I think this question was asked an answered 4 years ago, but perhaps an update? Should I stop taking Abiraterone for no particular reason?

[chickgreen]

During my last MO visit, it was suggested that I could stop taking Abiraterone (now at 6 months) if the side effects were really bad.

I've never really considered the side effects of Abiraterone to be worse for me, than Lupron (or Elligard), and so stopping the drug would be just 5 less pills a day for me, and some savings on the drug which is not a great concern for me.

I'm 62, RARP 2/2022, completed 38 days of radiation and have been on Abiraterone since 4/2022, Lupron since 1/2022. PSA and testosterone are both non-detectable.

[Tall_Allen]

If you are getting adjuvant abiraterone to enhance the effectiveness of your salvage whole pelvic RT (you are pN1), the SOC is 2 years. After that, you are hopefully cured with no further need for hormone therapy of any kind.

[gsun]

My bad SE's started at about 4 years.

[CharlieBC]

If it is working for you, maybe a good first step is to try a reduced dose. I am on a half-dose of Xtandi. It's holding the PSA in check.

[fzpinc1]

All I can tell you is that - not having taken Arbirterone - I've been on Lupron since my 38 days of radiation therapy in 2017 (post prostatectomy) and that each time Ive had received consecutive PSA's of "undetectable", I've stopped Lupron injections until my PSA gets above 1.0 and then commence the injections again (quarterly). What I have learned is that strenuous exercise (I do 3 X's/week with a trainer) and walking everywhere, is a GREAT HELP in easing the main side effects of Lupron (chronic fatigue, etc.). In fact, the makers of Lupron recommend resistance training for those taking the drug. I have now gone almost a year sans Lupron and we'll see what my next quarterly tests show. Good luck.

[chickgreen in reply to fzpinc1]

I've become convinced of the need for more strenuous exercise than I currently partake in: Now I need to convince myself that I will like getting up and going to the gym...

[Derf4223]

You need to be monitored while off Abi. Why stop? You can get it cheap from Scriptco.com

[chickgreen in reply to Derf4223]

It's not the cost (I exceeded my out of pocket limit this year) but I was having a strong increase in blood pressure, related to either the Prednisone or the Abiraterone. Since I stopped the medication my BP has dropped 15 pts systolic and 10 pts diastolic in about a two week period.

I understand that there are alternate medications for both the abiraterone and the prednisone, but my MO and my Cardio people and I all agree that less is more (where medications are involved) and we're going to go to a wait and see approach for a bit, to see what happens

[Seasid in reply to chickgreen]

Are you taking 1g abiraterone mornings on empty stomach? If you have blood pressure you should add prednisolone.

I hope that you know that taking abiraterone with food will increase the absorption and you will never be able to match the absorbed dose of abiraterone with appropriate dose of prednisolone.

Could you explain what you are doing?

If your absorbed dose is constant than you may just need to use instead of 5mg prednisolone 10 mg.

For myself it is too late now but if I where in your place I would not stop abiraterone for 18 months or even 2 years before trying to do all that above.

If I didn't explain you properly please ask me for more information.

[chickgreen in reply to Seasid]

Hi! I do take the abiraterone on an empty stomach, and prednisone in the morning with breakfast...

We have resolved the BP issue: I am currently on two different BP medications, small doses of each, and my BP is looking really good (110/70 average). Currently the meds are 50mg Losartan and 5mg Amlodipine. I had been on double the dose of each to start, and as the effects became apparent I reduced the dosage of the BP meds to the current levels.

[Seasid in reply to chickgreen]

What is your Prednisone dose per day?

[chickgreen in reply to Seasid]

I'm on 5mg per day - I had considered getting myself bumped to 10mg per day, but I'm slightly concerned about long term prednisone use

[Seasid in reply to chickgreen]

Agree