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Question: what if I stop prenisone but stay on abiraterone and lupron?

Posted by johnnyw @johnnyw, May 31 12:07pm

Have been on lupron and low dose abiraterone (250 mg) and prednisone for four+ months. PSA went from near 1100 (you read that right) to .31.
Oncologist wants me to get a dental exam for approval of me taking Xgeva. As I understand it, prednisone is the reason for taking Xgeva. I don't want all these drugs in my blood, not to mention, some of them are quite expensive. Foolishly, years ago, I chose Medicare Part B, and no other insurance. (Thought I was healthy at the time, ha.)
So, question is, what happens if I stop the prednisone? My dose now, is 7.5 mg. Yes, I could ask my doctor, whom I have some misgivings about anyway, but I know he will say--take everything I prescribe that can be squirted into your vein.
Thank you all for sharing your stories, and for any opinions on my question!

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jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | May 31 2:03pm

When you take abiraterone it stops your body from Producing cortisol. The prednisone replaces the cortisol. Without it, you would have tremendous fatigue and a lot of other problems like weakness, loss of appetite, and unintentional weight loss. In severe cases, low cortisol can result in low blood pressure, dizziness, and even fainting. If left untreated, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called adrenal crisis.

You must take prednisone or an equivalent.

Prednisone is not the reason you need to take Xgeva. It actually has nothing to do with it.

Abiraterone reduces your testosterone to almost nothing and that results in your bones deteriorating. Lupron also does this if used alone. That is what causes the problem and the reason you have to take Xgeva. Zometa Does the same thing and it has a Lower risk of causing jaw problems, That’s what my oncologist prescribed for me.

Stopping prednisone will not help you at all.

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1 reply
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | May 31 2:28pm

One actual risk with Prednisone is steroid-induced diabetes. I got that in hospital when I was on steroids to try to decrease the swelling pressing on my spine post-surgery, and ended up getting insulin shots. Within a day or two of stopping steroids, the diabetes disappeared and my blood sugar was normal again.

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1 reply
johnnyw | @johnnyw | May 31 3:38pm

Thanks much for your response. Last A1c I had put into the pre-diabetes category, 5.7 Wishing you the best!

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johnnyw | @johnnyw | May 31 3:43pm
In reply to @jeffmarc "When you take abiraterone it stops your body from Producing cortisol. The prednisone replaces the cortisol...." + (show)
@jeffmarc

When you take abiraterone it stops your body from Producing cortisol. The prednisone replaces the cortisol. Without it, you would have tremendous fatigue and a lot of other problems like weakness, loss of appetite, and unintentional weight loss. In severe cases, low cortisol can result in low blood pressure, dizziness, and even fainting. If left untreated, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called adrenal crisis.

You must take prednisone or an equivalent.

Prednisone is not the reason you need to take Xgeva. It actually has nothing to do with it.

Abiraterone reduces your testosterone to almost nothing and that results in your bones deteriorating. Lupron also does this if used alone. That is what causes the problem and the reason you have to take Xgeva. Zometa Does the same thing and it has a Lower risk of causing jaw problems, That’s what my oncologist prescribed for me.

Stopping prednisone will not help you at all.

Jump to this post

Thanks for your response, I appreciate the info, even if it's bad news (I wish I did not have to take Xgeva, e.g.), but I know, deep down, you are right. Best wishes to you!

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jc76 | @jc76 | May 31 4:36pm
In reply to @northoftheborder "One actual risk with Prednisone is steroid-induced diabetes. I got that in hospital when I was..." + (show)
@northoftheborder

One actual risk with Prednisone is steroid-induced diabetes. I got that in hospital when I was on steroids to try to decrease the swelling pressing on my spine post-surgery, and ended up getting insulin shots. Within a day or two of stopping steroids, the diabetes disappeared and my blood sugar was normal again.

Jump to this post

@northoftheborder
Wow! I know there is a lot of caution on staying on steriods for extended time.

I know a lot of doctors have asked me about being on prednisone for a long period of time. Before I had sinus surgery I was on prednizone every time I got a sinus infection.

I am very interested in your post as my wife is a 1.5 diabetic and has been warned that predinzone and other steroids would affect her diabetes and it does.

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