Came across an interesting article from the National Women's Health Network about a drug called Lupron that's being used to treat endometriosis, fibroids and as a part of some fertility treatments.
According to the article the drug was originally used to treat prostate cancer in men and can have some side effects in women that include:
*Tingling,
*Headache and migraine,
*Dizziness,
*Severe joint pain,
*Difficulty breathing,
*Chest pain,
*Nausea,
*Depression,
*Emotional instability,
*Dimness of vision,
*Fainting,
Weakness and many, many others.
The makers of the drug say the side effects only last about six months, however. Some women say that's not the case.
Has anyone used this drug? If so, what has been your experience? Would you recommend it?
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I was diagnosed with Endo through a laparoscopy that went terribly wrong. The surgeon nicked my iliac artery, and I bled out. A simple out-patient procedure turned into a full laparotomy. After a long,painful recovery, I was on monthly Lupron injections with the norethindrone add back therapy for 4 years without any breaks in between cycles. The side effects were terrible: night sweats, heavy weight gain, confusion/lack of memory/fuzziness of my brain, insomnia, joint pain especially on the sides of my hips, migraines, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, and severe fatigue BUT my endo pain was gone. My OBGYN said the drug was working and that was the ultimate goal. My OBGYN explained that Lupron had its side effects, and within a few months after stopping they would be gone. After much research and reading horror stories of this prostate cancer drug, i decided to stop the injections. My OB disagreed with my decision, but supported it. I have been off the injections for 2 years now, but I still take norethindrone daily. The side effects are still present and my endo pain is back. I am only 29 years old, and I want a full hysterectomy. I have dangerous amounts of scar tissue from previous surgeries as a child: repair of gastroschisis as a newborn, removal of my left kidney, and the full laparotomy. A doctor referred to my stomach as a "road map." I cannot have a bowel movement or sneeze without it feeling like someone is pulling on my scars from the inside. I understand that a full hysterectomy cannot fix everything because the endo has attached to my organs and with large amounts of scar tissue present, but I refuse to get back on the Lupron injections. I do not recommend this drug as a form of treatment to anyone. It will take away your endo pain after a few months, but the side effects are severe and are NOT irreversible. This drug is used for men with prostate cancer. It is small amount of chemotherapy injections monthly. I am 29 and I feel like I'm 69. It is hard to get out of bed because of the joint pains. I feel crazy at times trying to explain how I feel to my friends, family, and doctors. I suggest you heavily research all of your possible treatment options including alternative medicine before opting to use this drug.
April 26, 2017 - 9:15amThis Comment
First injection on a 3 month Lupron injection was 2 weeks ago. I was beginning to start the regular monthly painful bloating, extreme irritability, 7 lbs guaranteed temporary weight gain, and not to mention the pain from the cramping and constipation... Yes my monthly regiment of pain, fatigue and emotional outbursts was beginning... At the sametime, I received my first injection, and within 24 hours, the pain in my injection side diminished, as well as every symptom I have had to endure for the last 20 years. I infact lost the 3 lbs I gained the prior week, and have not used 1 laxative ( I have had to use extra strength senkot almost daily for years) or had one feeling of irritability ( which in itself was amazing!) I have energy I haven't had in years and for a woman about to be 40, I'm very greatful. I'm sorry for all who have had a negative effect, and I will continue to count my blessing indeed, however this just shows that EVERYONE is so different. I'm for the first time in years, hopeful and living!!
February 9, 2016 - 12:48pmThis Comment
what were your long term experiences with the shot?
March 8, 2018 - 8:24pmThis Comment
My first lap was done Feb 2014. I was put on birth control continuously. My pain was lessened although I still felt it kinda lingering with the burning, discomfort in the pelvis when sitting etc. I went to a specialist that july and she said I needed to have another lap and then wanted me to do Lupron. i read so many bad things that i didn't think i was going to do it. She talked me into it and here I am, 9 months later, pissed that i ever put myself through this. Just starting it without add back therapy is awful.. i mean hot flashes every morning and joint stiffness and headaches and zero sex drive. I was so excited to hook up with a guy i'd been crushing on for years and of course lupron ruined it.. i wasn't into it at all :( i physically feel my skin sagging and getting older and i love going to the gym 4-5 days a week and now i never want to. I know when i go i'll be tired and it'll be a waste. I've become super unmotivated, tired all the time, and depressed. I don't feel like i am in control of my life. I don't feel young even though I'm 22. I'm tired of letting this disease take everything away from me. It has ruined my self confidence and body image. Do not take this drug unless you are taking it for a short period of time to get pregnant. Im currently trying to get off the drug and back on birth control because i felt 10x better on birth control then i did on lupron. My doctor claims the high estrogen is bad but i don't think lupron has made me feel any different and its been 9 months. my estrogen level is apparently 30ish when most people my age are in the 80ish range.. not fair.
March 3, 2015 - 11:37amThis Comment
Since, I started my cycle I was about 11 years old with heavy bleeding and excruciating cramps. A few times I ended up in the emergency room, only to be told to go home because the doctors said it was just cramps and it was normal. I have suffered with excruciating periods and I just recently started taking Lupron, last Thurday was my 3rd injection. I wish I could say that my pain is better but its not. When, I seen my gyno he pretty much told me that I should be feeling better and if im still in pain that he doesn't know what else he can do for me! He told me to go on with my 3rd injection of Lupron and hopefully this will help and to go back and see him in a week or so. Has this happened to anyone taking Lupron? I'm in pain everyday and now I feel like I just tried this treatment looking for some relief and now I have the pain plus hot flashes and joint pain which the joint isn't as bad as it was when I took my 2nd injection.
November 30, 2014 - 9:03pmThis Comment
I had surgery to remove a large cyst on my left ovary back in April of this year, my doctor then discovered that I had stage 3 endometriosis. 3 days after my surgery I was back in the emergency room with a cyst filled with blood. Instead of my doctor removing it she put me on Lupron with addback therapy. I have been on Lupron for 3 months now and due to get my second shot in a week. This is the most horrible drug I have ever been on, between the mood swings, depression and severe pain I don't know how im surviving through the days. I don't recommend this shot for anyone. It isn't helping I actually believe it is making things worse,. I was told by my doctor if I chose not to stay on Lupron my only other option is a hysterectomy. I am 25 years old.
July 20, 2015 - 12:33pmThis Comment
UPDATE from August 16, 2012:
February 18, 2013 - 7:56amI wanted to give an update on the results of my surgery following a 6 month treatment of Lupron shots. On December 3, I went in for surgery not knowing if the shots had helped my severe endometriosis. The surgery was a success! The Lupron shots worked and even though the doctor ended up having to do a radical hysterectomy, the Lupron helped to shrink the endometriosis significantly. My appendix was removed due to it being covered in endometriosis- my bladder and colon were "stuck" to my back and covered in endometriosis- but the Lupron shrank everything so that I no longer had a "frozen pelvis" and they were able to get inside and remove what they needed to remove. I was very anxious as to whether the Lupron would work and certainly didn't want to be going through the joint pain and hot flashes for nothing. It was a relief to know that it DID work and my surgery was a success because of it. Good luck to anyone going through the same thing.
This Comment
I've had endometriosis since age 11 and struggled with extreme pain and severe mood issues because of it. When I first started menstruating, I knew something was wrong, but the doctors told me I would have to wait a few years to see if things ever straightened out. They never did. When the gyno found out I'd had a heavy period for 5 months straight, she put me on lupron for 6 months. The only problem I have from it as of now is memory loss. It's a big inconvenience, but I deal with it. From the time I hit puberty, I had a thickened uterine lining, swollen to 5 months gestation all the time and I experienced mourning sickness just about all the time as well. During my teenaged years, I tried nearly every birth control pill on the market and they made things worse for the most part. The only one that ever remotely helped was the progestin-only pill. Even that didn't help much. I gained weight rapidly and uncontrollably regardless of what I did to prevent it for my entire adolescence. Years later, I'm taking bioidentical progesterone. In the first few weeks of taking it, I lost 20 lbs.
February 17, 2013 - 7:44pmThis Comment
I recently went in to have a partial hysterectomy done due to what was believed to just be a couple small fibroid tumors. Once inside, the surgeon found that I have Stage 4 Endometriosis (the worst case he has ever seen). Not only is endometriosis covering my ovaries and uterus, it has also covered my urinary tube, and has made my bowels, bladder, kidneys, and Colon a complete "sticky blob". He could not perform the surgery due to how severe it was and sent me to a cancer specialist. Once there, the Dr. checked me and found a mass behind an ovary and wants to do a biopsy on it. In the meantime, she decided that I would need to take Lupron shots for 4-6 months in order to shrink the endometriosis. According to them, if they were to go in immediately to do a full hysterectomy, the odds of me being on a bag for the rest of my life due to the removal of my colon, were very very high. I wasn't really sure about the shot and felt a little uneasy, but I was willing to try what I needed to in order for the daily bleeding and pain to stop. My first injection was on July 25, 2012 and for the first week I felt wonderful! Full of energy and not hurting or bleeding at all. By week 2, I noticed how stiff and sore I was getting. It would start at the bottom of my feet and would slowly move all the way up to my shoulders, so that by the time I went to bed at night I could hardly move. Also in week 2, I ended up starting my period and it was extremely pain and heavy. Since my period ended, the body aches and tiredness have completely worn me out. I work 40 hours a week and have 2 children and it is taking everything I have to just get up in the mornings. My next shot is scheduled for next Friday- August 24, 2012 and a CT scan is suppose to be done on my pelvic area. All of this is completely new to me because I've never been one to be "sick". With the Lupron shots, I am taking 10mg Lexapro daily to help with the emotional changes and it is helping a GREAT deal. The hot flashes are tolerable (maybe 1 a day- if that). I haven't experienced any night sweats. The only complaint- and a BIG one- is the muscle and joint pain. It is painful to get around some days and I feel like an old woman and I'm only 29. Good luck to anyone taking the shot and going through all of the treatment.
August 16, 2012 - 6:45amThis Comment
I am on my 3rd month of the lupron and so far i've had some minor side effects like joint pain and being tired. One side effect i'm concerned about it my vision has been blurry for a few weeks now and i've always had 20/20 vision. Other than that i still feel better then i did before taking it.
November 19, 2011 - 3:22amThis Comment