Elgard v Lupron

[Papa1]

I’ve experienced slowly increasing side effects over the past six to nine months. I passed it off to age and time on ADT, but I’ve recently discovered that I was switched from Lupron Depot to Eligard last November. Everything I read says the SEs should be the same. Has anyone else experienced the same effect?

[JohnInTheMiddle]

I thought they're the same drug? Is one a generic and the other is a brand name?

[Papa1 in reply to JohnInTheMiddle]

same drug. Different delivery system. That’s why I’m curious.

[maley2711]

Have they both been the same duration...ie 1 month, 3 month, etc? I had two 1 mo Lupron shots, but the following 3 mo shot was given Eligard...so far little difference as far as different SEs.....and it would be difficult to know if additional SEs were attributable to the drug, or just time on ADT? Maybe the "strenth/duration" of a single injection plays a part...no idea really....aven't researched that.

[Papa1 in reply to maley2711]

All have been 6 month shots. Maybe it’s just coincidental.

[Cooolone]

Association vs Causation is one of the most difficult things to differentiate in regard to not only side effects, but results from therapy as well.

One question for the care team would be "WHY" was the change made? First and foremost without a discussion... That would bother me, but that's just me! The second would be that one way to maybe find out would be returning to the original drug/application and see if those issues resolve themselves...

Good Luck & Best Regards

[Papa1]

Thanks.

[8036]

I had exactly the same experience. I was switched during COVID alledgedly due to supply issues. Almost all SE's were worse and not too long after it failed and PSA began to rise.

[Papa1]

interesting. Did you ever switch back?

[London441]

Lupron and Eligard are identical in action. I made the switch in 2020 for the same reason 8036 described. My side effects also became more noticeable.

The easy answer: Longer total time on ADT, since the side effects are commonly cumulative, at least for the first few years. I felt basically nothing for the first 6 months or so.

[Papa1]

My increase in SEs came at two years. Pretty sure it’s coincidental with the med switch, but still had to ask.

[Professorgary]

I know they are suppose to be interchangeable but my uro told me of a patient who was switched from Lupron to eligard and Psa started to rise. Another testosterone test was done and that had risen as well. Went back to Lupron and Psa and T levels came back down.