HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lupron and hot flashes????

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/25/2015 12:26 PM (GMT -5)
Husband has been on Lupron since September. Hot flashes are becoming worse and now not sleeping secondary to the hot flashes. Leading to lots of depression and hopelessness (mostly from lack of sleep). Thought I had seen on the forum that some are talking Clonidine for this? For you wise veterans who have experienced this, what works the best and how do you cope. Hate to see him suffering like this. Just looking for some insight. Believe me being post menopausal I get it from a female perspective but this is beyond anything I have gone through. Just trying to help a guy out here.
Thanks wise ones
Dawn
Posted 2/25/2015 12:39 PM (GMT -5)
I have been on Lupron for about 3 years and have hot flashes, mostly during the night now. I think they were more numerous earlier than now. I don't have the restlessness you describe but I do wake early. I think there is some treatment for hot flashes but someone else will need to tell us.
Posted 2/25/2015 1:09 PM (GMT -5)
Fn, I have been on Clonidine now for 3 weeks and my hot flashes and night sweats are 99% gone. Huge, huge difference. I'm taking 0.2mg twice daily (8am & 8 pm). I highly recommend you speak with your doctor about it!

Cheers, Doug
Posted 2/25/2015 2:10 PM (GMT -5)
I was on gabapentin when I was on HT. It took the edge off of the hot flashes and helped me sleep, but it was nowhere near the improvement that Doug mentions in his post.

The hot flashes suck and I hope your husband gets some relief.
Posted 2/25/2015 5:30 PM (GMT -5)
I'm on Megace (generically megesterol acetate). 20mg twice/day. It helps to reduce the hot flashes, but doesn't eliminate them. I'd say about 66 -75% reduction. Its risks are weight gain (appetite stimulation), and gynecomastia (not a problem in my case).

Jerry
Posted 2/25/2015 5:38 PM (GMT -5)
Dawn, I have been on HT four years. Hot flashes were terrible and sleep disruptive until my Mayo oncologist gave me two injections of Depo Provera. I still get an occasional night hot flash but 95% eliminated. The Old Sailor
Posted 2/25/2015 6:33 PM (GMT -5)
You guys are amazing!!!! Called PCP today (working together has special perks) and starting a trial of the Clonidine today. Keeping my fingers crossed but you guys have definetely given us other options. Have never heard of the DepoProvera for hot flashes and it is a drug I use in my practice every day. Will have to look into that. Thank you all for your input. You are the best. Now hoping for sleep tonite.
Dawn.
Posted 2/25/2015 6:55 PM (GMT -5)
My husband has horrible hot flashes from Lupron. Doc tried Megace and it helped, but hubby could not tolerate it. His PCP switched his blood pressure medication to Ramiprill for unrelated reasons, and guess what- it reduced the hot flashes! If the Clonidine doesn't work and your husband takes BP meds, ask about it.
Posted 2/25/2015 8:49 PM (GMT -5)
Be sure to post back and tell us how it works !
Posted 2/25/2015 10:49 PM (GMT -5)
I have been on Eligard for a year now. I also take ramapril for heart issues, which I was on when the Eligard started. My hot flashes are really tolerable. Sometimes they are bothersome but not to the point of being detrimental to QOL. Maybe that is why they have been mild. I know I am not going to complain. Have an appointment with MO and RO in a couple of weeks. I will mention this to them to see what they say.
Good luck to all you ADT guys, hope you can find the relief from the HFs.

Carl
Posted 2/26/2015 1:47 AM (GMT -5)
Gary's hot flashes went away, but mine are terrible post menopause.
Did not tolerate Gabapentin we'll. Gary's medonc recommended I ask my doc about venlafaxin. She prescribed and it helped tremendously. No SE' s. Another possible option.
Beth
Posted 3/2/2015 10:07 PM (GMT -5)
Ok all here is the update. Started on Clonidine last Wednesday. Has been sleeping like a baby ever since. Says hot flashes are almost non existent at this point. Occasionally will have one during the day but none that are waking him up at night anymore. Hopefully this will continue. Now if we can just get through tomorrow with our latest PSA results. Ugh it is always something. I sure hate this cancer.
Thanks all
Dawn
Posted 3/2/2015 10:53 PM (GMT -5)
If you want to try something non-hormonal or not an anti-depressant, I've read great reports about aural acupuncture. It somehow corrects the thermoregulatory mechanism.

- Allen
Posted 3/2/2015 11:46 PM (GMT -5)
Hi

I have been on Firmagon (Degarelix) for last 3 months and aside for a very minor hot flash here and there so far so good. Oncologist also told me today that Degarelix appears to be superior to Lupron although not yet fully confirmed. Also, I have noted that Dr. "Snuffy Myers who is well respected has switched all of his ADT patients from Lupron to Degarelix. I don't mean to sound like a sound bite for this drug, but it has so far produced a miracle for me with none of the advertised side effects of ADT.

I do want to note however that the injection site aches a bit for a day or 2. A small price to pay however

Good luck
Posted 3/3/2015 10:56 AM (GMT -5)
Glad to hear the Clonidine is working for him.

During my two years of ADT3 I had few and mild hot flashes. I dunno the reason for that for sure (some guys are just lucky with their symptoms) but I suspect that it might have been the fluoxitine (generic Prozac) that I took for my depression. As well as its use as an antidepressant fluoxitine also used (at lower doses) for hot flashes.

Not sure if I recommend it, though. The drug has sexual side effects that manage to be annoying even for men on hormones. See my thread: ADT4 - Prozac Giveth and Prozac Taketh Away
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply