Lucrin Vs Synarel

[Lenny]

Hi all,
I know we are bombarded with loads of new questions lately, but i hope some of you can help with this one.

I have to decide whether to use Lucrin instead of Synarel this cycle. Obviously I hated the Synarel last time and I'm not worried about the needle aspect of the Lucrin.

The two things that are playing on my mind are :
1 - having to mix the Lucrin. Is there are chance I can do it wrong? Is it complicated?
2 - I know that Synarel worked (possibly too well), but if I swap to Lucrin this time and have a disasterous cycle, then i am worried I'll blame myself for messing around with the protocol (KWIM??).

Has anyone used both and have a preference??

Thanks for your help.
Jo

[sushee]

I have only ever used Lucrin, Jo and I didn't ever have to mix it. I never had a problem with Lucrin, as it was easy to administer (couldn't even feel the needle) and you got the correct dose each and every time.

I know how hard it is to give up on an old protocol for a new one, it's like wanting to hang on to the security of an old blanket. But if I'm not mistaken, BW changed from synarel to Lucrin and was very much happier for it.

[Aramis7]

My wife used both. She didn't have a problem with Lucrin (injecting is actually easier than the puregon / gonal). She absolutely hated Synarel: headaches, bad moods, etc,etc.
will nevel use Synarel again.

Cheers

[Lenny]

Thanks for your replies.
I wonder why Lucrin is not more widely used. No-one ever says nice things about Synarel, and if i add BW to the list, that makes three 'fans' of Lucrin.

I'll ring my lovely nurse tomorrow for a chat.

Thanks again.

[butterfly_warrior]

Saw this thread and meant to reply when I got home from work... but completely forgot!

Better late than never?

I tend to have sinus problems - I'm always slightly congested and prone to infections. For me synarel was absolute HELL!!! The headaches were dreadful, the congestion was bad, I sounded like I had a cold for two weeks. My acupuncturist would do what she could to clear my sinuses... which would last until the next dose. And then there was the problem that it didn't work at all... I actually grew a follicle while on synarel! I've never done it at any other stage before, but I manage to do it while taking a drug to tell me not to!

Lucrin was absolute bliss in comparison. It comes in a little glass vial and you draw up your dose with an insulin syringe each time. At 20IU daily a vial would last two weeks, so I needed two to get through my cycle. It was more expensive than synarel, but very much worth it. I found that I had more flexibility in timing my dosages. The nurses told me that it was important my synarel doses were 12 hours apart, so I had alarms set on my phone to make sure I had it at the right time. My lucrin instructions were just "in the evenings" - much more relaxed. I had virtually no side effects from lucrin, and will go straight to it if I have to do another full cycle.

I think most clinics opt for synarel first because it is cheaper. Also it's a softer start for women who haven't given themselves injections before - that was an extremely nerve-wracking time for me - my DH had to pick up the lucrin from the clinic so I'd had no instructions from the nurses before having to give myself my first injection.

I guess you've probably already made your decision Jo, but I figure it can't hurt to get my thoughts down for anyone else having to decide between the two.

BW

[Lenny]

Thanks BW, better late than never - maybe someone else might read this thread one day!
I was just going to say that i appreciated all your help. BUT can you believe that i am going with the dreaded horrible nasal spray!
And there is only one reason - i am sooo neurotically insecure and afraid that the Lucrin won't work quite the same, and i'll have another shocker cycle, and i'll blame myself for swapping for the Lucrin. I was so gutted by my last results that i need to make sure i do nothing differently this time that i can't beat myself up about it.
That might sound crazy (oh, i re-read it, it does sound crazy) but that's what i need to do.
Bring on the Synarel!!!!

[butterfly_warrior]

I think I can understand that... I'm a bit the opposite, though. If things went badly, I'd be wanting to do things differently next time - change the procedure, change the outcome line of thinking. But I understand that's not the way everyone thinks!

Good luck with it, and I do hope you don't ever get to have to make the decision again!

BW

[Aramis7]

Lucrin and Synarel are exactly the same drug. Only difference is the way to administer it.
Just FYI, my wife started one cycle with Synarel, felt terrible and switched (at the doctor's instructions) to Lucrin. No problems whatsoever and we got a nice batch of eggs.
As I said before, injecting Lucrin was easier than the puregon/gonal.
Don't be afraid to try lucrin

cheers

[White Lotus]

Oh god I just found this thread. Having better hope after seeing many of you had better cycle on Lucrin. I just switched between Synarel to Lucrin. I had the same problem that having constant headache while on Synarel. I was with Synarel in my last 2 cycles. Each Cycle 8 eggs were retrieved but only 4 of them fertilized. Is it common that having only 4 embryos. My doc increased the dosages in this cycle, expecting to get more eggs in order to maximise the chances of getting viable embies in blastocyst culture.
I am in day 3 on Lucrin. I got hot flush yesturday afternoon and it stays whole evening. Does any one know how to treat/minimize the hot flush..

[butterfly_warrior]

Padma, my clinic advises that around 50-75% of eggs should fertilise. So I guess 4 from 8 is within normal limits. However, it could be worth discussing the possibility of using ICSI with future cycles.

I'm afraid that I've never really found much that helps with the hot flushes, apart from trying to keep yourself as cool as possible when they hit and increasing the amount of water you drink. I seem to get less hot flushes when I'm drinking more water.

BW