Monthly v 3 monthly hormone injections ?

I didn’t know there was a difference to be honest. I’m not sure that’s true but we are about to find out.

My decision was based on visits to the surgery. I opted for 3 monthly then I don’t have to get too friendly with everyone at the surgery.

I have to say that if your other half is not a friend to big needles then the monthly might be best as the 3 monthly needle is scary. But I have no problems with needles at all but I look away, it eases the mind of the nervous operator.

So rather way there are reasons to get either. It’s your choice.

Good luck.

Hello Louise (Louise73 ) 

Welcome to the group, although I am sorry to find you joining us.

i think we are all individuals and there are a few different "brands" of Hormone Therapy and we all react differently to each dose we are given. 

I originally (I am back on Hormone Therapy) did 3 years on 6 monthly injections of Decaceptyl. Did I have side effects, Yes almost all of them (click on my name or avatar for my full journey). Did I miss a days work - No.

For me the 6 monthly jabs were great - less messing around obtaining a prescription, collecting the medication, arranging an appointment and finally having the injection.

I can't say if there is any difference between monthly or three monthly injections but I am happy with my six monthly ones.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Louise,

My experiences - "other experiences are available" !

I was put onto a 2 year course of Prostap HT (reduced from originally stated course of 3 years) after 20 sessions of SGRT  - straight in on 3 monthly doses. For the first 15 months or so my side effects were not too bad at all - NO hot flashes.  I did not notice any difference as to when I had last had a 3 monthly dose.

However........from month 15 to 18 I started to get all sorts of possible side effects. I was seriously considering stopping the HT altogether. To give me a bit more flexibility I asked my GP to go onto 1 monthly doses - this was already authorised by urology/oncology in their original prescribing letter. My GP flatly refused and told me they were going to put everyone onto 6 monthly doses - I complained to my CNS and she wrote to the GP telling them to put me onto monthly doses - end of argument !  As it turned out I have now actually stopped the HT completely - consulted both Urology/Oncology before hand - they said "minimal risk"...............all I can do is wait and see on that one. 

My, non-medically trained, thoughts on my past experience: I would now ask to be started on 1 or 2 monthly doses, of the long term HT, to see what initial side effects appear. I have major doubts about the 6 monthly doses in general. If something "crops up" just after a 6 monthly dose - you are potentially "stuck with it" for weeks/months after the 6 months has elapsed whilst the drug clears itself from your body - a mind bogglingly awful thought !

My GP's response is purely financial - that has been pretty obvious from the outset. One has to wonder if any one with medical training has been involved in decisions like this - or is it just back office bean counting ? This contrasts markedly to the attitude shown by my diagnosing hospital where the patient and the efficacy of the treatment comes first. 

I rather doubt that the spacing of the injections in itself causes any difference in side effecs. The latter seem to be a matter of luck, the individual's response to different drugs.

I had c.30 months of 3-mthly decapeptyl, before, during and after EBRT in 2021. Apart from almost inevitable ED and very brief and only occasional hot flushes, no unmanageable effects. Continued my average 100 miles p.w. cycling through out.

Unfortunately the treatment proved not to be curative and I am now back on it (plus the newer darolutamide) and again apart from "libido") no difficult side effects. 

Good luck, Dave 

Hello Louise73,

I can only speak from my personal experience of having 9 months of HT being 3 x3 monthly injections of Decapeptyl (given in the upper thigh).  It took about a month before I noticed any side effects & even then they were more of an inconvenience rather than a problem.

We are all individuals & each person will react differently, so whilst your friend found months 2 & 3 worse, this may not be the case for your husband.  On the plus side of 3 monthly injections, it does mean less inconvenience of booking & attending the doctors & more time just to get on with daily life.

Best Wishes

Brian

Hello Louise73 

If it helps, I'm on 3-monthly injections of Zoladex LA into the fatty area of my stomach. Yes, it is a big needle (when a trainee nurse saw it she actually said 'oh my god') but it's quick (about 3 seconds) and relatively painless. I don’t watch. I would much rather have one every 3 months than monthly as it’s less disruptive and I'm not a big fan of injections...! First one was Dec '24.

Side-effects started after about 6 months, noticeable hot flushes which vary in intensity and last maybe a minute. Some days there are several, other days - none. To me they are a minor and acceptable side-effect, considering the job it’s doing…  I don't have the energy I had a year ago but that may be a combination of radiotherapy and hormone therapy - and getting older. Difficult to tell...

I'm also not sure about monthly injections having fewer side-effects, you would think the amount released into your body at any one time must be the same for both? 

Hello Louise73,

My experience is 3 monthly injections (prostap) of which I had three, then I changed to 1 monthly for two, then back to 3 monthly again. (I did this so that my 3 monthly blood test and review and 3 monthly prostap injection are done in the same week which is more convenient for me).

I noticed no difference at all between 3 monthly or 1 monthly injections.

As others say, we're all different and reactions may vary.

Thank you for your insight 

Ok thank you that’s helpful to know 

That’s all very interesting to read and you have made some good points, thank you. Lots to consider!