Hot flashes and Lupron

[chickgreen]

Hi All - I'm looking for advice in a rather special case - I've been on Lupron for a bit over a year, and on Ariraterone for about 8 months. Last month, my MO pulled me from Abiraterone because my blood pressure was out of control, and tripling the ARB that I am taking really did not seem like a great idea. The prior doubling of the medication gave only temporary relief.

Anyhow... Since I stopped Abiraterone, the hot flashes are back. Real heavy, real often and accompanying them are intense mood swings. I'm going to look into estriadol patches becausee frankly I'm at my wits ends. The ARB family of drugs that I take is associated with increased depression and suicide, and I really don't need the additional emotional pressure that I feel I am under now.

Does anyone else have an experience like this?

[noahware]

E2 patches are a good idea... also to consider are gabapentin and certain SSRIs.

[noahware in reply to noahware]

I might as well be specific, regarding SSRI antidepressants:

"Paroxetine ( brand name: Brisdelle) is an SSRI and is the only nonhormonal therapy that is specifically approved for hot flashes in the United States. This medication has been used for many years for treating depression, but can be taken at a lower dose for hot flashes.

Although not approved for this use, other SSRIs such as citalopram (brand name: Celexa), and escitalopram (brand name: Lexapro) relieve hot flashes to similar degrees as is seen with paroxetine."

The one T_A mentioned below, venlafaxine (brand name: Effexor), is not an SSRI but an SNRI (serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor).

[etenntider in reply to noahware]

Citalopram has all but eliminated my hot flashes, and, as noted below, my wife also says I’m more mellow. Lupron and abiraterone/prednisone for 5+ years.

[Tall_Allen]

Venlafaxine helps with hot flashes and is also an antidepressant.

[GoBucks in reply to Tall_Allen]

Not only did venlafaxine help with my hot flashes, my wife said I wasn't as big a dick anymore. Win win.

[Clays711 in reply to GoBucks]

My wife said the same.

[Hidden]

black cohosh can really help. But check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure it’s not counter indicated with anything you’re taking.

[chickgreen in reply to Hidden]

Actually I'm using remifemin at a naturopaths suggestion - it helps, but not nearly enough anymore.

[Tonyliv]

Decaf tea and coffee help of course.

[maley2711 in reply to Tonyliv]

of course???

[Tonyliv in reply to maley2711]

Caffeine causes hot flushes, as does alcohol.

[chickgreen in reply to Tonyliv]

I've shut down most of the coffee, and am using a single cup of green tea per day right now - also supposed to help with the blood pressure issues...

[Hidden]

My MO suggested vitamin E, and it has almost eliminated my hot flashes

[Hidden]

YES! I HATE ADT on every level. Sorry I cannot offer advice. Hang in there. I hope you can get off adt some day.

[Horse12888]

That's why I quit ADT halfway through me two-year sentence; I couldn't stand the SEs, including the crying and depression. My T recovered and I got on an antidepressant, and I'm fine now, but I really did want to die for a while.

People tolerate ADT differently. Some barely notice; others blow their brains out. Almost everyone is somewhere in the middle.

[Hidden in reply to Horse12888]

Yeah, I'm like you, depression, crying and feeling like crap. Lupron was worse than any other aspect of PC treatment. But I did enjoy imagining many starving cancer cells screaming for mercy before they perish. My adt was to complement radiation therapy

[Blue6199]

I had regular hot flashes and occasional mood swings on Lupron. They all stopped when I switched to Orgovyx. It is a small, once daily pill. My anecdotal opinion is, that Orgovyx does everything Lupron does, only better and with fewer side effects. orgovyx.com/ Best of luck.

[kreg001]

Lupron with bicalutamide. Then a Lupron vacation with bicalutamide monotherapy. No more hot flashes no more sore legs much less depression.

[Hidden in reply to kreg001]

Sore Legs? In what area? My legs have been aching constantly particularly in the thighs, (and they're also huge) also I do get severe "Bone pain" in my shins occasionally. Been on Eligard, Zytiga and prednisone since June 2019

[chickgreen in reply to Hidden]

I get the shin pain - especially in my right leg, where I had dealt with a large varicose vein

[kreg001]

yes. Very painful lower leg pain that vanished after I started my ‘holiday’ except for some arthritis in my right knee that cortisone really helps. I don’t think I’m the only one. .

[chickgreen in reply to kreg001]

I do have a pain in my lower leg, but I have always associated it with a varicose vein that I had in the same approximate location

[ChristopherM123]

Clonidine. It is prescribed for menopausal women but has served me well for years.