Eligard -- Best starting dosage: 1, 3, 4, 6 month?, or it doesn't really matter?

[Skipper238]

Good morning, I am preparing to get my first Eligard shot in two days. The plan is for me to get the 6-month dosage shot. Does anyone have an opinion about this? It seems to me that it would make common sense to start with a 1-month dosage (in case there was any type of adverse reaction) versus a 6-month dosage. After one month has passed, and I haven't experienced any serious adverse reactions, I could then start with 6-month shots.

I've asked my Urologist about this, via email message through the hospital's patient portal, and I haven't gotten a response, yet. I also went to the Eligard website and couldn't find an answer there. Thank you.

[MrDon2]

When I first started with Eligard (about 19 months back) I was started off on one month shots. I did the the one month shot for three months, at the same time I had blood work done. On the fourth month I was started on the quarterly shots, which I still do now. Make sure before they give you the shot that you place a cold (frozen) ice pack on the area that you are to receive the shot in. The best of luck to you.

[Tall_Allen]

Adverse reactions are very rare, but they do happen. They've been doing Eligard shots for many years and have the experience to know that it usually doesn't matter which you get. In the time of Covid, we want to avoid hospitals as much as possible, so the 6 month shot makes more sense now.

[Skipper238 in reply to Tall_Allen]

O.K. That makes me feel a bit more comfortable. Thanks.

[Hidden]

So how often will you be doing your blood draw? I do mine quarterly. Injection and blood draw same time.

[Skipper238 in reply to Hidden]

I really don’t know, yet, how frequently I will have my blood drawn.

[Horse12888]

I would switch to relugolix, as the T recovery at the end (assuming there IS an end) is much faster. Starting to feel better in a couple of weeks rather than many months is a fabulous advantage.

[treedown]

Once this all fell into a routine and since my Dr and injection are in the same building I had my blood drawn a couple days prior, met with my Dr and had the next injection following the meeting. This worked out for me and I rode my bike to most of my meetings accept in very bad winter weather. I think the movement of the extra miles after the injection may have helped avoid some of the discomfort at the said site. The only reason I would be opposed to a 6 month shot is not based on anything other than a thought. What about an allergic reaction? I was never given an option for a 6 month shot, my MO chose 3 month from the get go. TA's concerns about covid seem a good reason for a 6 month shot.

[Hidden]

I have been on continuous Eligard for nearly 7 years. I started with 3 month dosages and changed to 6 month injections when my MO convinced that I was so saturated with the stuff that it would take a year to clear my system.