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How long does ADT affect mood swings and anger after stopping treatment ?

Yokohama2023 profile image
24 Replies

Hello,

Usually ok but a few outbursts recently.. anger issues upset .. but generally easy going nice person. It’s almost been 2 months since last and final shot and had irrational incident. Anybody else experience challenges after therapy and was wonder when you reached a normal feeling. I generally never have outbursts or feelings of upset but after two months was wondering when I might feel normal again .. I assumed after the last shot it would be ok but maybe it’s dependent on testosterone levels getting back to normal .. am I alone or unusual ?

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Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023
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24 Replies
Scout4answers profile image
Scout4answers

Just because you have stopped taking drugs does not automatically return your emotions to normal. It is the lack of testosterone that is causing the mood swings not the drugs themselves. Return to normal testosterone levels is what you are looking for. Are you measuring your T on a monthly basis? It can take months to return to normal.

Keeper70 profile image
Keeper70 in reply to Scout4answers

My husband will be ending all ADT/ Elligard and Zytiga... He's been on Lupron/Elligard for nearly 5 years and Zytiga for 1-1/2 years.. We are hoping that his T comes back, but likely won't, he's 70... will any of the fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, etc go away after ending all this ? Hi RO suggests Cialis and T Replacement Therapy.....He was given a curative dose of Radiation in 2023 and continued his ADT for the 12 months post Rad.. any insights on this? thank you Scout4answers.......his psa has been undetectable for 15 months and all scans are clear, PSMA and Bone

Scout4answers profile image
Scout4answers in reply to Keeper70

We are hoping that his T comes back, but likely won't, he's 70..

Keep a more positive attitude .

Henry Ford said "Think you Can, think you Can't, either way you're right."

will any of the fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, etc. go away after ending all this ?

Above my pay grade, I have the same questions.

RO suggests Cialis and T Replacement Therapy.....He was given a curative dose of Radiation in 2023 and continued his ADT for the 12 months post Rad.. any insights on this?

Your RO is quite progressive, under his care why not try it. I might want to consult with him.

Keeper70 profile image
Keeper70 in reply to Scout4answers

Private chat me, he’s in Scottsdale AZ, I’ll share his info

Scout4answers profile image
Scout4answers in reply to Keeper70

I am not ready for that yet but will follow your progress with interest.

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to Scout4answers

Thanks, having first meeting with doctor since the last shot soon. Expecting to measure that as well as my PSA level though not sure on the time duration most likely they will say 3 months. Expecting testosterone return to take 6-9 months which was the duration I was on them (9months). Thanks again.

doc1947g profile image
doc1947g in reply to Yokohama2023

Each cases are different. I was 72 y.o. when I was on VMAT-RT(3Gy X 20fx = 60Gy) and ADT(Lupron Depot 45mg/24weeks.

I was diagnosed on 2020/01/21 Gleason Score (4+3=7)G4 with a PSA = 13.7 μg/L and went up to 20.4μg/L .

Now 5 years later 2024/02/09 PSA = 0.01μg/L

Testost. = 1.6 nmol/L - 46.10944ng/dl (2024/02/09).

Still all the S.E.(Mood swing, Heath waves. Severe Depression, ...)

My GP is referencing me to an Endocrinologist.

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to doc1947g

bummer good luck to you .. I’ve found exercise to be very helpful ..even walking for a while has helped… morning sun is also good. Hope you feel better .

EaNa profile image
EaNa

My wife always commented how "easy going" I was while on ADT. I didn't feel much different but she could tell. I was on it for 6 mo. and it's taken about that long to return to "normal." I'm 67. I didn't bother with Testosterone checks afterwards, it's obvious my libido is back and I'm growing hair on my thighs again. :) I think I'm back to my old, not so "easy going" ways again but definitely more energetic on the positive side of it.

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to EaNa

Haha, agree felt at ease but occasionally irrational thoughts behavior etc. hair on the head for me grew well, full thicker weird.. armpit hair none like it was selective. Glad you are back to normal .. hair on thighs made me laugh ! Wish you well !

EaNa profile image
EaNa in reply to Yokohama2023

To be honest with you I have mixed feelings about the return of Testosterone. On the one hand it's great to have my libido and hairy legs back, but on the other hand the fear of another recurrence of PC or PSA going up again troubles me... I wish you well in your journey as well.

janebob99 profile image
janebob99

You should consider testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to quickly increase your testosterone levels back to normal, then you can stop taking it later.

London441 profile image
London441

Men tend to depend on stopping ADT alone to resolve their side effects, including mood swings. It’s an unreliable plan, based on the assumption that return of testosterone will happen, and that will do the job by itself.

Many don’t know what their baseline testosterone was, so they can’t measure either what levels they had or what they are hoping to recover. Some don’t recover their T, some not completely, some had low levels already and are less affected by changes.

ADT hits hard, as we know. Recovery of T depends on 3 factors; age, baseline T before starting ADT and length of time on it.

Since these drugs accelerate aging, we should employ the one factor that is within our control diligently-exercise. Both weight bearing and cardiovascular.

Dedicated exercise helps minimize mood changes on or off ADT dramatically while it does the same to all the other sides. It also helps T recover faster and better when ADT is stopped.

There is no guarantee of better life quality after ADT, but exercise increases the odds substantially. If you already do, do more. If not, start. Statistically, most older men don’t do any regular exercise, or they feel bad and lie about it. Take it seriously, it often makes all the difference.

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to London441

good advice back doing it.. always have.. I’m fairly young mid 50s so understand .. I’ve been walking a mile to the gym and getting some great workouts lately… the combination of morning sun …air, movement and pump is exactly what all of here need. Good luck to all.

EdinBmore profile image
EdinBmore

IMRT, brachyboost and ADT in 2018-19. Weathered the first two. Not so much the third. Awful experience. Side effects? I had many and thought they'd never go away. Mood swings, hot flashes, joint pain, depression/anger, wt gain, and so on. Last injection May 2019; 3 mo duration (in theory). Did not start feeling better until Spring 2020. Pre-treatment T was 250ish; always been low. The only thing which seemed to help was exercise and walking. Most recent (3/2024) T was 302 (!!) Go figure.

Good luck to you.

EdinBaltimore

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to EdinBmore

Wow that’s a long time .. yes I’m working out always did but a few setbacks during treatment.. your T is awesome congrats ..that is the last thing to conquer. In Japan they ever checked it .. once hormone started irrelevant.. now at 10 months had last treatment a month ago over. Went in for bloodwork and no testosterone test.. brought it up through my interpreter.. wife… haha.. and doesn’t matter now so next 3 months will check. Many things get overlooked unless you are an advocate for yourself which is difficult in another country …regardless I think the treatment went well and I’ll get some more answers down the road… good luck to you.

Mascouche profile image
Mascouche

Hi Yokohama2023,

All my life I've been an angry man who has learned to control his anger. While on ADT the anger faded away completely. It came back at around 4 months after stopping ADT. The first few weeks you need to readapt yourself to it but eventually the old self-control comes back.

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to Mascouche

Yes I heard some people actually enjoy the feeling … not a huge difference for me just sporadic outbursts but controlled .. I guess one persons outburst can be very different to another’s!! Haha. Into my second month and get what you mean. Luckily I’m in Japan where many things that would trigger someone don’t really occur here. People letting you into their lane, people being nice and polite, smiles , distance …etc. hahaha. Good luck to you thanks for your feedback!

Mascouche profile image
Mascouche in reply to Yokohama2023

We used to have that kind of politeness in Canada but it has taken a downturn over the last decade. Good luck to you too. :)

Mgtd profile image
Mgtd

janebob99 brings up a good point. There is really no difference between natural hormone recovery after ADT and using artificial hormone replacement to speed the process. One just happens faster and is probably more reliable to happen.

Horse12888 profile image
Horse12888

Yes, it's about the recovery of T, which averages about 5 months, but is longer for older men and those who've been on ADT longer.

You may want to consider an antidepressant, which worked well for me I was an emotional wreck, living life in tears. A mixture of anger and grief, I would say.

Yokohama2023 profile image
Yokohama2023 in reply to Horse12888

Good luck to you .. have something called degas here don’t take it often usually half a pill .

OldVTGuy profile image
OldVTGuy

60 yo. Was on Lupron for a year. T was 4.1 before treatment.

Was just tested 2 months after ending treatment. Was surprised my T was back up to 1.0 while PSA still undetectable.

Some data for you. For me it’s starting to register again after just 2 months. I exercise a lot.

Good luck.

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

Regarding your question, my vote is that usually you're unusual.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

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