I'm on Eligard and Zytiga (with Prednisone) and like a lot of you I've been having hot flashes. Unrelated to that, I have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). My doctor prescribed Gabapentin for it.
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across an article and found out that Gabapentin is sometimes used to moderate hot flashes. And guess what... it works. I have many, many fewer hot flashes, and when I have one it's not nearly as bad and doesn't last nearly as long. When all aspects are taken into consideration (number, duration and severity), I'd say the Gabapentin has reduced hot flashes by 80%, maybe even more.
I started out with 300mg about an hour before bed for RLS, but the Gabapentin wasn't working all that well, so we boosted it to 600mg. Eventually we took it up to the maximum (as I understand it), 900mg. The timing of the dose isn't a factor in controlling hot flashes, I don't believe, since my hot flashes before bedtime have subsided. If Gabapentin is prescribed only for hot flashes I imagine it could be taken any time of the day, although I do believe it has a bit of a sedative effect.
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DaveBSD
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I had a similar experience: 300 did nothing, 600 did a little, and 900 did a lot (but did not completely eliminate the hot flashes).
Interestingly, there was some disagreement among my onco team, as one PA did not want to prescribe anything over 600 per day but another PA pretty much said AT LEAST 600 was needed for most men to get relief.
For me, even 900 isn't always completely effective. I bought some THC tablets (legal here in California) and split them into quarters, with each being about 5mg. If the Gabapentin isn't working well one night, I take 5mg of the THC and it seems to help. However, if I'm having a bad RLS night and I reluctantly take 10mg of THC then I pay for it the next day, feeling exhausted all day.
THC interferes with REM sleep, which may be why you feel exhausted the next day. Here in California, Dreamt brand pot for sleep is available at many weed shops
It’s available in Vape, tincture, or gummy‘s. All of them include Indica, valerian root, melatonin, and some other ingredients that supposedly offset the REM killing effect.
Stuff works pretty good for, the vape knocks me out quickly. The tincture works well too. I’ve never tried the gummies. Google the brand, they have actually website with info.
I kind of had a feeling it caused problems. I remember when I first tried it, without the Gabapentin, it seemed to make me restless. When I first bought some, some kind of edible, I asked about the various kinds, and I remember the person mentioned indica as being more peaceful with sativa being more energetic. I'll look for gummies and tincture - I want to keep stuff out of my lungs as I've got enough problems with them now. (Allergies and a susceptibility for getting bronchitis.)
I've been prescribed 600mg three times daily for neuropathy. I've been using it two times a day for months and have not had any issues with hot flashes.
I take it all at once. I'm generally pretty good about taking my prescriptions, but sometimes I forget or I'm too busy to take it an hour or so before bed, so when that happens I take it right at bedtime. It seems to generally be a fairly benign drug so getting it prescribed for hot flashes might be easy,
5x100mg per day. Prescribed by my neurologist about 8 years ago (about 4 years before PCa DX) for condition causing headache and malaise episodes. Maybe this is why my hot flashes aren't quite as severe as some on this board describe.
I have been on ADT since may, 2013, and zytiga since February 2018. Hot flushes were common, but I found (as recommended by a fellow warrior) that drinking Camomile tea moderated them until I don't notice them much anymore. Still get the odd one here and there, (sometimes its a doozy) but generally speaking they are under control.
I also do estrogen gel instead of lupron, ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER! thank you ron for staying persistent with us skeptics. I tried just about everything and this is the only thing that worked for me. I was on 900mg of gaba, it helped a bit, but didn't like the loss of what limbido I had left. After a couple weeks, the nerve numbing feeling was too much for me to continue. I pray that you are luckier than I was with using it. Best!
Are you referring to the E2 gel in this statement:? "After a couple weeks, the nerve numbing feeling was too much for me to continue. I pray that you are luckier than I was with using it."
I absolutely love the E2 gel which is the ONLY thing that I am using to control my PCa, and consider it a 'MIRACLE HORMONE'! After using it for over 4 years I can still do 20 wide arm pull-ups, and 20 curl position pull-ups every day, plus numerous other exercises in the gym 5 days per week. I will be 80 years young in a few months.
I believe that the tE2 gel is the only thing that is keeping me alive WITHOUT ANY PAIN or side effects other than the little boobies which I consider to be no biggie!
My RP 18 years ago resulted in BCR, incontinence, metastases in my sacral lymph nodes, and I became a candidate for the nasty Lupron jabs 5 years ago. I would rather have my nuts chopped off than to subject myself to that sh*t!
My PCa is currently asymptomatic (other than little to no libido). 18 years ago my urologist gave me "about five years".
I just sent 100 tubes of the gel to my friend in CA who is willing to supply those comrades that want to try it. PM me if interested?
I had miserable hot flashes after discontinuing Androgel ( my testes quit after 3 years of Eligard).
My oncologist prescribed off label Oxybutynin Chloride 5mg twice daily. It is used, I believe, as a muscle relaxer for the bladder lining. But I have been using it for four months and have yet to have a hint of a hot flash. And this is in the summer in Louisiana. Works tremendously for me.
Estradiol patches work like a charm for me, originally prescribed by Snuffy Myers. I’ve been using them for several years now. They have the added benefit of helping to maintain bone health which can be affected by long term ADT.
No, been using the 0.1 mg the whole time. In fact Snuffy had me on a higher dose to try and heal sclerotic areas in my skeleton once my PSAbecame undetectable from treatment.
I have found since my orchiectomy I have very few hot flashes. Before on Lupron I had them a few times a day enough to make me break out in a sweat. Now it's not even one a day and it's more warmth than hot.
My family doctor said that men and women are using Zyrtec for hot flashes. Can be bought over the counter. I am on Orgovyx, but have not tried the Zyrtec my self.
My wife who is undergoing menopause and I have both gotten rid of our hot flashes within a few days of taking Norwegian Kelp capsules bought on Amazon. I have been taking them for 13 months now and it has been a blessing.
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