Experience with lupron

[Startanew]

Well brother I was on lupron for about a year couldn't tolerate the side effects went on firmagon could not tolerate side effects finally went and had a orchiectomy it was the best thing I've ever had done don't have to deal with the pain and the side effects of the injections and the only thing I take now is xtandi

[Carlosbach]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Your info is important.

After 2.5 years on Lupron my mental SE's were getting significantly more intense. After my last implant, almost 4 months ago, I felt like my mental health deteriorated to a point that life wasn't worth living, and I could not trust my judgement a lot of the time.

My MO is switching me to Firmagon (first injection next Wed). I'm hoping for some improvement on the MH. If not, I will pressure him for Orgovyx. He didn't want to prescribe it at this point due to the cost (for Kaiser, not my costs).

If those fail, I will also be lining up for a snip job.

[Hidden in reply to Carlosbach]

Are you Medicare Advantage?

Kaiser MOs dont care about med costs. I wanted to switch from Zityga ($112 mo cost to Kaiser) to Xtandi ($7,000 mo cost to Kaiser) she was totally fine with it, but I said I would wait due to MY cost.

Orgovyx is $1682 to Kaiser and your copay is $828

Firmagon and Orgoxyx do the same thing as Lupron.

[Hidden in reply to Carlosbach]

All of these solutions kill you testosterone. Lack of Testosterone is causing the SE

[maley2711 in reply to Carlosbach]

Are you Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan? My ubderstanding they would be required to offer anything that traditional Medicare offers? Don't know if that applies to coverage under Medicare D plans?

[GP24]

Orchiectomy will cause the same side effects as Lupron or Firmagon. The side effects are caused by low testosterone.

[Startanew in reply to GP24]

I don't completely agree with you orchiectomy has been around for thousands of years these chemicals they're using to cause castration have only been around for maybe a hundred years and they still affect your liver and your kidneys wear I don't believe orchiectomy does

[maggiedrum in reply to Startanew]

It's certainly possible that the mental SE's are caused by other chemical reactions in the ADT meds of any type. I believe mine were definitely caused by no T. For years my mental health has fluctuated just like a woman with periods, i.e. monthly cycles of hormone changes. Unfortunately there hasn't been definitive research on this. However, I will not, ever, try any med that even might cause the severe, unending , SE I had from one ADT. I would, literally, rather die early from PCs than go through that again. I am living out that statement, or rather dying out that statement. At least I have an exponentially better QOL without the severe SE. I would have killed myself by now if I was still experiencing that. Any of you may doubt my histrionics and think I am being well over the top. All I can say I wish I could "assist" anyone who doubts me to go through it themselves and then tell me that again. I have long wished that my T had been measured through at least 4x monthly to compare the levels to my monthly depression. It has ruined my life but so far I haven't euthanized myself. A little brutal honesty here.

[GP24 in reply to Startanew]

The lupron prescribing Information do not mention side effects in regard to liver or kidneys.

[maley2711 in reply to GP24]

Is that what studies have shown? Yes, low testosterone is a huge driver of these SEs, but isn't it possible that these castration drugs have their own set of SEs????

[addicted2cycling in reply to GP24]

My Orchiectomy was 8 years ago and I NEVER suffered certain SE's many men speak about who get CHEMICALS put into their body and then have them stop after discontinuing the drugs and getting castrated.

[Hidden]

Orchiotemy has not been around for thousands of years for PCA.

The church needed castratis to sing as sopranos and contraltos

[gsun in reply to Hidden]

The Romans used to castrate the servants of the women of royalty.

[Hidden in reply to gsun]

So were sexual predators!

[Boywonder56]

Guilted them to geldings..........

[London441]

Glad you’re happy with the result. Could be largely placebo effect. Orchiectomy is seen as a solution for some, but side effects are driven by low testosterone regardless of how it’s achieved.

Other than pain from injections what are the predominant side effects you’ve been freed from?

[Startanew in reply to London441]

My understanding is that there's less cardiovascular problems and there's less problems with your bones with an orchiectomy

[London441 in reply to Startanew]

For some im sure, but my question was about the difference in side effects.

[gsun in reply to London441]

Those are side effects.

[London441 in reply to gsun]

They are possible consequences, not side effects. The OP (Startanew) said he ‘couldn’t tolerate the side effects’. He seems almost certainly to mean not tolerating T suppression symptoms. Maybe he can tell us.

It’s possible he instead means he couldn’t tolerate that Lupron was making him osteoporotic and/or giving him heart disease. Doubtful, and of course these would have likely been pre existing anyway, thus only exacerbated by the Lupron.

Again, he may be saying that he developed CV issues or bone thinning on ADT which he found ‘intolerable’, but it’s not likely since those are not generally symptomatic until they result in serious problems later.

[austinsurvivor]

switched from Lupton to Orgovyx 2 1/2 years ago and side effects are greatly reduced….at least for me. My BCBS policy pays 100% also.

[SteveTheJ]

That's your experience and I believe you but many others of us find the side effects of lupron tolerable. You have to do what's right for you. But whatever the case, have courage and don't assume the side effects will be that bad.

[David20451]

Hated Lupron and its side effects. Have been on Xtandi as a mono-therapy for over 8 years. Of course every case is different. Best of luck.

[lowT163]

my neighbor a fellow prostate cancer buddy had his orchiectomy and is way happier. Didn’t discuss why but he had the shots for a few years.

[GummyToad]

Some people do well with no balls...Catlyn Jenner for example. It's not a decision you should push onto others though.

[Startanew in reply to GummyToad]

I would never push my decision on anybody else I had to do a lot of soul searching and a lot of discussion with my doctor to come up with my decision to do what I did everybody has to make their own decision for their own life we are all different what works for me doesn't necessarily work for anybody else but I'm glad the options was there being between a rock and a hard place it was the best decision for me and me only

[j-o-h-n]

Just think,,,,,,, no more getting them in an uproar............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 05/28/2023 8:14 PM DST

[cancerfox]

Eunuchs were employed in the Emperors' courts in China for over 2000 years. Not only were their testicles removed, but also their wangs. 😃 🦊

[j-o-h-n in reply to cancerfox]

Sad no more fun, can't test their testies or wing their wangs.....😃 🦊

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 05/29/2023 11:11 PM DST

[Teacherdude72]

Just curious: what side effects exactly?

[ShenStone]

I have been on Lupron continuously for 24 years. I have a good life.