Degarelix vs Lupron

RichardRS
RichardRS Member Posts: 44
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
Anyone have any info on Degarelix (approved by FDA 12/8/09. It is supposed to be a stronger drug than Lupron with less side effects.

Notes from the web:

Results showed that degarelix is as effective as leuprolide in reducing and sustaining castrate levels of testosterone.(1),(2) Suppression of testosterone to castrate levels occurred significantly faster in patients receiving degarelix than in those receiving leuprolide.(1),(2) The study also showed that degarelix achieves faster suppression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.(1),(2)



At Day 3 of treatment, the degarelix group achieved a 90 percent decrease in median testosterone levels compared with the leuprolide group, which experienced a 65 percent increase in median testosterone levels. Degarelix was as effective as leuprolide in suppressing testosterone levels from Day 28 to the end of the study (Day 364), with 97.2% of the degarelix patients maintaining medical castrate levels compared with 96.4% for leuprolide.

Comments

  • Medcomglen
    Medcomglen Member Posts: 95
    #2
    Degarelix vs Lupron
    Hi Richard,

    I switched to Firmagon from Lupron last year and asked the same question. Please visit: http://csn.cancer.org/user/102792 You will find mine as well as others experience with Firmagon (Degarelix)

    Best wishes,
    Glen
  • RichardRS
    RichardRS Member Posts: 44
    #3
    Medcomglen said:

    Degarelix vs Lupron
    Hi Richard,

    I switched to Firmagon from Lupron last year and asked the same question. Please visit: http://csn.cancer.org/user/102792 You will find mine as well as others experience with Firmagon (Degarelix)

    Best wishes,
    Glen

    Firmagon
    Thank you for the reference. I found the long discussion you started fascinating and informative. It seems to work...
  • tetech
    tetech Member Posts: 8
    #4
    Medcomglen said:

    Degarelix vs Lupron
    Hi Richard,

    I switched to Firmagon from Lupron last year and asked the same question. Please visit: http://csn.cancer.org/user/102792 You will find mine as well as others experience with Firmagon (Degarelix)

    Best wishes,
    Glen

    Looking for Degarelix discussion
    I could not find the Degarelix discussion anymore at http://csn.cancer.org/user/102792. I am trying to get my Dad to try it, I may need it next year. Do you think that injection technique makes a big difference in pain?
  • Medcomglen
    Medcomglen Member Posts: 95
    #5
    tetech said:

    Looking for Degarelix discussion
    I could not find the Degarelix discussion anymore at http://csn.cancer.org/user/102792. I am trying to get my Dad to try it, I may need it next year. Do you think that injection technique makes a big difference in pain?

    Degarelix/Firmagon
    Hi tetech,

    Try to Google "Firmagon" and look for the title "Firmagon (Degarelix) substitute for Lupron Cancer Survivors Network" which appears about the third or fourth ranking down. Regarding your question on injection pain...I had the privilege of speaking to the Ferring Pharma rep in my area one day. The injection site pain seems to depend on the knowledge of the dosing nurse. Keeping the powder/solution mixed properly, pinching the abdominal muscle and administering immediately at a 45 degree angle seems to be key to alleviate injection site pain. I noticed the dosing Nurse reading the Degarelix insert prior to my first injections so I imagine there had been no formal training since I was the first patient getting this hormone therapy. It's my understanding that the powder may settle if not injected right away thus was the case following my "2nd "booster" shot. The syringe should have been shaken again because it sat idle while waiting for the first injection to dose. Strangly enough my daughters dog jumped up hitting my stomach with paws yesterday and it felt like I just received an injection. The area burned for about two minutes and my last injection was last August. Go figure?

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