On 7/1/2009 jksouth wrote:
We have just learned that my 73 year old husbands PSA has gone up to 32 after having his prostate removed 13 years ago. He went for a cat scan and bone scan and we will go back on July 6th for the results. The Dr. put him on Casodex and he has been taking it for a week with not much in the way of side effects yet. He has a lot of hip pain and has been taking vicodin twice a day for it. Any input would be greatly appriciated.
Hi ksouth CC member Johnt is right about Lupron and Proscar (ADT3) as this is a newer protocal and is more effective than Casodex alone
All I want to say is if he get into problems taking any of these, there are other Holistic alterative pricols he can folow let us know cheers Ray
The problems is the drug turnes off the prduction of certen key hormones all over the body not just testoserone the effects or
Side effects that have been associated with the use of Lupron Depot frequently include hot flashes and night sweats, and less frequently palpitations, syncope, and tachycardias. Other side effects include generalized pain, headaches,, nausea/vomiting, fluid retention[, weight gain, acne, hirsutism, joint pain, loss of sexual desire, depression , dizziness, nervousness, and breast changes in men and woman such as tenderness and pain. There have been no deaths directly related to therapy with Lupron Depot.
http://www.rxlist.com/proscar-drug.htm
No clinical benefit has been demonstrated in patients with prostate cancer treated with PROSCAR. Patients with BPH and elevated PSA were monitored in controlled clinical studies with serial PSAs and prostate biopsies. In these BPH studies, PROSCAR did not appear to alter the rate of prostate cancer detection, and the overall incidence of prostate cancer was not significantly different in patients treated with PROSCAR or placebo.
PROSCAR causes a decrease in serum PSA levels by approximately 50% in patients with BPH, even in the presence of prostate cancer. This decrease is predictable over the entire range of PSA values, although it may vary in individual patients. Analysis of PSA data from over 3000 patients in PLESS confirmed that in typical patients treated with PROSCAR for six months or more, PSA values should be doubled for comparison with normal ranges in untreated men. This adjustment preserves the sensitivity and specificity of the PSA assay and maintains its ability to detect prostate cancer.
Any sustained increases in PSA levels while on PROSCAR should be carefully evaluated, including consideration of non-compliance to therapy with PROSCAR.
Percent free PSA (free to total PSA ratio) is not significantly decreased by PROSCAR. The ratio of free to total PSA remains constant even under the influence of PROSCAR. If clinicians elect to use percent free PSA as an aid in the detection of prostate cancer in men undergoing finasteride therapy, no adjustment to its value appears necessary.
They work by causing constant stimulation of the pituitary GnRH receptors, leuprolide initially causes stimulation (flare), but thereafter decreases pituitary secretion (downregulation ) downregulation means of the gonadotropins Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH).