Just started Abiraterone on Friday and have been taking 5 mg prednisone 1x daily. Not sure where I got that dosing level but today I noticed the label on the prednisone bottle says 2x daily. Is there a preferred dosing level for prednisone? I’ve found both 5 mg 1x daily and 5 mg 2x daily on creditable sources online.
Thanks
Rand
When taken for mHSPC, the dose is one 5mg capsule per day. If taken for mCRPC, the dose is two 5 mg capsules/day. Both are low doses for replacement of your natural cortisol depleted by the Zytiga. Replacement varies across individuals, so your oncologist may want to adjust up or down based on blood pressure and potassium levels.
Thanks once more TA. Why the difference?
Rand
That's the way they designed the clinical trials that got abiraterone approved. Perhaps they thought that more steroid would be beneficial in more advanced cases?
Why would the dose vary if you are taking the same dose of Zytiga?
Does 5 mg. make your face fat?
It's supposed to just replace the cortisol that Zytiga inhibits. It shouldn't have any side effects if it's the right dose.
Good news.
Hi TEBozo
I've been on Zytiga plus 5mg/ day for 11 mo. and no side effects.
It made my body fat (+23 pounds), man had to start intermittent fasting per day and grab the battle ropes. I've worked from home for so long, that the other day had an office meeting, had to run out and get some pants that fits.
Bought a bunch with different sizes, have no patience for fitting rooms...
My MO confirmed today that for my stage 4 mHSPCa 5mg is his recommended dose, consistent with your advice and the info on the Zytiga website.
Perhaps some of you with similar disease characteristics as mine, who responded to my original post that you were taking 5mg prednisone 2x/day might want to rethink your dosage. Apparently some doctors automatically recommend 5mg 2x/day for folks starting out on Zytiga.
Thanks again for all of you who responded to my post on this subject.
I took 5mg of prednisone when I was on zytiga. My research doctor said that was the dosage to replace what zytiga takes out.
Thanks to you Magnus, and to all the others who chimed in here, especially TallAllen. I find it very unique how, with this incurable (for now) disease, the experiences of other patients carry so much weight in how we navigate our treatment. It’s all a bit of a crapshoot.
Rand
I very much appreciate your post. I am likely to start Zytiga in a week or two and your post has helped me be knowledgeable about the questions to ask, especially around the prednisone topic.
Two 5mg a day for me. Also had trouble sleeping so I take them both in the morning. No issues.
Boy I am glad I read this. I started taking my Prednisone a night for some reason and had a horrible time falling asleep. You have saved me a lot of sleepless nights!
Thanks for posting that tidbit.
I have taken zytiga for a year now and I take 5mg prednisone at the same time I take the zytiga. I guess they say you should take the prednisone with food because it's easier on your stomach, but so far I have had no problems.
This way I don't forget to take it.
Also, I take the two together in the morning an hour before breakfast. Sorry forgot to mention.
Does 5 mg make your face fat? Funny. I know too much too long can give you moon face, and also you may be able to be a stand in for the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Oops. I guess that would be the Hunchback of Paris now. I am now weaning off of 10 mg for 19 months with Xtandi. Cut to 5 mg in Jan. and did notice increase in fatigue. Cut to one half 5 mg last Wed. and 3rd day out was like a trip back down chemo lane. Starting to feel much better now. My cortisol was not depleted because I was not taking Zytiga. Will take half pill for a month and then done with it. Quitting was at my request. Don't know why I was ever started on it. Was never on Zytiga. There are those here who have the answers that I do not. Good luck.
i take it 2x per day
I’ve been on 5mg daily for 7.5 years. They taste bloody awful if you don’t get it down first go!
That is what I took
I am on Zytiga and have been since September 2017. I take 4 x 250 mg per day and 0.5 mg Dexmethsone per day.
I don't know what the difference is between Dexmethsone and Prednisone is. But I do remember queering my oncologist about the 0.5 mg dose when I had read others were on 5 mg of Prednisone. His reply was 0.5 Dexmethsone was correct.
I take 2 daily one after breakfast one at diner and 750 mg . Zytiga
Why are you on 750 mg?
1000 mg. Was too much it was making my blood work out of whack so my Doctor cut it 750 and all numbers returned to normal. I am on this regiment 13 months now. So far so good. Leo
When I started 1000mg Zytiga I was also prescribed 5mg prednisone twice a day. I since changed oncologists and my current oncologist changed it to once a day. Like many others, to prevent it from affecting my sleep I take the prednisone in the morning. I’m not a doctor and I realize each persons situation is different. Therefore the best suggestion I can make is to discuss it with your doctor.
I was started on 5mg 2 x day back in December. My liver enzymes ran up and I was feeling hungover so after a few weeks my MO reduced me to 5mg 1x day and I haven't had any issues ever since. Not sure how they calculate the dosage, but the 5mg hasn't caused any side effects I can notice. As TommyTV notes - be sure to get it down without tasting it!
Hubby took 5mg in the morning when he was on Zytiga. His onc was a researcher that had worked on Zytiga...
A very controversial topic when discussing the use of Prednisone with treatments for metastatic prostate cancer. And, in some cases, existing co-morbidities can be aggravated by use of any Corticosteroid.
In my case, I took 30 mg of Prednisone daily with other treatments. Dosage was 20 mg in morning and 10 mg twelve hours later. I took Prednisone for 180 days. I may be the only fit who has gained 80 pounds during chemotherapy.
I discussed the usage of Prednisone in the chemotherapy-hormone therapy trial I participated in during 2004. From my research medical oncologist: Prednisone is used in prostate cancer for its direct and indirect anti-cancer effects, including the lowering of prostate-specific antigen. Prednisone is also used for its quality-of-life benefits. It will help in appetite stimulation. I am sure they are other reasons and varying degree of dosage over, again varying length of time.
Side effect: weight gain. Benefit: killing the little bastards.
There is no substitute for not following advice from your pro. Everybody is different.
Gourd Dancer
Here in Ireland they have reduced the steroids dose to 1 a day across the board it's apperently the new norm here
But you guys wash it down with a pint of Guiness...Lucky bastards.
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