Can medication elevate the PSA?

[PARKER3237]

My PSA at time of the cancer diagnosis was 5.56. Being in the hospital right now with several meds surging through me, the PSA is at 348.00. Is this a normal reaction?

[JohnInTheMiddle]

May I ask if the ADT you're on is Lupron?

Lupron is a type of ADT known as an "GnRH agonist" - which means for a couple of weeks apparently after you start ADT therapy that your testosterone will paradoxically go up. And in turn then the PSA might go up to. (Agonist means "stimulating"; and the drug will stimulate the production of testosterone until the ability to produce burns out - or something like that.)

This is called testosterone flare if in fact this is what is going on with you. And it's a known phenomena and your doctors will be expecting it.

If this is the case then they should have warned you about it. On the other hand it could be something completely else of course.

[GP24]

I would get another PSA test. This is too high for a flare.

[MJCA]

Hi,

You state there are several meds surging through you? What kind of meds? Don’t know if it’s a contributing factor until all information is shared.

[Tall_Allen]

If it is a new medication, it may be because it is killing cancer cells and dumping their PSA into the blood. If so, it is temporary.