1. < Prostate Cancer

Lupron dosing: side effects for 3 month dose vs. monthly dose

Posted by dave2020 @dave2020, Mar 15, 2021

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

solidwater | @solidwater | Jun 24, 2023
In reply to @pwitkin "I am now 8 years into the battle. Surgery with clean margins but one year later..." + (show)
@pwitkin

I 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.

Jump to this post

yeah the belly fat is an issue I am not sure how long to keep up with the lupron i tolerate it well and if i am careful the belly fat seems to back off but it is a constant issue it is vanity for sure but also a health thing you may be giving me a sample of things to come i am 76 now and who knows how long my body can handle it exercise helps a lot have only doing this for one year

REPLY
pwitkin | @pwitkin | Jun 24, 2023

Thank you. I need to increase my exercise for sure. I do warehouse work but it very light. I need to left weights to protect my bones as well. I’m 69 so a bit behind you in age, but I got the aggressive cancer pretty early.

REPLY
ringmastr1 | @ringmastr1 | Jun 25, 2023
In reply to @pwitkin "I am now 8 years into the battle. Surgery with clean margins but one year later..." + (show)
@pwitkin

I 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.

Jump to this post

I'm 5 months into the battle. I'm on 1000mg of Abiraterone daily with Prednisone. Lupron and Xgeva every 3 months. I joined my local gym at the beginning of May to maintain muscle mass and minimizer belly increases. I've never had a chiseled physique. I've just been naturally thick and strong, which I don't want to change so I understand the vanity thing. I remain hopeful that there will be better options for those of us with PC soon. This was promising but it wasn't an option for me since I have Mets to my hip and sacrum: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/high-dose-rate-brachytherapy-treatment-prostate

REPLY
hergiew | @hergiew | Jun 25, 2023

Very interesting. I took Lupron for 25 months mostly with 6 month shots. After several I wanted to quit the Lupron because I had no energy, my legs particularly were weak but the doctor insisted I continue with the Lupron.

REPLY
1 reply
hergiew | @hergiew | Jun 25, 2023
In reply to @hergiew "Very interesting. I took Lupron for 25 months mostly with 6 month shots. After several I..." + (show)
@hergiew

Very interesting. I took Lupron for 25 months mostly with 6 month shots. After several I wanted to quit the Lupron because I had no energy, my legs particularly were weak but the doctor insisted I continue with the Lupron.

Jump to this post

My comments were cut off but after 25 months of taking it, the Lupron destroyed my body's ability to produce testosterone so that I now have practically no testosterone, am depleted of energy and my lifestyle has been substantially negatively impacted.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.