Firmagon and Zytiga

[uskrmw02]

Medications are controlling PSA to a non detectable level for my Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Considering going off Zytiga. Also any thoughts on Orgovyx vs Firmagon. I do not like present side effects: hot flashes, fatigue and tiredness.

[Hidden]

Are you a ADT lifer or are you on a 2-3 year ADT treatment plan? What other treatments have received?

[Tall_Allen]

If Zytiga is still working, why would you stop it? It may create resistant strains if you stop it. Those side effects are from low testosterone and will occur with Orgovyx or Firmagon. The only thing I know to help combat fatigue is exercise. Hot flashes may be lessened by estrogen patches, megace, venlafaxine, or acupuncture.

[Poowater in reply to Tall_Allen]

So true about exercise. Aerobic and resistance training.

[spencoid2 in reply to Tall_Allen]

also if you are lacking sleep try to improve that. i am just starting to be less of a zombie during the day since i improved my sleep. i am taking a rather high dose of CBD before bed. i only awoke twice last night and fell back asleep. before it was 10 to 15 times and difficult getting back to sleep. I also sleep with two Poodles who calm me a lot. I make my own CBD tincture from good 20 to 1 tested pot not the commercial crap which i tried and does nothing. i am getting almost full relief at night from hot flashes with magnesium glycinate (not citrate or any other mag supplement) and exercise is critical.

[bean1008]

I just got a new prescription for venlafaxine for hot flashes. Going to start it on Monday and I will let you know how it works!

[Fightinghard]

If zytiga is still working, dont stop taking it. The side effects are usually more manageable if you can increase exercise.

[CAMPSOUPS]

I don't mean to bring to the front something we all live with in the background but metastatic prostate cancer is not curable.Why would you go off Zytiga ?Do you erroneously believe you are cured ?

More details of your status though would be helpful for us to make better comments on your behalf though. PSA history, Gleason score, treatment history, etc. TomTom's question is necessary to know as well.

[RyderLake2]

Hello, If you don't like fatigue and tiredness as side effects, consider taking Zytiga at bed time. Also Zytiga is a second tier drug. Why would you swap it for a first tier ADT drug like Firmagon? I believe if something is working, don't try to fix it.

[bean1008 in reply to RyderLake2]

Ryder, did you try both morning and evening? I always have taken mine around 6am and then wait an hour for 1st breakfast.

[RyderLake2 in reply to bean1008]

Hello, First a disclosure. I am not on Zytiga, I am currently on Xtandi (enzalutamide). Both drugs, however, cause drowsiness and fatigue. From the very beginning of my treatment, I have taken the four 40 mg pills at night. I now sleep better than ever before and even have an occasional nap during the day! I am now approaching my four year anniversary on this drug with very few side effects. Touch wood it is still working

[Poowater]

My oncologist said I was on zytiga for life. Fatigue can be fixed by 150 mins of aerobic exercise per week. Also two sessions of resistance training each week.

[dfridge]

Nothing wrong with taking a holiday. I'm on my 3rd. Gives your body some time to detox and get back to normal. Keep a good watch on PSA. For me, I've had two eleven month holiday's before having to go back on ADT.

[Jeremiad53 in reply to dfridge]

I had a 6 month holiday, I even squeezed in a little natural whoopee, got hair back on my chest and that feeling of life being timeless slipped back in. Now on Zytiga and prednisone, hoping my PSA numbers are down as they had crept up to 30 with new mets. This is a long fight, you just gotta keep on keepin on.

[LURK in reply to dfridge]

With your 3 vacations what was your PSA when you restarted each time?

[dfridge in reply to LURK]

Around .9 to 1.3

[Purple-Bike]

The hot flashes plus some other SE should go away by replacing Firmagon with estrogen patches.

[JPnSD]

I have been on Orgovyx since Feb., when I switched from Firmagon. Side effects are due to low Testosterone...not the drug itself. Side effects for me were exactly the same...as my T stayed same (teens) and my PSA stayed undetectable.