Lupron and Xgeva injection timing.

[Professorgary]

This question is for you folks who are getting monthly Lupron and Xgeva injections and are on Medicare. I have been getting Lupron injections monthly at my urologist and was told that I had to wait a full month to get the next one. Example, I get an injection on Oct. 19 and I can’t get the next one until Nov. 19. I am getting the Xgeva at my oncologist and they said they could do both on the same day and they would be 28 days apart because that is what Xgeva and one month Lupron are to be given at. I will be calling my Ins. carrier tomorrow but if anyone has experience with this any info would be appreciated. Thanks, Gary.

[Tall_Allen]

The prescribing info for monthly Lupron says "LUPRON DEPOT 7.5 mg for 1-month administration, given as a single intramuscular injection every 4 weeks. " 4 weeks is 28 days, not 30 or 31 days.

rxabbvie.com/pdf/lupronuro_...

[Mcrpca]

Shouldn’t be a problem. They both have different mechanisms of action.

[turkeyjoe1]

I went in 2 days early for my 6 month shot of lupron. Already had an appointment, they refused to give the shot to me. Insurance would not pay if it wasn't 6 months to the day.

[dhccpa in reply to turkeyjoe1]

The insurance company said that or the doc's office said that. Urologist or MO?

[turkeyjoe1 in reply to dhccpa]

Uro said that insurance won't pay unless it's on the 6 month day or after.

[dhccpa in reply to turkeyjoe1]

Ok. Than I'd check it with your insurance carrier.

[Professorgary]

Thanks, that’s what my urologist said as well. My oncologist says it only has to be 28 days. I think some ins. companies make you wait the full number of months and some will pay based on the number of weeks.

[V10fanatic]

My MO is a prostate cancer specialist, and he has me on Xgeva every 3 months. He states that it gets the job done, with less likelihood of necrosis of the jaw. You might want to ask your MO about this. It could help out with your scheduling issues as well.

[Professorgary in reply to V10fanatic]

Thank you, I will discuss this with him. Actually I had hoped to get a bone density scan before starting Xgeva but could not get one before December.

[dhccpa in reply to V10fanatic]

Mine does the 90 day thing as well, even though he is not a PCa specialist. He's just conservative on treatment all along the line of your indicators are stable.

[dhccpa]

You should probably shift to an MO anyway to get ADT, and not be loyal to the urologist, but maybe that's my experience.

I get quarterly shots for both. There is a timing issue, but it's not 90 days between shots, but rather a little less.

[Professorgary in reply to dhccpa]

I have an MO as my urologist referred me when Psa went up after a year on Lupron. He started me on Abi and then Xgeva. I see my urologist next week and will talk to him about having oncologist give me my monthly Lupron. I get a bone density scan Dec. 1 and at that point will discuss timing of Xgeva. Thank you very much for your input, much appreciated.

[MaxWife]

Tall Allen is correct. 1 month dosing is every 4 weeks; 3 month every 12 weeks; 4 month every 16 weeks; and 6 month every 24 weeks. Had been getting Lupron following “24 week” schedule for several years. Moved and established with new Urology office who refused shot before 6 month by calendar dates. Based on my knowledge that Medicare had covered the “week” dosage, I demanded the injection at 24 weeks with no problem with coverage. You can check with your insurance company if you are worried, but info comes directly from package insert.

[Still_in_shock in reply to MaxWife]

Agree, I was told 6 months, until I asked them to read the insert pamphlet!!!

24 weeks!!