me about your experience.
I had the 6 month shot exactly 6 months ago today. I had the occasional calf cramps, fatigue, and heart issues. I took my proton treatment at Mayo in Phoenix and finished 44 sessions on April 9th. My scariest side effects from the Eligard or Luporon is my rapid heart beating when hiking or walking. When under physical stress if a long walk or slight grade my heart jumps to 100 to 140 BPM, I get dizzy and weak and frequently have to stop and recover. I have had similar but much less severe experiences like this before the Eligard injection but far less of a problem. So I assume the hormone shot has made my situation far worse.
Thank you for your info on definitely changing how I do things. Grateful for your info and hope it works for me.
I had two years of Lupron injections after prostate removal and 44 radiation treatments. I have no energy. I am fatigued all the time. I am incontinent. I have no libido. Good news is PSA and T scores are close to zero. Maybe I should have done monthly injections.
I have been on lupron for 13 months radiation for 39 visits now and just got the 6 month shot,,side effects almost nothing, I exercise almost everyday in a gym or out cycling . Tried erleada and could only do it for 2 months terrible side effects so my oncologist asked me " what do you want to do" . He considers lupron the heavy hitter, the most important factor so I choose the six month lupron and it will end at the 18 month cycle and I am considering extending it in 1 or 2 months interval in an attempt to go for 2 years . so far psa holding steady at .01 for 10 months.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am now 8 years into the battle. Surgery with clean margins but one year later PSA spiked. Then radiation and Lupron combined with two years of 150mg/day Bicalutimide. psa undetectable but then PSA then returned after 14 months. Treated angain but only get 6 month undetectable. We are now doing 3 month intermittent treatments of Lupron and 50mg/day Bicalutimide. This gives my body time to recover a bit for my bones, liver and muscles. The first time my PSA stayed undetectable for 14 months, but we found three very small tumors in my pelvic lymph nodes. Treated again and only got 6 months. Treated again this week and will check PSA every two months going forward. Our plan is to treat when PSA is above 2.0. Keep doing it till I become resistant and then either find an alternative drug or go to continuous treatment to keep the PSA below 2.0. I am tolerating it all well with moderate hot flashes. But not sure what I can do about then belly fat I am accumulating. Hate that, but it’s vanity.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction