timing between Lupron injections - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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timing between Lupron injections

Gatodd profile image
29 Replies

After 17 months on firmagon injections, I switched to the 84 day lupron injection on June 15. How far can the 84 days be safely extended? I am currently scheduled for another injection on September 14, which is 91 days.

I hope that is ok, as our scheduling was extended because of vacation conflicts.

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Gatodd profile image
Gatodd
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29 Replies
Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

It is risky. Maybe you can get some Orgovyx pills.

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle

May I ask why you switched from Firmagon ADT injections (28 day schedule) to (~90 day schedule) Lupron ? Was it for convenience? Only for convenience?

Gatodd profile image
Gatodd in reply to JohnInTheMiddle

Two reasons:

1. I was getting flu like symptoms from firmagon for about 48 hours over the last 4 shots. (The first 15 or so did not have those effects)

2. Convenience. Going to get the injection every 84 days seemed easier than every 28 days.

I have had only 1 eligard (lupron) injection but had no flu like symptoms or welp my oncologist and cardiologist were on board with the change. I know firmagon and lupron suppress T differently, but the results should be the same - at least that was the logic

in reply to Gatodd

Convenience is 6 month Lupron!!

SpencerBoy11 profile image
SpencerBoy11 in reply to

Or Eligard.

TJGuy profile image
TJGuy in reply to Gatodd

Firmagon has slightly better results, and maintained hormon sensitive longer.

JohnInTheMiddle profile image
JohnInTheMiddle

Thanks for getting back. I also have the flu but it's down to 36 hours now. Severe shivers and a 14-hour straight sleep. And I pile up the covers because I'm cold. And then I'm good. And as I have written about elsewhere I rejected the convenience argument and went with the "different method" argument. Good luck to both of us 🙂

Gatodd profile image
Gatodd

I really didn’t want to change what was working. But my oncologist was very certain that the change would not be risky. Hopefully he is correct. We will see in a month or so when we run the tests.

tango65 profile image
tango65

It takes weeks for the testosterone to get over 50 after Lupron, I believe 7 days delay it won't be detrimental to your treatment.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

I always got my Lupron shot in 90 days (or about).......... No issue for me........As far as I can tell it's really a "nothing burger".........

Good luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 08/26/2023 5:16 PM DST

Gatodd profile image
Gatodd in reply to j-o-h-n

Thanks

Alfi21 profile image
Alfi21

My 90 days Zolodex injections is due in 15 days into my 6 week holiday to Europe.

My oncologist advised me to have the Zolodex injection before my holiday not after.

epfj3333 profile image
epfj3333 in reply to Alfi21

Make sure your insurance will still cover it if you take it early. My Firmagon shot is covered if taken every 28 days but no sooner. It is covered if taken later than 28 days but not sooner.

Alfi21 profile image
Alfi21 in reply to epfj3333

I leave in Australia, I am a pensioner and Zolodex is subsidized by the government. It only costs me AU$7.00

epfj3333 profile image
epfj3333 in reply to Alfi21

I'm speaking only of Firmagon. It's to be given every 28 days. Insurance covers it but not if taken sooner than 28 days.

Parlorman profile image
Parlorman

It should not be an issue. The Lupron doesn’t just stop working after three months and testosterone comes back very slowly.

Gatodd profile image
Gatodd in reply to Parlorman

Great. Thanks

Peealot profile image
Peealot

My Lupron shots are for 6 months. You might want to look into that.

Gatodd profile image
Gatodd

thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully I have 15 months left on lupron as part of stampede treatment. If it goes longer, will definitely consider.

TJGuy profile image
TJGuy

You doctor's office should be able to give you the "window"of when you should/could have your next injection.

TJGuy profile image
TJGuy

Based on what travel/life plans are sometimes you might want a one month, or three month, four, or six month injection. If you plan it right you should be able choose the correct one for any particular time. You'll need to schedule ahead of time with your doctor/facility so they will have the injection you want ordered and in stock just for you.

slpdvmmd profile image
slpdvmmd

The pharmokinetics demonstrate a pretty significant drop off. I have tried to really live by the 12week/84 day rule. My wife serves on a FDA advisory committee and she states that one of the issues the FDA looks at really hard is interval of redosing and wants the recommendation to be pretty firm. I think MO's fail to follow the dosing recommended in the data sheet way too often which goes along with the overall too casual of an approach to ADT by the medical community. This is serious life affecting stuff.

TEXAS_dan2022 profile image
TEXAS_dan2022

Gatodd, I would question taking a risk on your ADT treatments so you can or your MO can have a vacation. Not a very valid excuse for interrupting the solid treatment 12 week / 84 day interval between injections. I have been taking injections of Lupron for over 6 years now and my MO is very strict on the blood work and injections / consultations with him regarding my treatment. To me this seems ;like a 'way too casual approach to treating a very serious disease'

J M O

Gatodd profile image
Gatodd in reply to TEXAS_dan2022

I have not been casual about fighting the beast. We are aggressively treating with abi, adt, hdr and Ebrt. And it’s my trip to Europe that is causing the extension, not my MO. MO wasn’t concerned about extending 7 days since T recovers slowly and my T has been undetectable for 18 months.

But I wanted second opinions from this forum, because I value the knowledge and insights. I appreciate yours. I am considering an early return for Europe.

Rocketman1960 profile image
Rocketman1960

If it were me I would make an appointment for first day back and then put it out of my mind until you get back from your European vacation. You are talking about a 7 day difference.

Blueribbon63 profile image
Blueribbon63

Hi, I get a Lupron injection, it's been 9 months keeping my PSA on check, or at least it was in July 6, I am due for another Lupron injection September 5. I will also get a entire round of blood work to see how is everything. I'm general I feel okay, adapted to the nasty night sweats and some pain on my collar bone and my right side low ribs, a few of metastasized points.

LakeT profile image
LakeT

Thanks for posting this question. I have been scheduling every 3 months and will now correct to 84 days. That makes me 3 days overdue!

Alfi21 profile image
Alfi21

I leave in Australia, I am a pensioner and Zolodex is subsidised by the government. It only costs me AU$7.00

Ztlf profile image
Ztlf

My husband is on Lupron. When he got Covid last May, his doctor postponed his injection for a week. No apparent issues.

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