How long do Lupron side effects last after treatment concludes?

Posted by jbuuck @jonbuuck, May 10, 2021

I've been on Lupron for two years. The treatments have ended. How long do the side effects last? Thanks for any insight you can provide.

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Hey Pwitkin!
Have a Happy 70th Birthday! and make sure to keep posting so we can all CeleBrate Your 80th!!!!!!!! Keep on Going Brothers!
I had 25 EBRT, HIR and 2-1/4 years of Lupron Shots. I temporarily stopped the shots May '23; I am planning to start Lupron again after an 18 month break (tentatively; based upon PSA rise{has stayed at 0.03 down from 20.0}) in an attempt to "thread the needle" of recovering from the side effects of the Lupron and Bull-Fighting with the seeded prostate cancer cells to try to keep them "asleep" and not be stimulated into mutating into the most aggressive prostate cancer cell by using the Lupron for 2-1/4 years and 18 months break cycles, hopefully into my 100's. (Why not stay optimistic!?!)
I know I may be very foolish by having a break from the Lupron rather than just keep it flowing every three months.
A question for the Moderator of this posting site: Is there a central web address for all of the clinical trials in the U.S. related to PC and its metasis?

Jbuuck! Lupron has totally removed the gift of the Marriage Embrace, as well as my former great muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity- I no longer jog marathons which diminished to walking 20 miles, which is now walking 6 miles at 2.75 - 3.0 mph, max. Muscle and joint pain is still present but has not been as delapitating where it had started to interfer with social interactions, not wanting or having the energy to talk or play cards, concentrate on conversations because of energy and focus on trying not to be in pain. From 230 lbs now 263 lbs (and I'm not a prospect as an NFL Linebacker!), brain fog still present (but I have stopped and asked for directions when driving!) Life has changed, but is still a magnificent and marvelous Gift from Our Creator. So I hope all of us who have been diminished in our physical sevice to others will still help others by praying for others and our world. God Bless you all and yours.

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@weakbutstrong

Hey Pwitkin!
Have a Happy 70th Birthday! and make sure to keep posting so we can all CeleBrate Your 80th!!!!!!!! Keep on Going Brothers!
I had 25 EBRT, HIR and 2-1/4 years of Lupron Shots. I temporarily stopped the shots May '23; I am planning to start Lupron again after an 18 month break (tentatively; based upon PSA rise{has stayed at 0.03 down from 20.0}) in an attempt to "thread the needle" of recovering from the side effects of the Lupron and Bull-Fighting with the seeded prostate cancer cells to try to keep them "asleep" and not be stimulated into mutating into the most aggressive prostate cancer cell by using the Lupron for 2-1/4 years and 18 months break cycles, hopefully into my 100's. (Why not stay optimistic!?!)
I know I may be very foolish by having a break from the Lupron rather than just keep it flowing every three months.
A question for the Moderator of this posting site: Is there a central web address for all of the clinical trials in the U.S. related to PC and its metasis?

Jbuuck! Lupron has totally removed the gift of the Marriage Embrace, as well as my former great muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity- I no longer jog marathons which diminished to walking 20 miles, which is now walking 6 miles at 2.75 - 3.0 mph, max. Muscle and joint pain is still present but has not been as delapitating where it had started to interfer with social interactions, not wanting or having the energy to talk or play cards, concentrate on conversations because of energy and focus on trying not to be in pain. From 230 lbs now 263 lbs (and I'm not a prospect as an NFL Linebacker!), brain fog still present (but I have stopped and asked for directions when driving!) Life has changed, but is still a magnificent and marvelous Gift from Our Creator. So I hope all of us who have been diminished in our physical sevice to others will still help others by praying for others and our world. God Bless you all and yours.

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Thank you sharing🤗 I am a caregiver: just to make sure I understood
your PSA levels started going up and that is why you are taking a break as well as due to side effects from Lupron? Wonderful optimistic attitude take care and God bless you many more years of life.

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Sorry, for confusing you Caregiver, English is only my first language for nearly 70 years and I still haven't mastered it!
My original PSA at discovery was 20.0. After 25 EBRT, HIR and 2-1/4 years of Lupron shots ( 1 @ 3 month intervals) current PSA is 0.03. Temporary halt to the injections of the Lupron based upon my joint and muscle pain and fatigue. I'll start it up again by November of 2024 at the latest, hopefully to again be able to endure the shots and their side effects for 2-1/4 additional years and then cycle off and on for hopefully beyond life expectancy. My Team of Doctors have said there really is no peer-reviewed studies for my particular case- I'm an outlier.
My 12 biopsy samples were 4+3's and 4+4's in 5 of the 6 cross-sections so I'm a high 7, low 8 Gleason score, High Risk PC. My second opinion Doctor , based upon his many years of experience suspected that at least some prostate cancer cells have transported themselves and are "seeded"; figuring that I have had PC for at least 13 years before my diagnosis. He shared a longetudinal study of men older than me and their treatments. This study, and I apologize I don't remember its title, year or any of the researchers names, suggested that those individuals who had EBRT, HIR and ADT (forever) had a 3% All-Cause Mortality after 8 years vs. other protocols that had higher ACM, one at nearly a 30% ACM! I noted that surgery and Lupron for only 2 years had an ACM rise dramatically after an additional 2-3 years of being off the ADT. This is why, in my mind, I am trying to "thread the needle" between QOL and PC cell mutation into Agressive ADT resistive cells that will really "get me" in both categories. I hope that 18 months off isn't enough time to "awaken" the cancer cells so they start to produce their own testesterone or grow on their own regardless of T-Levels. Thank you for your concern and your work, I appreciate your efforts! If you know of any studies I could read or better yet any on-line journals we survivors can access please post it in this string. God Bless,

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I am 76 yrs old. I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2006, and doctor reported prostate was fully encapsulated. In late 2016, I had a biochemical recurrence, and began Lupron and Casodex in Feb 2017. I have been on this treatment continuously since, with one treatment holiday beginning Nov 2021 and lasting for two years, taking only the Casodex. I have had two monthly Lupron injections beginning Nov. A different oncologist suggested Orgovyx rather than Lupron, but I see no benefit since my testosterone is already now low and my psa below 1.0 and dropping still. I have learned to tolerate the side effects as the price to pay for keeping the cancer at bay. The injection is just a nuisance. Can anyone suggest a good reason why Orgovyx is somehow superior to Lupron in terms of their effectiveness?

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My question, do the side effects stay fairly prevalent throughout the 6 months run each time??
Aching joints, endless peeing, lard gut stomach, rough exercising, etc.

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@mauinokaoi

I am 76 yrs old. I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2006, and doctor reported prostate was fully encapsulated. In late 2016, I had a biochemical recurrence, and began Lupron and Casodex in Feb 2017. I have been on this treatment continuously since, with one treatment holiday beginning Nov 2021 and lasting for two years, taking only the Casodex. I have had two monthly Lupron injections beginning Nov. A different oncologist suggested Orgovyx rather than Lupron, but I see no benefit since my testosterone is already now low and my psa below 1.0 and dropping still. I have learned to tolerate the side effects as the price to pay for keeping the cancer at bay. The injection is just a nuisance. Can anyone suggest a good reason why Orgovyx is somehow superior to Lupron in terms of their effectiveness?

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Good question, @mauinokaoi. I wonder if you might get an answer from the guys talking in this discussion:
- What's your experience with Orgovyx (relugolix)?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/the-orgovyx-thread/

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I don't know anything about it. Check with your Doctor or Her / His NP for risks and benefits of each; and if you have additional health issues is that / are they factors in selecting this medicine over another. God Bless.

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@mauinokaoi

I am 76 yrs old. I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2006, and doctor reported prostate was fully encapsulated. In late 2016, I had a biochemical recurrence, and began Lupron and Casodex in Feb 2017. I have been on this treatment continuously since, with one treatment holiday beginning Nov 2021 and lasting for two years, taking only the Casodex. I have had two monthly Lupron injections beginning Nov. A different oncologist suggested Orgovyx rather than Lupron, but I see no benefit since my testosterone is already now low and my psa below 1.0 and dropping still. I have learned to tolerate the side effects as the price to pay for keeping the cancer at bay. The injection is just a nuisance. Can anyone suggest a good reason why Orgovyx is somehow superior to Lupron in terms of their effectiveness?

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mauinokaoi,
I'm replying with the orgovxy site because it shows you a timeline with testosterone supression between the two lupron and orgovyx. Orgovyx provides a more steady dose because you take it everyday. We don't know what the psa does between lab draws, I assume it rises and falls with the testosterone levels.
I know far less than you do about all this. https://www.orgovyxhcp.com/efficacy/

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@mauinokaoi

I am 76 yrs old. I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2006, and doctor reported prostate was fully encapsulated. In late 2016, I had a biochemical recurrence, and began Lupron and Casodex in Feb 2017. I have been on this treatment continuously since, with one treatment holiday beginning Nov 2021 and lasting for two years, taking only the Casodex. I have had two monthly Lupron injections beginning Nov. A different oncologist suggested Orgovyx rather than Lupron, but I see no benefit since my testosterone is already now low and my psa below 1.0 and dropping still. I have learned to tolerate the side effects as the price to pay for keeping the cancer at bay. The injection is just a nuisance. Can anyone suggest a good reason why Orgovyx is somehow superior to Lupron in terms of their effectiveness?

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Layman opinion: Stay with the devil you know.
I took Orgovyx for 4 mos as part of my salvage radiation w/ ADT tx.
If your side effects (SEs) are manageable for you, I would be inclined to stay the course.
It sounds as if you restarted Lupron in Nov 23.
If you are on holiday again, you could try Orgovyx.
However it may cost you significantly more because it is covered under Part D Medicare as opposed to the coverage for injectables under Part B Medicare.
My Part D coinsurance
cost was 25% or about $ 1000 / mo for Orgovyx until I reached the catastrophic stage ( after 4/5 mos, but I cannot explain the math).
Best wishes for good results.

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Started with Lupron Depot injection followed by 20 radiation sessions in 2023. Was administered the maximum 6 month 45mg dosage. Had Gleason score of 8 intermediate high risk. PSA 15. Cancer confined in Prostate with possible microscopic in lymph nodes. Radiation attacked both areas. After treatment early December PSA reading was full remission. However, since taking the LD injection I have been diagnosed with Bradycardia (slow pulse rate) and irregular heart beat so decided to stop the LD injections (4 total over 2 years was plan) in the hope that my heart will return to normal. My radiologist is in agreement that I stop. Most side effects were from injection include hot flashes, libido loss, testicular shrinkage, man boobs and others possibly caused by the injection. Side effect from radiation is incontinence while standing urinating at times. I am hopeful all will go away over the next 6-18 months. I am 80 and feel fine, My best to all posting here.

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