Can Lupron dosage be lowered to cut down on side effects?

@seabiscuit I wonder if the information in this link may be helpful?

- Lupron Dosing & Administration:
https://www.lupronpedpro.com/dosing-and-administration.html

Have you asked your oncologist if a custom dose would be an option to test a reduction in side effects?

Not a medical person so just my thoughts and perspective.

The objective behind taking Lupron is to shut down the production of testosterone from your testicles, getting your T level below 50, ideally 20. That shuts off the "fuel" which feeds prostate cancer.

It is this level of testosterone that results in the side affects we know so well - hot flashes, fatigue, genitalia shrinkage, loss of libido (80% of men do, I was in the 20% group, sigh...), muscle and joint stiffness, CV, metabolic and for some, cognitive and emotional issues.

So, not sure that adjusting the dosage changes the root cause of the side affects, castrate level of testosterone!

I did 18 months of Lupron, experienced all the side affects except the emotional. I did mitigate those side affects though through diet and exercise. The latter was not easy given the fatigue and muscle and joint stiffness.

There are other options which may to a degree have "lesser" side affects but they still zero out the testosterone which...

Kevin

Thanks Kevin. I have always had a low tolerance for medicine. And thru the years i found that cutting the prescription back gave me more of a desired effect rather than overkill with meds. Although this is my first with this kinda medicine. Dr prescribed me colestipol for diarhea years ago. He said take 1 pill 2 times a day. i couldnt go for a week. i started cutting pill in half. i got it down to 1/8 pill which stopped diarhea without constipation. however now i have constipation. i was told to take 1 teaspoon of this laxative. I take 1/8 teaspoon. works good for me. Just saying to me not one pill or treatment fits all. These were just a few examples, I have many more. I have learned something here . Appears to me this treatment is not a cure just a temporary set back for the cancer cells.

Thing thats gets me I was taking testosterone shots for low testosterone when i got cancer. Thats another story.

Thanks for your reply

Lupron is a suppressor, it does not kill prostate cancer cells like chemotherapy nor remove them like surgery does.

I took Lupron for 25 months. Now, two years after stopping it, my testosterone is about 15 and I cannot get it higher. I tried a testosterone replacement with my breath started to develop. I wish I would have terminated Lupron at 18 months when I told the doctor I had enough but he insisted I continue with it. Today I am always very fatigued.

I mean breasts, not breath.

I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 2 years ago .. only had 1 shot of Lupron .. then 20 radiation treatments.. that knock my PSA down below 0.5..for a year or so.. The mind is the most important sex organ.. at 84 it has been a wonderful life.. and its still going strong..

Thanks for all your comments.

I have a question....if hormone therapy only suppresses the growth of cancer cells, why isn't surgery to remove the cancer a more practical approach?

@kujhawk1978 and others concerning Lupron dosage.. There are articles (very complicated terms are used .. but your physician can help with those when given a copy...) The Body Mass Index (BMI) ... how "heavy, fat, obese" you are can affect how effective the Lupron dosage is .. The dosage is most often given without reference to BMI. https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/13/13/4027.short