Enzalutamide (Xtandi) Side Effects - Advanced Prostate...

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Enzalutamide (Xtandi) Side Effects

Rodeoz15 profile image
27 Replies

Hi everyone

My father recently made the switch from Abi to Enza as Abi was no longer working. Enza immediately brought down his PSA from 8 to 1.2 within 2 months. Initially he had major fatigue as a side effect but 3rd month onwards he developed cognitive side effects (memory loss, blabbering in sleep, mild hallucinations etc.). We stopped Enza and got him admitted to a hospital where all his blood parameters have come back normal except for UTI for which he is being treated. We have good reason to believe his cognitive impairement is because of Enza. He was on full dose of 160mg.

For anyone who has experienced such side effects, how quickly did these go away after stopping Enza? It has been 1 week since we stopped and there is only mild improvement. Next plan of action will be to either go with Enza half dose or Darulotamide, although as no generic is available for Darulotamide, it will be extremely costly here in India.

We plan to halt Enza until there is improvement in his memory function.

Thanks!

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Rodeoz15
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27 Replies
speranza10 profile image
speranza10

I would also think about apalutamide (erleada) if available. It is practically as effective as xtandi with fewer side effects. The best solution would probably be darolutamide, also due to the fact that it has a low ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier but I realize that if one has to pay for it it is a big problem having a damned high price.

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply tosperanza10

Thank you!

lcfcpolo profile image
lcfcpolo

I've been on Enzalutamide for over 4 years and luckily not had those side effects. Is it possible that the UTI caused these side effects? I'm on full dose Enzalutamide but certainly in the past some of the guys on here have gone onto half dose and had really good results.

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply tolcfcpolo

Thank you! He has had frequent UTIs so that could also be the case.

Doctorsceptic profile image
Doctorsceptic

is apalutamide available to you? I would be very hesitant about restarting enzalutamide

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply toDoctorsceptic

Thank you! Yes it is available. Will explore that.

Explorer08 profile image
Explorer08

Regarding the UTI, years ago my Dad’s geriatrician told us that persistent UTIs can cause a quick dive into dementia. My urology clinic told me to take D-Mannose daily because it prevents bacteria from adhering to the inside bladder lining. I get my D-Mannose through Amazon.

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply toExplorer08

Thank you!

olessepimme profile image
olessepimme in reply toExplorer08

Enzalutamide immediately halted the doubling of my PSA level and has, in 3+ months, reduced the PSA from approximately 400 to 5.7! I am feeling MUCH better and functioning MUCH more normally. Cheap Enzalutamide without a prescription - onlinecheappills.com/enzalu...

rm9x profile image
rm9x

Hi. If you’re not already, take xtandi before bed. This reduced the side effects for me or atleast while I was awake.

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply torm9x

Thank you!

EdBar profile image
EdBar

I don’t know your father’s age but a UTI can cause confusion and cognitive issues, we’ve experienced that with my father in law who is 87.

I’ve been taking Xtandi for 10 years now and about 4-5 years ago I started getting pretty bad headaches and cognitive issues, by MO Dr. Sartor recommended a half dose and I’ve been on the half dose ever since, headaches and cognition is much better although I do take a daily dose of Celebrex to help with them. I’m assuming your dad takes xtandi in the evening correct?

Ed

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply toEdBar

Thank you!

Firespring65 profile image
Firespring65

My husband has been on Enza for about 8 months now, with triptorelin injection every 6 months. His main side effects are restless legs, hot flushes and cognitive problems – he’s become forgetful, there of non sequiturs or just ‘odd thinking’ patterns.

Our oncologist therefore suggested switching my husband to Abi but he’s not keen due to the general need to take steroids.

We’ve learnt so much reading the posts on this forum, including that orchiectomy could be an option to go ‘drug free’ and hopefully improve brain function and give some relief to his liver. In line with what others have written here, orchiectomy was never mentioned to us as another treatment possibility. My husband is all for it and we plan to discuss it at our next oncology meeting in three weeks' time. He is encourage by the fact that we have not read a post here on the forum where someone regretted having had an orchiectomy.

gsun profile image
gsun in reply toFirespring65

You would still take a second line medication after orchietomy such as Enza. It only replaces ADT. I switched from Abi to Enza about three weeks ago and have bad fatigue 1-2 hours after taking it so now I take it before bedtime. Helps me go to sleep, which is a bonus.

Firespring65 profile image
Firespring65 in reply togsun

Ah okay, I got the impression from some of the posts on here that some guys aren't on any meds. Anyway, we need to clarify with the MO when we have the appointment. - Yeah, the fatigue definitely is an issue with Enza. My husband initially took it in the morning but for that very reason switched to bedtime too. Wishing you all the best!!

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply toFirespring65

Thank you!

God_Loves_Me profile image
God_Loves_Me

Here are my personal opinion,

I am sorry that darolutamid is not available in India

- What's his testosterone ?

- Other options take full break from xtandi and think about chemo or pluvicto ?

- After chemo Abi may start work again

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply toGod_Loves_Me

Thank you! His T is less than 10. We are planning to explore Chemo now.

CancerConcierge profile image
CancerConcierge

Several others have commented, but I would like to also share that in older patients UTIs can cause delirium … I had two close relatives experience delirium/psychosis triggered by UTIs… it can take a bit for the antibiotics to kick in

gsun profile image
gsun in reply toCancerConcierge

My dad went through that. He was about 95 when he got a couple of UTIs. I thought he was dying it was so bad. Then the next morning I went to the hospital and he was sitting up and said good morning. It was very strange.

CancerConcierge profile image
CancerConcierge in reply togsun

Yes, it’s very strange… and scary!

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply toCancerConcierge

Thank you!

garyjp9 profile image
garyjp9

Agree with EdBar --- a UTI can definitely cause the cognitive issues you mentioned in your post. Wait until he completes the course of antibiotics before adding more concerns.

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15 in reply togaryjp9

Thank you!

Rodeoz15 profile image
Rodeoz15

Thank you!

SteveT44 profile image
SteveT44

Hello, new to this forum. I was diagnosed with low volume stage4 with a met a little over a year ago. I opted to forego the Lupron shots and do an orchiectomy and radiation. I also started with Xtandi at 180mg a day. After a few months I went to half dose on the Xtandi due to QOL issues. These where extreme fatigue, balance issues, 15+ hot flashes a day, brain fog, and a god-awful taste in my mouth (never had UTI issues though). Since going on half dose Xtandi, QOL has improved. It probably took a month or so to see the improvements. I still experience all the listed side effects but at a lower intensity. The bad taste eventually went away. As of my last blood test, my T and PSA are undetectable.

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