Reading these pages is both depressing and encouraging.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and was treated with radiotherapy and then three years of hormones.
In May 2020 I had an aortic valve replacement which left me with atrial flutter which has become atrial fibrillation.
Last year, 2024, I was found to have a small metastasis on vertebra c7. High intensity radiotherapy treatment was ruled out as impossible so I am now taking relugolix which seems to be relatively side effect free.
I recently tried enzalutamide but the brain fog was very, very significant and I came off that almost immediately,
Next up is apalutamide but this is where things start to get complicated because I was already taking apixaban for the atrial flutter. As is my won't I read the patient information leaflet for apalutamide which suggested a problem with apaluti
amide and apixaban . In fact it was worse than I thought because Apalutamide and Apixaban share the same pathway into the body and because Apalutamide is the stronger I would have been left with minimal benefit from the Apixaban which is the drug that minimises my risk of strokes.
Oncology had a quick rethink and for the last few days I have been taking Edoxaban instead of Apixaban and if that settles ok I'll be trying the Apalutamide.
My message to all those with multiple conditions is to read the leaflets for every new drug that you are given. You can not be too careful and unfortunately over busy NHS staff may not pick up the problems
Good Morning Ever hopeful
Thank you for your informative post and I wish you well with your continuing journey.
Like you I am an avid reader of the PIL (Patient Information Leaflet) which comes with all medication and I have also had a medication clash - one that started to reduce my eGFR (Kidney function). A quick word with our GP's in house pharmacist and it was sorted.
My wife is a retired Nurse and in the house we do have a copy of the BNF (British National Formulary) which is the basic guide to all drugs, their uses, safety issues and medication clashes. This is now updated and can be found online (last update 2 February 2025).
Best wishes - Brian
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