Cholera vaccine Dukoral: I talked to my... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Cholera vaccine Dukoral

Drphil1938 profile image
37 Replies

I talked to my MO today about this article in Nature Communications. He had not heard of it and was impressed that Nature had printed it.

He did point out that this was not a trial but a random population study of people who have prostate cancer and took the cholera vaccine. However he said the results were certainly worth further study.

I asked if I should take it. He said go for it. Now, since I live in Missouri how do I get it. Anyone know or do I have to drive to Canada?

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Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938
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37 Replies
LearnAll profile image
LearnAll

I trust Nalakrats judgement and going to get Vaxchora next week. I have read ... the side effects seem minimal, if at all.

Also, in next 2 or 3 months, I am also planning to take Niclosamide . As Nal said try these earlier. I was just diagnosed 6 months ago. Only treatment I have had till now Lupron and Zytiga.+predni. PSA down to 0.7 from 830 in 6 months. Feel. fine. I just returned home from a long walk (approx. 4 miles).

Ramp7 profile image
Ramp7 in reply toLearnAll

I find walking to be the best exercise. Running was once a passion, time has a way of slowing things down.

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938

Thank you! If it was good enough for you I will use vaxchora.

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply toDrphil1938

I just read on another site that Vaxchora will not be effective because it works in different manner than Dukoral. Too, complicated for me to explain. So now I am confused but may drive to Canada for Dukoral.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

If there is an effect, I wouldn't depart from what the authors say: "cholera vaccination that includes killed whole cells of Vibrio cholera O1 and recombinant cholera toxin B subunit." The effect may also have something to do with the microbiome available to those men in the countries they visited - unfortunately, it's much harder to duplicate that.

Jbooml profile image
Jbooml in reply toTall_Allen

Here in Canada Dukarol is marketed as a cholera/enteric vaccine...I bring this up as a matter of fine print disclosure as it may somewhat differ from the pure targeting vaccine....it’s a fine point but these details can matter.

LearnAll profile image
LearnAll in reply toTall_Allen

T A, Lets assume it slows prostate cancer. With this, would you think out of a live attenuated or dead one..which one is likely be more effective or both will be equally effective ?

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toLearnAll

I have no idea. Medicine isn't about deriving conclusions just by pure reason - it's about empiricism - it's been that way since the 16th century. Anyone who tells you they know is a fool. If it indeed slows PC for a time, there is no evidence to suggest that anything other than the vaccine they tested is effective - that vaccine used in Sweden included both killed whole cells and a specific subunit of the recombinant toxin.

LearnAll profile image
LearnAll in reply toTall_Allen

If Vaxchora is not effective..its just loss of $240...in big scheme of things...its a very small loss...with this logic..i am taking it. …..doesn't work...doesn,t work..no worry..

D_Alden profile image
D_Alden in reply toLearnAll

I went to Vancouver BC on Wednesday and got the Dukoral at Costco. It is OTC and the only question from the tech was if I wanted the Pharmacist to explain the dosage instructions. The only glitch was that COSTCO in Canada doesn't accept VISA credit or debit cards, Master Card only so I had to get cash from the ATM. The cost of Dukoral was $77US ($91.44Can).

One of the research Docs at Lund Univ who did the trial told me in an email that he did not think that Vaxchora would be effective, it works in a different manner than Dukoral in the gut. YMMV.

Taking a Cholera Vaccine is recommended if your are traveling to - wait for it- Sweden! I guess the Raindeer poop in the mountain streams so they don't want tourists getting sick. Remember this was a nationwide retro trial, Sweden has national health care so the government has everyones' medical records and was able to research a connection between longer survival of PCa patients and Dukoral.

Lombardi24 profile image
Lombardi24 in reply toD_Alden

Would cosco ship it to US?

D_Alden profile image
D_Alden in reply toLombardi24

The online Canadian pharmacies won't because it has to be kept cold. They gave me the vaccine with an ice cube in a baggie to keep cold until I get to a refrigerator. You risk the US Customs holding up the delivery for a month or so in which case it would likely no longer be suitable to consumption.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen in reply toD_Alden

The CDC doesn't list cholera vaccine for travel to Sweden:

wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destin...

Anyhow, the study was among Swedish citizens. Only 841 out of 90,000 Swedish men with PC got the vaccination.

monte1111 profile image
monte1111 in reply toD_Alden

The Raindeer poop in the water! I hope it's not to late to cancel my trip.

monte1111 profile image
monte1111 in reply toLearnAll

And you won't get cholera if you go to Sweden.

kapakahi profile image
kapakahi

I couldn't find anywhere in the study how much of the vaccine each person took. I mean usually you get the cholera vaccine if you're going somewhere where cholera is endemic if not epidemic, and you get it in two or three doses that protect you for a couple of years. Is the study saying that the vaccine was taken as in the cholera-prevention protocol? Were the men taking it every two years, every year (since effectiveness declines to 50% after the first year), monthly or what?

kapakahi profile image
kapakahi

From what I've read Dukoral is OTC only if you're taking it to prevent E. Coli infection. If it's for cholera prevention a prescription is required. So you'd have to tell the pharmacist you're taking it for E. Coli? Is this true? And why isn't Dukoral FDA-approved? I read one post from a guy whose friend was bringing it across the border from Canada to the US and it was confiscated by customs. I guess the lesson then is to go to Canada, buy it and take it there.

LearnAll profile image
LearnAll

You are NOT prescribing. It is obvious. We are not here to prescribe anything.

We are Americans. We have constitutional right to express our opinion . We can discuss matters, share ideas and describe our experiences. And what we are doing here on this forum is precisely that.. None of the members ever prescribes here.. and .they have absolutely no intention to prescribe.

What an individual decides to do with information is fully his responsibility.

larry_dammit profile image
larry_dammit

I live in Missouri as well. Would like to stay informed on how you get along

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply tolarry_dammit

Where in Missouri? Broadly of course.

larry_dammit profile image
larry_dammit in reply toDrphil1938

Kansas City side of the state

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply tolarry_dammit

To far to have a cup of coffee.

tallguy2 profile image
tallguy2 in reply tolarry_dammit

We will be staying in Blue Springs next week on the annual trek to east TN...

larry_dammit profile image
larry_dammit in reply totallguy2

I’m out west right now, will fly back home on Thursday. Have a safe travel.

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply tolarry_dammit

Larry do you live anywhere west St. Louis?

larry_dammit profile image
larry_dammit in reply toDrphil1938

Your planning a trip to a country that has cholera aren’t you. Check out your local health dept. who knows.

DAN65251 profile image
DAN65251 in reply tolarry_dammit

I also live in Missouri. Troy, MO.

nobaday profile image
nobaday

Hi

I live in Vancouver Canada. Can get at Walmart Dukoral for $100 Canadian (US$70) by just asking pharmacist.

I took it over 5 years ago when travelling. Got dx prostate cancer Nov 2017. I will buy the whole kit again in next week or so. For $100 Canadian it will do no harm and could do some good!!

I’m currently on Abiraterone ( Zytiga) and dexamethasone along with ADT Zoladex 3 month injections.

Hope to remain undectable 0.01 PSA for as long as possible. Coming up to my 2 yr dx anniversary and my 23 months of being on Zytiga.

Waiting for the ski mountains to open so I can go skiing in Vancouver and Whistler!!!

MateoBeach profile image
MateoBeach

Dukoral is not the same vaccine as Vaxchora. There is no data (research published) to show that it would have the same effect (if any) as dukoral. Just as there is also no proof that the benefits seen in the retrospective Swedish study would hold up in a prospective clinical trial.

Still, many of us including myself, find it compelling and interesting enough to take it and not leave it "on the table". If you choose to do so, I would say to go for the dukoral.

Since it is OTC in Canada it is actually fairly easy and certainly inexpensive. (My two dose oral vaccine was about $80 US. I walked into a pharmacy in Kamloops BC where I was camping last Summer and just asked for it. They even offered a free cold-pack carrier.

It is not a scheduled ("controlled") drug so there is no problem with US customs. It doesn't have to be hidden or explained.

Before I decided on my trip to BC I had called a legitimate Canadian pharmacy that I frequently use for mail orders of medications that I can obtain more cheaply in Canada.

I just call them, fax in my prescription (when one is required) and pay with credit card. Never has been a problem in 10 years.

For dukoral they said they do not need a prescription. (Though having one from your doctor would be a nice extra protection since it is not OTC in the USA at this time.)

The pharmacy that I use is PharmaChoice in Scotch Creek, B.C. Easy to find on the Pharmachoice web site. (It used to be called Peoples Drug Pharmacy.) Of course there are many others you could call to find one that would be happy to help.

They may require some time, perhaps a week or so, to get the ducoral in as it is a small community, and also arrange for a suitable cold-pack container to ship it to you. But they assured me they could do this.

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply toMateoBeach

Thanks, this really helpful !

DAN65251 profile image
DAN65251 in reply toMateoBeach

"Store at 2° to 8°C (35° to 46°F). DO NOT FREEZE. The vaccine can be stored at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to two weeks on one occasion only."

I got this from the company that distributes it so apparently it is not imposswible to use iteven if it has been out of the refrigerator for a while

DAN65251 profile image
DAN65251 in reply toMateoBeach

A script is not needed except in Quebec.

DAN65251 profile image
DAN65251

I also live in Missouri. Troy, Mo. I also may drive to Canada if I can not find it any other way. Let me know if you find any other way. Looks like the shortest drive would be to drive to Detroit then cross over to Toronto. Still 500 miles one way.

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply toDAN65251

Dan, I live in Eureka and I just looked at my passport and it is expired so I will have to get it renewed. However if you go I would pay some of your expenses if you would bring some back for me. My understanding is that it is sold over the counter. My ph is 812-236-9688.

DAN65251 profile image
DAN65251 in reply toDrphil1938

Did you get my e-mail?

Drphil1938 profile image
Drphil1938 in reply toDAN65251

No

DAN65251 profile image
DAN65251

You don't need a script for Dukoral except in Quebec.

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