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Zoladex to Prostap or not? - HT,Side effects

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User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 14:16

Greetings all. Diagnosed a year ago, started HT in Feb '14, Bicalutamide then Zoladex, first monthly then after 37 dose RT went onto 3 monthly. Had many side effect which have made life/work difficult but with support of GP (excellent) and some anti depressants and Indoramin, everything seems,at last, to be settling down into a tolerable state. However, last week I received a letter from my GP surgery informing me that from now on, all Zoladex users will be transferred onto Prostap. This decision has been made after consultation with the Specialists at the local hospital ( which has an excellent reputation for RT treatments), and the local Care Commissioning Group.

I've spent the last week hunting for info on Prostap, and whilst I can find data sheets and other technical information, there seems to be little from users or real world interested parties.

So is there anyone out there with real world experience of long term use of Prostap ? Have you switched from Zoladex ? What was the change like? Did the side effects change and are they different, the same or worse?

Any information useful as what I have found to date seems to imply that Prostap is worse on the man boob side, weight increase and depression. I've already got weight increase and depression from Zoladex , and I certainly don't want to make them worse and add boobs as well.

Any info, experience or advice welcome. I've a meeting with my GP on Monday and it would be useful to be able to talk from a position of knowledge. I am lucky that I don't need my next injection until March, so I've got a bit of time to prepare.

May 2015 bring forth good news for all of us in the situation. Keep looking forward and carry on.

Chris

User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 17:57

I started Zoladex last Jan and was moved to Prostap in May for no other reason than strategy. I have it on excellent authority from my ONCO that both are almost the same but I believe there is a cost difference. I have certainly not noticed any further SEs on Prostap from when I was on Zoladex but SEs are all very individual. I wish you success in your journey.

Bazza (Barry)

User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 18:23

Chris there are quite a few here that have or had Prostap - if you put it in the search function, you will find other conversations about the impact of changing from one to the other. There is no doubt that Prostap is cheaper than Zolly.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 18:55

Hi,

Might be of interest that when I started hormone therapy at the end of last June, the hospital gave me a letter for the doctor which included a price list for the various treatments. The information was correct in March 2010 so was a bit out of date but gives you an idea of the price differences.

It listed Zoladex LA as costing £235 (12 weeks) and Prostrap 3 (3 month) as costing £225.75.

Hope that's of interest.

Best Wishes,

Steve

User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 19:17

We were told that Prostap was easier to administer (smaller needle) but no experience of the alternative.

Best wishes to all affected.

Alison

Edited by member 09 Jan 2015 at 19:17 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 19:57

I started on Prostap but was switched to Decapeptyl after about 12 months. I understand both were easier injections than Zoladex. Apparently the change was practice wide at my GP's. I guess because of cost. When I was under treatment my practice nurse told me that over 40 men were receiving the same injection. Only one of 2 small practices in a small town

Worked pretty well in my case. Undetectable PSA since January 2013.

Good luck to all.

Dave C

User

Posted 09 Jan 2015 at 20:36

Been on prostap for three years. Injections (in stomach) virtually painless and no problems. SE are individual and so it is difficult to compare but I have no depression, have fatigue which has grown, sore nipples and no libido but i think zoladex acts in the same way so I guess the SE would be similar. As Lyn suggests it seems to be a cost issue.

User

Posted 10 Jan 2015 at 22:39

I've been on a number of HT drugs , although never Prostap. With the exception of Degarelix (Firmagon), they all work the same way and should have the same side effects. That said, some men react better to some drugs than others and it's always useful to find something agreeable http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

I don't get many side effects from HT and I don't know why, it just doesn't bother me. I have been on many drugs in the past 7 years and I just get on with it. Decapeptyl was the easiest (jab in the bum) but I am currently on Zoladex and quite happy with it http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

Edited by member 10 Jan 2015 at 22:40 | Reason: Not specified

Nil desperandum

Allister

User

Posted 11 Jan 2015 at 17:05

Chris,
I was on Casodex (50mg) for almost two years, by manboobs are so bad that I have been on a waiting list for a bilateral mastectomy since September, but I'm been told this could still be months away. So my Urologist has switched me to Prostap last December, in the belief that it is better than Casodex and it will help reduce my boob size, not increase them. I have no other side effects.

The cost of the 3 monthly Prostap injection here in Italy is €460. The injection was no worse than having a blood sample taken, painless.

As a side point I'm G(4+3) stage T3b, had all my treatment in 2006, and it was not contained.
I hope this is of some help.

Stu

Edited by member 11 Jan 2015 at 17:56 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 11 Jan 2015 at 19:34

Here is my experience with ADT with Zoladex and Prostap

I have been on ADT for 19 months as part of the Radicals trial. Zoladex first (2 implants covering the 1st 6 months) then my GP switched me over to Prostap I have had 4 of those & am due another in 2 weeks. I did not notice much difference between them.

Zoladax hurts more going in but they both result in shrunken testicles, hot flushes, muscle loss and very slight short term memory problems (or maybe I am just getting older!).

The effects have been mild enough for me continue with my full-time job as a software project manager and as part-time associate lecturer with the OU

I have actually lost weight since this time last year (18kg) despite the ADT, probably because of adopting a low-carb diet to tackle the diabetes I was diagnosed with then.

As well as the diabetes, since going on ADT I have diagnosed with osteoartritis (both knees) and have developed a trigger thumb and finger, but perhaps that is because I am more willing to go to the doctors these days.

Good luck with it and I hope it doesn't affect you too much

Andrew

Edited by member 11 Jan 2015 at 19:36 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 12 Jan 2015 at 11:08

I've been on 3 monthly injection of Prostap for 2 years now (i'm told it will be for 2-3 years), my 'boobs' have enlarged a bit and i've put on weight around the middle and have had some but not many hot flushes. Not had any real problems that have affected me in a negative way. In a strange way it's reassuring to have the hot flushes as I know the Prostap is working!

Arthur

User

Posted 13 Jan 2015 at 17:36

Greetings all. Many thanks for your responses and stories, it's comforting to know that there are others in the same boat, even if none of us want to be here.
Had a long chat with my GP yesterday, who is most understanding, and we agreed that although Zoladex may not be what you want to live with, I am tolerating it, and whilst a move to Prostap may not bring about any changes, we agreed to leave well alone and stay with Zolly.
It appears that the greatest complaint about Zolly is the size of the the injector and the subsequent pain and bruising, however, as all three of our Practice Nurses are brilliant at injections, I've never had any issues on this score.
So it's Zolly and carry on for the next two years. What fun.
May everybody improve soon and have a great 2015.
Many regards.
Chris

User

Posted 13 Jan 2015 at 18:12

I have to say I am amazed that I keep hearing people talking about the pain of a Zoladex LA injection. I have now had four, and have never suffered any pain, have had slight bruising but no pain. My nurse always sprays the area with a freeze spray which numbs it, so I guess anyone out there who is feeling pain should ask whoever is administering the injection to use a freeze spray first.

User

Posted 13 Jan 2015 at 20:52

No problems here either with Zoladex but not all health trusts use freezer spray (like mine). Some use a cream and some use nothing at all! http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif

Zoladex is fine with some sort of local anaesthetic. If administered incorrectly it can be painful and ineffective. In my experience, the worst by far is Degarelix and the easiest has to be Decapeptyl. I just wish I didn't need any of them http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif

Nil desperandum

Allister

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