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ADT, Hot Flashes and Ashwagandha: Is it safe?
I have received 3, three-month Lupron shots and radiation therapy for Gleason 3+4 prostate cancer. After the final shot in June, my PSA was < 0.01ng/mL (undetectable). Still going through major hot flashes. As I understand it, the hot flashes will slowly get better as the testosterone level rises, but I would prefer months to years for improvement. Ashwagandha moderately boosts testosterone, and has other anti-cancer effects. Sources always stress not to take ashwagandha during ADT, but never mention AFTER therapy. So, the basic question is... is it safe to consume ashwagandha at this stage in my treatment?
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@jeffmarc
The Lupron level was obviously way too high for me and was becoming life threatening. I had no choice but to stop treatment. I find it hard to believe that everyone absorbs Lupron at the same rate. More than 7 months after my 3-month shot I still have essentially the same testosterone level and side effects are still severe but not quite as bad as 3 months ago. It seems I am still processing the Lupron when it should have been gone. I am more than a month beyond the normal half-life.
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1 Reaction@pesquallie
Lupron is pretty perfected in how it works. I remember when my father told me it stopped working and it was the only drug I had available at the time. While Lupron may have left your system, testosterone doesn’t come back the same for everyone.
You are not processing Lupron after 3 months because it’s half life is 3 hours, you are processing your low testosterone caused by Lupron.
Some scientific information
The elimination half-life of leuprolide acetate (the active ingredient in Lupron) in the bloodstream is approximately 3 hours.
If you get a three month shot…. medication is embedded in biodegradable microspheres that slowly release the drug into the body over a 12-week (3-month) period. This unique delivery system ensures continuous therapeutic drug concentrations are maintained throughout the entire 3-month dosing interval, effectively extending its duration of action.
Lupron chemically castrates the patient and recovery of the testicles to produce testosterone never happens for more than 50% of the men. What I do not understand is why they keep giving the 50% group more Lupron when the testicles are already destroyed or disabled. You cannot lower the testosterone level even lower when the testicles are already castrated. This looks like they just want to sell more Lupron or do not have faith in the testosterone measurement.