Lupron injection symptoms and conditions

lupron makes me a bad person. i easily get irritated even on very little things. mood swings is very out of this world. i'm on my day 4 of lupron and i can't control my emotion anymore. i do deep breaths to try to control it but it doesn't work for me. i really have to shout my emotion or else i feel i will burst or die of heart attack. i don't know what to do anymore. i have to be relaxed to have a successful ivf. need your advice.

I was injected with Lupron and the shot last for three months. I had the shot in order to stop my periods to increase my blood count for surgery to remove fibroids. The first two weeks, I spent having a very light cycle. I'm 2 1/2 months in and haven't had one since. I have, however, had menstrual cycles and never had them when I had my cycles before Lupron. I have a high tolerance for pain, but I was constantly popping Motrin to deal with the cramps. I experience pressure in my head during the second month, but it has gone away. My sex drive sky rocketed since I've been on the shot, but I have some vaginal dryness. My energy has also decreased since being on the shot and I don't work out like I use to. The three months is almost up so hopefully I can get back to normal once it's over.

ok, so I am 28yrs old just had my second lap for endo and my doctor has recommended lupron, after reading this I am soooooooooo scared to even get near this med. Its like you either take this with the hope of saving fertility and no pain..or not and have endo ravage your body and you will live with unbearable pain!!! I have no idea what to do, my post-op surgery appt is this week, and i am so scared after reading this. Is there anyone that did not have weight gain, headaches etc...anyone that can testify that lupron actually worked for them? Cause right now its my health on the line, my ability to have children, my ability to have a normal life free of endo pain or these crazy, horrible side effects...please help me!!!

I haven't been on this site since about 7/08...and I am sorry to hear of all really crazy, uncomfortable side effects that many women have experienced. I had the mirena put in 3/15/08. It was recommended by my doctor because I have stage 2 endometrosis.
Overall, I would say that I have adjusted pretty well. My symptoms were and still are: occasional dizzy spells (less than a minute), some occasional tingling in my hands when I wake up (as if I was laying on them when I was asleep but wasn't), and I have had 2 REALLY heavy periods, the first was about 3-4 months after it was inserted. I bled for 3 days straight and was using super tampons and pads and was soaking through them in less than 30 minutes. I called the doctor on the 3rd day to see if this was "normal". I was told it usually takes at least 6 months for your body to adjust. At this point, I still have breakthrough bleeding for about 3 weeks a month and need to use pantiliners about every day as a "just in case". I still get my period but it is definitely shorter and lighter than before and most noticeably, less painful cramps overall.

I had laproscopic surgery done in May to remove an ovarian cyst. At that time it was confirmed that I have endometriosis. I have always had very difficult periods and at times constant pelvic pain. I have experimented with many different types of birth control and had finally given up on them because they all cause me varying degrees of depression. After my surgery my doctor recommended Lupron because I cannot take the pill. I had my first injection in September. I only did the one dose because I could not tolerate the depression that followed. At times I was nearly suicidal because I was so depressed. I have also gained weight and completely lost my sex drive...

Just after the new year I went to the ER with extreme vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. It turns out that my gallbladder is only functioning at 10%. I have since learned that this is probably due to the Lupron injection (my doctor never mentioned this as a possible side effect!! but I discovered other sites that mention it and my GI confirmed) I am visiting a surgeon tomorrow to discuss removal of my gallbladder and I am wondering if any other women out there have had similar experiences and what the outcomes were??

I live in CT and I am going to look for an OB/GYN that specializes in endo. Please let me know if anyone has recommendations for a doc in CT too.

Thank you!!

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENDO ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY BY THE TIME I WAS 25. I LIVED OUT OF STATE AND DID NOT LIKE THE DOCTOR I WAS SEEING SO I JUST DISMISSED IT. YEARS LATER AFTER MOVING BACK HOME AND GETTING MARRIED TO A WONDERFUL MAN WHO DOES NOT HAVE CHILDREN ( I HAVE TWO) I WENT TO MY OLD DOCTOR THAT I WAS REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH. TOLD HIM ALL OF MY SYMPTOMS AND ABOUT MY PAINFUL PERIODS AND HOW ME AND MY HUSBAND HADN'T GOTTEN PREGNANT AFTER FOUR YEARS OF TRYING. HE SCHEDULED ME FOR A LAPROSCOPY TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE IS ALSO A FERTILITY SPECIALIST SO I KNEW HE WOULD TRY TO DO WHATEVER POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE A CHILD. I HAD A CHOCOLATE CYST ON MY RIGHT OVARY, ENDO, AND THE ENDO HAD FUSED MY BOWELS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY ABDOMEN. I HAD ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH CONSTIPATION BUT I JUST THOUGHT I WAS LIKE ALOT OF OTHER WOMEN. HE TOOK CARE OF ALL OF THAT AND WHEN I WOKE UP HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO GO ON LUPRON ONCE A MONTH FOR THREE MONTHS. THIS WAS ON SEPT. 11TH. I HAD READ ALL THE BLOGS BEFORE HAND ABOUT LUPRON AND I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL AND JUST PLAIN SCARED ABOUT TAKING IT. MY DOC TOLD ME IT WOULD HELP W/ THE PAIN AND AFTER TAKING IT FOR THREE MONTHS IT WOULD HELP US GET PREGNANT. I TOOK MY FIRST INJECTION BEFORE I LEFT THE HOSPITAL THAT DAY. THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS I REALLY COULDN'T TELL ANY SIDE EFFECTS EXCEPT FOR HOT FLASHES. THEN THE HEADACHES STARTED. I HAD ALWAYS GOTTEN MIGRAINES, BUT THESE ARE 100 TIMES WORSE. I COMPLETED MY THREE MONTH CYCLE OF TAKING LUPRON ON NOV 6TH. I HAVE TURNED INTO A MOODY, CRANKY, ANGRY PERSON. IT IS UNCONTROLLABLE. AFTER MY LAST SHOT BEGAN TO WEAR OFF I GOT A HEADACHE SO BAD MY HUSBAND HAD TO PICK ME UP FROM WORK AND TAKE ME TO THE E.R. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS HORMONAL AND THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO DEAL W/ IT. THEY GAVE ME A SHOT AND SOME SAMPLES OF BUTALBITAL. THE SHOT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND THE BUTALBITAL ONLY MADE ME SLEEPY. I HAD THIS HEADACHE FOR OVER A WEEK. THEN IT JUST WENT AWAY. WHEN I HAD MY LAST SHOT MY DOC TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE A PERIOD WITHIN 6 TO 8 WEEKS AND WHEN I OVULATE AFTER THAT I SHOULD GET PREGNANT. IT TOOK ME OVER TEN WEEKS TO START. I FINALLY STARTED MY PERIOD A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. I FEEL AS IF I HAVE ALREADY HAD A CHILD WITH ALL THE BLEEDING AND THE PAIN. IT IS UNBEARABLE. I FEEL SO SORRY FOR EVERYONE AROUND ME BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT I AM BEING HORRIBLE. THROUGH THE LUPRON I HAVE GAINED 20 POUNDS, HAVE HAD SEVERE HEADACHES, HAVE BECOME VERY FORGETFUL, VERY VERY MOODY, AND JUST FEEL LIKE A TOTAL DEFERENT PERSON AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY. I WILL NEVER TAKE LUPRON AGAIN!! NEVER. IF ME AND MY HUSBAND DO NOT GET PREGNANT AFTER THIS I WILL JUST HAVE THE HYSTERECTOMY AND BE DONE WITH IT. I AM HOPING I BECOME LESS MOODY SINCE NOW MY BODY IS STARTING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. OR AT LEAST I HOPE IT IS. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET PREGNANT WHEN I AM SO MOODY THAT NO ONE CAN STAND TO BE AROUND ME? PLUS I NEVER WANT TO HAVE SEX. DOES ANYONE KNOW EXACTLY HOW LONG IT TAKES LUPRON TO TOTALLY GET OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM?

I Just started the lupron injection 2 weeks ago. My side effects have been coming one by one immediately after i had my shot my whole right side felt sore like my arm down to my leg. two days later i felt really sleepy and kept getting headaches that would come an go through out the day.a week into it i had to leave work because i was vomiting constantly it was horrible a just felt so sea sick. i just want to know what else am i in store for? an i'd like to know how much hair loss is it going to be?

I had my second Lupron shot this last mid October that lasts, supposedly, 3 months. So I will be 5 months in this mid December and I have to say I was one of the people who was fine with Lupron...up until now. I had and have all of the typical side effects of hot flashes, headaches, memory loss, mental fog, etc. Then I had my first ever migraine a week ago that knocked me on my butt for 2 days. My memory loss and depression are by far, by far, the worst side effect I have experienced. At this point I am concerned my memory problems and mind fog will not go back to normal, which has already adversely affected by daily life. I was one of the people who spoke positive of this injection even after reading all the horror stories but now I am beginning to wonder if they were right on some levels. When reading all the different experiences I would get confused and wouldn't know what to believe. I am not saying I would change things, the jury is still out as to whether the benefits will outweigh the difficulties, but my personal experience and symptoms have been getting worse just in the last few weeks, so that would be between month 4 and 5 on it. I could lead a pretty normal life up until recently and I'm a pretty tough person, I clean houses for a living and work hard with a packed schedule so I am not just stating little symptoms I experience but ones that actually have affected my daily life. Just being honest so you know what to possibly expect, depending on your body's reaction. That is a point to keep in mind, everyone's body reacts differently but if the majority of people are saying the SAME side effects, makes you wonder if there is a consistent pattern.

One thing I will tell you that has helped me is B vitamins regularly in your system and staying as active as possible. Write things down to remind you for the memory issues, don't over-commit to things because of the mental affects-it hits you hard when you can't follow through, and try to watch your sugar intake, which messes with your emotions. Hope this is helpful.
I would love to know from someone who has the same symptoms (which looks like almost everyone who is on it) and who is now off of Lupron for at least a few months, if the symptoms of memory loss and mind fog go away. Is my memory permanently damaged?

I just went to the Dr. for my second Lupron injection and to get some help with the side effects. Menopausal/emotional me, started crying!!! Gawd! I went in with my list of side effects from the last 3 months (and it was long!) and wondered what was worse, the pain of endometriosis or the life changing side effects of Lupron. My Dr. is wonderful and spent an hour with me; he decided to put me on Provera (progesterone or add-back therapy) for a week to see if the side effects improve. If they do, I get my second dose of Lupron in a week. If not, we stop it all and let my body slowly try to get back to normal (although I have never known what "normal" is since endometriosis) and see how the "therapy" worked. He is strongly encouraging me to follow through with the 6 month course as that is the recommended length of time for the best results. I'm 5'8" and have lost 10 lbs. in the last three months, I'm down to 107 lbs. He told me to try and eat more if I could (although my nausea is constant 24hrs. a day) and make sure to take a daily vitamin and calcium for bone loss. He said that he has never heard of blurred vision to be a side effect of Lupron, "But every woman is effected differently." I'm really hoping the Provera works - any kind of relief is better than this! I'm still having 3-4 hotflashes every hour with extreme exhaustion/fatigue, night sweats, daily migraine headaches, nausea 24hrs. a day, life changing mood swings, and shaky hands. He kept reminding me that this only 6 months out of my life - it's not forever ... forever feels like an awful long time when you can barely get out of bed!

I am 30 years old and have been put on Depo Lupron after a laproscopy to help with endometriosis. I am 2 months into a 6 month course (one shot every 3 months) of Depo Lupron and my life has drastically changed. I started feeling life altering hot flashes and night sweats two days after the first shot and nearly drown myself in sweat 24 hours a day. I experienced a little postpardum depression after giving birth 6 years ago but have found myself sunk into a sinking hole of depression and anger like I've never felt before. I bawl at McDonald's commercials and become enraged if the dishwasher isn't loaded properly! I am ecstatic one minute and severely depressed the next. I have even had thought of suicide since being on this shot. I am normally a very outgoing, athletic, cheerful, happy person - but since taking this shot, I have become a stanger in my own head. I tell my family all the time that I need to "go stick my head in the freezer" to cool off because of the horrific hot flashes. I have to carry a handheld fan with me 24 hours a day and sleep with ice packs to keep cool. Since the shot started 2 months ago, I have lost all sexual drive, am thoroughly exhausted by 9am and find myself crying at my desk at work by late afternoon because I am so tired. My family thinks I am going crazy and I've never fought more with my husband. My daughter has gone to grandma's for awhile because I'm just so tired and irritable that I feel like an awful mother. Migraines have also come full circle since the onset of the shot as well as blurred vision and shaky hands. I'm a little achy throughout the as well. I know that everyone responds to medication differently, but I'm finding a lot of people with the same side effects as myself and have to wonder why the doctors don't warn patients about these types of problems before prescribing medications such as Depo Lupron. I don't think I'll be going back for the second shot. Could it get any worse?

I had surgery in August, 2006 for Endometriosis, and a Lupron injection 2 wks later. That one injection changed my life. Even though it was a year and a half ago, I'm still feeling the effects. Which is what brought me to this site -- I'm searching for an answer.

These were/are my symptoms:

-- I experienced immediate and increasing hot flashes that lasted for nearly 6 mos.

-- Extreme fatigue and the "activativation" of Epstein Barr Virus. I started sleeping 18-20 hrs/day and lost my career job because of it.

-- Cognitive dysfunction, memory loss, loss of concentration, etc.

-- Blurred vision (and I have otherwise perfect vision!)

-- To date, I have gained 40 lbs that will not budge no matter what my diet!

-- I have severe muscle weakness and burning (such as if I go up a
flight of stairs). Muscle atrophy and stiffness.

-- My joints (hips, knees, feet) hurt and I have a lot of back pain.

-- I have TMJ quite badly and it causes my arms to go numb.

Last year my doctor ordered a hair analysis for heavy metal poisoning -- and my levels were off the charts. I've read that Lupron is suspended in thimerosol, or mercury, and that raises a host of issues that I'd like to research, if anyone has info on that.

Today, I am doing much better in terms of being out of bed and active, but I am unable to lose the weight, despite an organic, all natural, gluten/dairy/sugar/corn/soy/caffeine/etc. free diet! My belly is always bloated and big.

I am really active, but I tire easily and still haven't been able to get over that "hump", as it were, and really exert myself. Before my surgery and the Lupron and the EBV, I was an avid dancer. It is my passion and I can hardly do it at all now. I cannot swim a full lap in a pool without my leg muscles burning.

I have read of some people having good experiences with Lupron, but I have read far more horrifying ones. Part of me doesn't want to accept that Lupron is the cause of what I'm experiencing...could it really be that simple? And part of me is happy to shed the burden of guilt that "I must just not be trying hard enough" in exchange for an outside cause. I guess research and knowledge is the best medicine in this case. =}

I am 17, soon to be 18, and have suffered from this horrible pain over my right ovary (basic area) for near 5 years now. I have missed my whole high school years, ended up being home schooled from the pain and graduating early. I FINALLY have a job that I love, but I'm afraid I won't be able to last. I go in to work with pain, get fevers because of either the pain or inflammation. I have had 2 laps, the first one showed nothing (I also, in 8th grade when all this started, had a 5.5cm cyst on my right ovary), the second showed endo on my right ovarian ligament. I have tired almost every birth control out there, and all they do is make me 10 times worse (odd, but true). Now this new doc wants me on Lupron. After all I have read, I'm scared to take it. I'm supposed to take it Friday. The bad thing is, I already have an auto immune glitch (we believe, every problem I have is linked to auto immune), I don't want to be worse. Recently I was on DEPO, which is horrible (seriously, don't take it you gain so much weight and it is so hard to get off, you bleed for like a month or more after you stop... it's awful). Every time I get this pain I bleed 10 min later, badly. I just want this gone, but I don't want any other problems too occur. If anyone has any links that specifically list the side effects of lupron or anything else that might help me, I would love it.

I am a 23 yr old mother of one. I have severe endometriosis and I let my doctor talk me into taking the LUPRON injection, without researching it first. My first week on the shot I started shaking severely and was always sick to my stomach. I now am in the second month of my first dose and I have no appetite what-so-ever, I am losing my hair, I swell in my knees, ankles, and stomach, I have severe mood swings, I am forgetful, and I only get about 4 hours of sleep a night (if that). Most days I hurt in the bend of my legs at the groin area and am unable to get off of the couch to play with my 3 yr old little boy. I now have to buy my clothes a size larger than what I wear because of all the swelling. Sometimes I shake so bad that I can't hold anything in my hands or even walk straight.

In brief, I am a 35 year old mother of two. I have been suffering with endo since I am 14. I had a span of 4 years with no symptoms at all and in Sept. 05 I had a total hysterectomy for endo and cancer cells on my cervix. I recently spent a week in the hospital for 2 endometriomas which are on the one and only ovary I have left, they are both bleeding and my doctor whom I trusted and his colleagues recommended a 6 month depo-lupron injection treatment before they do surgery to fix up the endo, they are reluctant to remove the remaining ovary due to my age but I will INSIST until someone listens. They did not tell my husband or I about any side affects and because I was in a tremendous amount of pain and because I trusted Dr. Shine so much I accepted the treatment, they faxed my husband the prescription at his work and he had to go find it when he did finally found it he brought it to St. Marys hospital and the nurse injected me and 2 days later I went home, I was sent home with celebrex, iron pills and morpheine pills for the pain...well I was back in the ER 3 days later because the pain was unbearable, my blood pressure was high and I was going insane, I met with the gyno on call and she expressed her disgust with her colleague for not telling me about the side affects of lupron and how the drug worked. My first shot was on the 13th of April and today is the first day I am feeling human, I have little endo pain but let me tell you the hip and back pain are killing me slowly. I am a very active mother and wife and I play sports but even the thought of that now hurts. I have not been able to work and will not return until I feel good, I am REALLY scared of getting the next injection which will be on the 11th of may and my new doctor told me to go through with the treatment for the next 5 shots because even though it will not be easy she insists that it will help me and once I am done they will perform surgery, I have set-up 2 other appointments with specialists and my Family Doctor is the only one that has been there for me, he follows me daily and has set-up a bone density test. Is there anyone with similiar situation that can help me out. I have other side affects but the hip and back pain are the ones I will never forget, I think I would have 10 more births drug free then to have to experience the pain again after the next shot...

I underwent prostate cancer IMRT radiation in 2005. As part of the treatment, I was given three four month doses of Lupron Depot. Men who get this drug experience a reduction of testosterone, wright gain, hot flashes, and sometime depression. I had all of those.

Toward the end of 2005, about two months after my last injection, I noticed a tingling, sometimes burning sensation in my right fool near the toes. Over the past year or so, the sensation has spread to my other foot and sometimes up my leg.

My symptoms have all the earmarks of peripheral neuropathy. So far, my motor functions are okay, and I have been checked for diabetes, and found not to have it, which is a relief.

I did have an attack of Bell's Palsy back in 1973, and it was treated with heat and cortisone. It never came back. I see from some of the web sites that there is a connection between Bell's Palsy and peripheral neuropathy, and and also a connection with Lupron and peripheral neuropathy.

I realize there is little I can do about it, but I think the physicians who prescribe Lupron for prostate cancer should also make their patients aware of this possible side effect.

My Doctor must really hate me! That is what I keep telling myself after my first Lupron injection. It has been absolutely horrible. Sure, my fibroid pain is better, but that is a small consolation compared to the migraines, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings (very severe and un able to control) , memory loss and just kind of brain fog all day long, and horrific joint pain. All of which keeps me awake all night. It's been so bad I can't even appreciate the fact that the pelvic pain is better. I just pray these side effects will not cause permanent damage. I think our doctors need a good shot in the butt of Lupron for prescribing this stuff!

I do realize though that this drug has helped many people who are suffering with endo and that not everyone will experience these side effects. You will not know what your body is going to do until you try it. I don't know what the percentage is of people who do suffer while on the drug, but I just know I am definitely in that percentage and will NEVER take another injection of this stuff and will look over my doctors shoulder to make sure he writes in my records not to ever give me this stuff again!

I am 24 years old and I have had suspicions that I had endometriosis since I was 16. In January of 2006, I had an operative laproscopy confirming my suspicions and found out that it was worse than we all thought. I had my first Lupron Injection the 9th of Feb. 2006 and I must say I think I am doing pretty well. My doctor has me on the ortho tri-cyclen lo birth control pill for"add-back therapy" to help with the night sweats, osteoperosis, etc. I have only had one case of night sweats. I have however, experienced and increase in my appetite. I am bloated and I have gained weight. I also have had hot flashes but I have always been a sweater. I was skeptical about the drug after reading everyone elses side effects but had no other choice if I wanted to preserve my ability to have babies. I am grateful that I have yet to experience the other side effects and I hope I never do. Ladies, everyone does not have a horrible experience with the drug. And if you are like I am and want to have children in the future you should, if recommended by your doctor, try this drug! These horrible side effects may not happen to you either. Good Luck!

I'm 38 yrs old I also have endo I have had it for quite some time however I also had the endoscopy done about a year half ago and I was also recommed to take the lupron injection as well I experiences Hot flash, was not able to sleep at all, than became depress but, on the other hand I lost weight as I was taking the injection, after the last dose which has been actually over a year ago to this day I have begin to gain weight I'm not able to loss my weight either I'm so sad about this so I mention this to my nurse so they run some blood work test on me and all my blood work came out normal, but I think it unbalance your hormons and to I still have hot flash and also I still have menstural cramps but most of all I have put on tremdous amount of weight CAN ANYONE RELATE TO THIS OR EXPERIENCE THIS AFTER USING LUPRON BECAUSE I sure could use so help right now HELP

Hello. this is my first post. I started taking Lupron four days ago. I am preparing for ivf in a few weeks. I ahve read the side effects but doctor told me the most would be a headache. I took tylenol on the first day, and hada slight headache anyways. The second day was betetr, but still had headache, not bad enough to take tylenol. yesterday was my third injection. I started to feel a little lightheaded during the day and sometimes felt I may pass out, but never did. I am also experiencing a little trouble with my eyes, but it could be my contacts needing to be cleaned. I ahve had my forth Lupron injection today and I ahve a slight headache already. I read that someone said the Lupron causes lack of glucose getting to the brain, I know that low blood sugar can cause headache, dizziness and even blackouts. I only take 10 units everyday, and it will be only for 20 days. Has anyone out there used it like I am starting to ? I will not be taking for long periods of time and do not have any medical problems at all. I am taking Lupron so I can carry a child for a friend. Would like to know if anyone is in the same situation as I am.
thanks!

On the 3rd day of Lupron injection I developed upper back pain.The pain gets worse when I move or when I breath. It went away when I got my period however another symptoms surfaced. I wake up in the middle of the night with palpitation and feel like cramps in my chest. It would last for 10minutes and I get very tired. Could be an anxiety or panic attack but I never have anxiety problem.