Promoting Wellness for Patients on Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Why Using Numerous Drugs for Drug Side Effects Should Not Be First-Line Treatment

• Published in: Urologic clinics of North America Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 303 - 312
• Main Authors: Moyad, Mark A., MD, MPH, Roach, Mack, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Androgen Antagonists - adverse effects; Androgen Antagonists - therapeutic use; Androgen deprivation therapy; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - chemically induced; Cardiovascular Diseases - chemically induced; Fatigue - chemically induced; Hot Flashes - chemically induced; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - chemically induced; Muscular Diseases - chemically induced; Osteoporosis - chemically induced; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Side effects; Toxicity; Urology; Side effects; Androgen deprivation therapy; Toxicity; Prostate cancer
• ISSN: 0094-0143; 1558-318X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ucl.2011.05.001

The controversy over androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer seems to have shifted over the past decade. The issue of adverse events or side effects now seems to dominate over that of clinical efficacy. However, this article provides evidence that questions the treatment of these side effects with numerous prescription medications that have their own unique toxicity profile in patients with nonmetastatic disease. The hope is that patients will no longer be considered passive participants in the prevention and treatment of ADT side effects, now that information is available to help mitigate many of these effects.