My PSA has been at >0.01 and 2 weeks ago I had my 3 month lupron injection.
I mentioned to the urologist that I’m looking at taking a vacation in October and was wondering if I could be my lupron injection changed to every 6 months.
He said sure not problem but my pharmacist called and said my prescription for Eligard was ready.
So my questions are:
- is lupron available in 6 month injections?
- what’s the difference between lupron and Eligard?
- will I get a psa flair when I start in Eligard lime I did when I started lupron?
- any other information that will help me with this?
Thank you fellow PC warriors
Written by
Lslal
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I’m on the six month Lupron plan. So far, I have had two injections with two more to go. My next one is in early September. Nearly half ways through my prescribed two years. Weight gain has been is my primary SE even though I exercise regularly and watch my diet.
what do you mean two more to go? I have been on the 6 mth route for almost 9 yrs with expectations of taking it for life as long as it works. Also Xtandi 3 yrs now, same,life as long as it works. Or until a heart attack
My initial Tx plan was curative in nature. I elected to have ADT + HDBT + EBRT. My course of ADT was two months before my HDBT procedure and continuing for total of two years. Then we watch and wait. If biochemical recurrence occurs, I am certain to go back on ADT for the remainder of my life.
Luprom is IM injection Eligard is SubC injected.
If you are on continuous, the "renewal" should not flare your Testosterone.
I think I have written to you before. I too am a Canadian. Lupron and Eligard are brand names for drugs that both contain the active ingredient leuprolide acetate. Lupron is given as an intramuscular (IM) injection whereas Eligard is given as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. You can get a six month refilled injection syringe of 45 mg that is given every six months. See your pharmacist about getting a six month syringe rather than a three month (25mg) one. Since they are both essentially the same drug, there is little to no chance of getting a PSA flare. Another option is to take your three month Eligard syringe (in the box it came in) and have a health care professional give it to you wherever it is you are going. If on a cruise the ship's doctor can easily look after this. Good luck!
thank you RyderLake2. Seems we’re on opposite sides of the country as you’ll find me in Ottawa. Good to know how things are done in different areas . Thanks for sharing
In the US you want the injection administered in an MD office so it is covered under Medicare…..doing it yourself would make it prohibitively expensive if you are of modest means.
No argument here. All my Zoladex (goserelin acetate) and Prolia (denosumab) injections are done by my family physician. I supply the Zoladex implant (injection) which I receive every three months from the pharmacy at the local Cancer Agency. I take these to my family doctor. Every six months I also get a Prolia (for bone strengthening) injection. My family doctor (who is very conservative) likes me to have a creatinine test before giving me the Prolia shot.
My nurses dislike giving the 6 month Eligard injections because the required needle is so much bigger than the 1 or 3 month injections. Having used both (6 and 3 months), I agree with them. I am now on the 3 month injection schedule.
Do not know about Lupron but the Eligard shots create a fairly intense stinging for a few minutes for me that can be a little tuff to bear. Nurse indicates this is common for Eligard.
There was a shortage of lupron several years ago, so many patients were given eligard instead. I received two injections of eligard.I reported much more severe side effects to my doctor at one of the hospitals I receive care at (world renowned) and they said that many of their patients also reported that as well.
They said they were going back to lupron for their patients due to the reported increased side effects.
I have always been told longer duration shots can also create more intense side effects?
At one time I read (googled) a report of the various length injections and it described how with different length injections you might experience different higher initial drug values and then what their fall off tendencies tended to be.
I was on 6 month Eligard for 8 years, and it worked well. The nurse administered it in the buttock below the belt line. Putting an ice pack on the area for a few minutes before the injection reduces the stinging to a tolerable level.
1. Yes, a 6 month dose is available. Choice of this dosing seems to be heavily governed by the insuring entity or agency and drug dose availability.
2. None - both are leuprolide acetate; only the administration of the drug differs. As RyderLake 2 describes, Lupron is IM and Eligard is SC.
3. PSA shouldn't flair - these are the same drug.
4. I've been on both and haven't noticed any difference in labs or side effects. But in terms of administration, Eligard is kept refrigerated and only taken out when I'm at the infusion center, increasing my waiting times, often substantially. With a Lupron injection I was in and out!
My understanding is that urologists prefer 6 month injections while oncologists prefer 3 months. My very first injection was 6, then after that 3. I see no reason to consider changing.
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