I have just joined the Macmillan Cancer Support (Online Community) and would like to chat about the side effects of Proatap3 Injection; especially, if other members of the group are experiencing persistant diarrhoea.
I was on Prostap for 2 years and didn't suffer with diarrhoea- tiredness, fatigue, loss of libido, weight gain and hot flushes were pretty much it for me.
Are you having RT? If you are, I feel this is more likely to be the cause. I did suffer with diarrhoea when I was having RT, but only because I ignored the diet sheet they gave me.
Others may have a different experience, however, as we are all different.
I seem to most of the side effects that are caused by Prostate. The diarrhoea has resulted in a 2 week delay for my RT (should start on Monday 13th) but delayed until diarrhoea is reduced.
I know that RT may well cause diarrhoea during the course 6 week treatment, but not normal just with the hormone.
I am sure the medics will get to the bottom of it all and all be good.
Not sure if it is the same but my husband was initially on Degarelix injections monthly but because the pain in the injection sites were so bad, they switched him to three monthly Prostap.
Unfortunately, without checking through his medical history, I cannot remember whether there is any direct connection but about late Jan early Feb last year, he started having explosive diarrhoea. It got so bad he really couldn't safely leave the house. Apart from the expected incontinence from his prostate pressing on his bladder, we had to find bigger pads which would absorb any faecal matter which escaped before he could get to a loo. Sorry, maybe too much info. However, this went on for four months. His doctor and I put our heads together and tried to find out which of the many other drugs he was on that could be causing this problem, and I have to admit it never occured to us to be the injections. After colonoscopies and endoscopies, we paid to see a private consultant who arranged for a siegmoidoscopy where they discovered he was suffering from microscopic colitis. This can only be detected through a biopsy taken during the procedure, but still not sure what causes it.
After the diagnosis, he was put on a steroid called Budesonide which has been life changing for him. However, after the reducing dose was finished, the diarrhea came back and so we started another course of treatment. He was also given sertraline for depression which can also cause diarrhea and so they have changed this drug in favour of one less likely to. He is now on a reduced dose of the steroid and will finally finish them in a weeks time. We are hoping that we have finally 'got to the bottom' (sorry couldn't resist) of the problem, but won't know until probably another few weeks if it doesn't return. I think I mention this in my profile and was the reason I joined this site as not only did he have constant diarrhea but also was no eating.
I think it would be a good idea to go to your doctor and get things checked out. It may just be a coincidence but you seem to be the first one on here who has mentioned this problem. How long have you been having diarrhea and does it tie in with the injections or could it be another drug if you have other health problems?
I haven't heard of this, but it is listed as a rare side effect which you should tell your clinician about.
You might want to ask about switching to one of the other drugs, Zoladex or Decapeptyl which work the same way. I couldn't find anything about if this was likely to resolve the diarrhea issue.
I was on it for 3 years but had no trouble with diarrhoea just the weight gain slight fatigue and hot flushes that never lasted longer than a minute or two and only a couple of instances of unexpected tears. But every one is different and it seems to have many different effects on different men. Have you got a contact at the hospital you talk to? That would be a good place to start.
Good luck and hope you get through without further problems. Best regards Reg
