Eligard and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• Wal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

For Prostate Cancer "Have had one month injection of Eligard and will not be taking another. Side effects including hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, joint pains, mood swings, memory loss - I get the lot. Worst decision I ever made and hope the effects wear off ASAP. I would rather take my chances than be half the person I am now. Reading other comments where there seems to be no ending to the side effects gives me little hope for a reprieve. Oncologist gave me no impression I would be suffering like this. Just 'this is the standard treatment' - it does not cure the disease just supposedly slows it. Personally I would rather have less time and good quality of life."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2018

For Prostate Cancer "I was prescribed Eligard by an oncologist due to a suspicion of prostate cancer. I was told my PSA of 80 was almost a certain indication of prostate cancer. Seven months ago, in February, I was given a three-month injection. Within an hour, I was nauseated. I vomited for three hours. After that, the effects of Eligard began to take effect. Hot flashes, going from sweating to cold within minutes, loss of libido for myself, no sexual satisfaction for my wife. Chest constriction, reduced ability to handle stress, disrupted sleep due to fluctuating temperature. Final comment: I conclude that no man would ever prescribe Eligard to another man if he had taken it himself. It is not a cure for prostate cancer, and it affected my life so negatively that I would never take it again, even if I knew I had cancer, which I don’t. I am writing to the Chief Medical Officer of my province that this drug is a poor choice for any purpose."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "Been taking Eligard 5x every 3 months, just over a year. Prostate taken out 10 years ago. I underwent radiation 45 times about 6 years ago. Eligard has been effective at reducing my PSA levels. Occasional hot flashes, tire easily, and often feel lightheaded. Little tolerance for BS and have been experiencing more headaches and breast enlargement. Thinking about stopping use."

• Jer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 30, 2023

For Prostate Cancer "I have had my second dose of Eligard 45 mg, 6 months apart. Radiology convinced me I should do this to prevent the recurrence of cancer. I had a Grade 4, contained to the prostate. Had 28 radiation treatments. My PSA now is at zero. I have told the doctors I 'will not' take any more hormone injections. My life has been ruined. I am turning 76, but I have been an active walker, biker, lifted weights, etc., all my life. Now I have intense bone pain all over my body, my muscles are half what they were, and I have hot flashes all day and night. I force myself to exercise, but life is now hell. I get depressed and emotional. Wish I had never taken the first injection. Not sure if my body will ever recover. The doctors need to educate their patients with proper data and let them make a choice."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "I must say if I only knew what this medication was going to do to me, I would have never taken it. At the age of 61, this medication has destroyed my life. After each injection, it caused deeper and deeper depression. What at one time brought joy to my life is gone. There is no sense of any type of sexuality at all. Nothing brings joy to one's life. After each shot, it just makes it worse. The hot flashes are so severe I will have to change my work shirt a couple of times a day. I will soak a shirt within minutes. One has to remember that the Eligard will get rid of all your hormones. We are not made to run that way and there is no support that will help you deal with that or tell you what to expect. You are no longer male but not female either."

• ill...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "Received a 6-month injection of Eligard. Approaching 8 months since the injection, and I am still having several hot flashes every day and night. Unfortunately, there is not a remedy that will bring an end to the episodes."

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2010

For Prostate Cancer "I was given two injections of Eligard before beginning radiation therapy. Following the 48 radiation treatments, I am still being monitored by my oncologist and urologist. My last PSA was 0.01. The side effects of hot flashes, lethargy, and muscle weakness are where I am today, although at my age, 79, I can't complain. The first of the injections was in April of 2008 and the second in August. Radiation began in early September 2008 and ended at the end of October. It was determined that I am not a candidate for Androgel as there is a possibility of developing cancer again. So, as you read from the preceding paragraph, I'm lucky to have passed my first year without problems."

• Pat...
• July 24, 2021

For Prostate Cancer "I just got my 3rd shot of Eligard. Hard to say exact side effects, because I also have end-stage COPD. I haven't got a PSA yet, prior to Eligard, it was 7, then 17, then 24. Due to COVID, I put off seeing an oncologist for 7 months. I got both Moderna vax in March. I started radiation in April and finished on June 9. It seems each shot of Eligard is getting a bit worse. This last one hurt and burned longer, a minor issue. Hot flashes seem more frequent. I too go to the bathroom about 9 or 10 times a night, every 1 to 1.5 hours, but that was happening before Eligard. I am dizzy a lot, and I don't have much energy (I used to be quite active). I am 66 years old. My cancer rated as Stage 3, there were tumors on 8 of 12 biopsy samples. Surgery wasn't an option since scans showed it may have spread to lymph nodes. I will update this (if possible) with my PSA score this September. Good luck to everyone. I can't recommend Eligard or condemn it as of this writing."

• Bik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2021

For Prostate Cancer "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer around Thanksgiving 2020 and given a one-month dose of Eligard about 2 months later. Then two more 6-month hormone shots of Eligard. I have also had SBRT and brachytherapy. So, while it is difficult to assign the side effects I am experiencing to the Eligard alone, I am affected by nearly all its known side effects. I have zero libido, 4 or 5 hot flashes per day, major loss of strength and energy, genital shrinkage, body hair loss, weight gain, frequent urination at night, some short-term memory loss, mood changes, apathy, and increased frequency of bowel movements. I have trouble carrying groceries up the stairs where I live now because of my loss of strength. I have continued to exercise, and I take calcium, vitamin D, and multivitamin supplements, but I am still getting progressively weaker. The good news is my PSA is around zero now, and if it doesn’t increase, I won’t have to get another Eligard injection when this last one wears off."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 7, 2022

For Prostate Cancer "This is an update... I posted last year (2021). I have now had 5 shots of 3 months of Eligard. I only have 3 left to complete the 2-year treatment. I had (have) Stage 3 prostate cancer, it spread to the lymph nodes, but no further (they think!). No surgery since it spread... I had my last (45th) radiation treatment 6/9/21. Back to the Eligard. I was about to stop (after 3) or slow down the injections due to the crappy side effects, but the oncologist talked me into continuing. I am counting the months until I am done. My biggest side effect is bad headaches for several weeks after each injection. Yes, I get the hot flashes, I'm dizzy... sleep sucks, joint pain.... and now my knees are very painful. My PSA did drop from the mid 20s to .06 (almost nothing). That's the good part, I guess. I'm just hoping I can tolerate it all. GOOD LUCK!"

• Mik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2021

For Prostate Cancer "I, like others have posted, feel I've had enough. 7 months of 'monthly' injections, not too many bad side effects until month 7, now I just felt it overloaded my body. I stopped for 2 months and just had a 3-month injection, being told it would not be as invasive, rubbish as I am now back in the throes of strange side effects, mostly constant diarrhea, bowel incontinence, and all 24/7 hot flashes. The same reason I stopped Casodex after 3 months due to severe 'hand and foot syndrome.' I can control the mental aspects, but I think this was my last injection. Sure, the traditional approach probably saved my life, but every body is different in terms of the post-radiation treatments. Obviously, check with your doctor before a decision like this!!! ...But 'traditional' has to be modified depending on the individual."

• geo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2024

For Prostate Cancer "Has helped reduce PSA from < 200 to .019 over 9 months of treatment. I've had 2 6mo shots. No problems with injections. Cannot differentiate which drug causes hot flashes, fatigue, and depression when receiving ADT. I'm receiving drugs and injections in my treatment. PSA number has steadily declined."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2020

For Prostate Cancer "Eligard caused hot flashes only. If I had read these comments before, I would never have used Eligard! Horrible!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 12, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "Hot flashes, bone pain, breast enlargements, tired, don’t care about anything anymore. Looking for a way to reverse it!"

• Dus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2024

For Prostate Cancer "I was forewarned about having hot flashes as that was the only side effect that was mentioned. Unfortunately, that has been the case, more often than I care to count."