Lupron and fibroids

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 started taking Lupron about two weeks ago; I have taken only one shot out of three shots recommended by my Doctor to shrink my Fibroid; I don't fee like taking it anymore. I noticed I lost my sexual urge.

Please advise

I am 50 years old...nearly bled to death from fibroids and became anemic. I had extremely heavy periods and had to receive a transfusion of 2 units of blood when my blood count went down to 7. My options were 1) Do
nothing...2) Take 6 months of Lupron to hopefully bump me into menopause....3) Fibroid embellization...4) Hysterectomy. I am trying to avoid a hysterectomy....and needed time to get my blood count up before any other procedure. I have had some of the side affects...hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats,.....but I had them before because I was pre-menapausal anyway so there is really no difference. Have not noticed any weight gain and I get my 3rd shot today. Everyone's body is different...for now Lupron has been a life saver for me.

I took one injection of Lupron for fibroids in Nov. 2001. It totally changed my life, I am no longer the same person I was before. It started with severe migraine headaches for 14 days straight and attacks of nausea, lack of appetite. I used to have a strong stomach - now I was very easily nauseated. I never went for the second shot. I began to have panic attacks regularly (I had not had them for over 20 yrs). I was tired all the time, and a person who used to work out at the gym 5 days a week - eventually I quit. Now I just walk. I feel about 65 yrs old (I am just 49). I look old, my face began to droop, my hair thinned. I had bouts of depression coupled with general anxiety. My migraines worsened. My sex drive dropped to zero, I feel almost "sexless". I used to be confident, now I was afraid of everything. I now suffer from irritable bowel syndrome - with bouts of diarrhea, bloating and severe gas pains. I have trouble eating sometimes.. I have had all the tests and no one can find anything wrong with me,and none of the doctors think all these problems are due to Lupron. But, I know - I was NOT like this before Lupron. It ruined my life. I just wish my doctor would have informed me of all the terrible side effects - she only told me about hot flashes. I looked into suing her for malpractice but the lawyers said they could not build a case with no real medical evidence that my symptoms are caused by Lupron. I just wish I had known then what I know now. I tell everyone - NEVER take Lupron. Six years later and I still feel like this. Oh what I wouldn't give to have not taken that drug.

For the first time since my doctor perscribed Lupron for me, it has been terrible. The heavy bleeding, the anemia, the hair loss, the aches and pains, the headaches. I never had this problem in times past when I've used this before and it did not affect me to this magnitude. I have a history of endometriosis and fibroids, with 7 "lap scopes" and a myomectomy. I cannot explain why I've had such a terrible time with the injection this time.

hot flashes, hair loss, memory loss, bone and joint pain, seizures, hand and foot twitches, crawling sensations in arms and legs, accelerated facial aging, and chronic insomnia. I would rather deal with the pain of endometriosis than the HELL of Lupron!

I am currently on my Lupron and have found it to be a nightmare for me! I am only on it for one month. My doctor is wanting to see if the cyst and fibroids are the sourse of my pain. My pelvic pain has pretty much ended, but I would take it all back in a heart beat if it meant all these side effects would go away. Hot Flashes lasting about 10 minutes at a time, night sweats so bad I have had to change my clothing, migrains (I've had 5 in two weeks) that just knock me out for a full 24 hours, memory loss, joint pain, itchy skin, and mood swings like nothing I have ever experienced. To top it all off, I have had quite heavy bleeding while on it as well. I finally called the doctor and told him I was suffering more now than before the shot. He is going to put me on a small dose of esterdol (sp?) and see if that will help while I wait for this junk to leave my body. I just pray the effects will not be permanent.

I am happy for those who have found help for endo and cancer from this drug and I realize that some people will not have serious effects, but a certain percentage does. There's no way of knowing what you will do until you try it, but just be prepared that you could be one of unfortunate ones who do suffer horrifically while on Lupron.

I have been on Lurpon since February this year, I have had two heart attacks which required triple bypass surgery and a stent..
The Lupron is to shrink my fibroids, which are huge, one the size of a grapefruit!
I can honestly say apart from the hot flashes, I have had no side effects whatsover, I can't have any more surgeries yet until my cardiologist says so..
But I am very happy with Lupron the freedom every month (my periods stopped immediately) is just wonderful and I am not in bed for three days!
Guess it affects everyone differently, but I have read a lot of negative posts on it, but it works for me. I am forty six. The heart problems are genetic.

I have been getting the 7.5mg injection once a month since July 2006. I had a uterus the size of a 5 month pregnancy and have several fibroid tumors. My uterus has shrunk (not sure about the fibroids) but I have been having so many side effects I don't know if I would do this again if someone told me about them. Thankfully my last shot was Sept 8th and I will have a hysterectomy in October. I did lose the stomach but regained it with the weight gain!!!! My bones are always aching, constant teeth ache, headaches (mild migraines) every day. Now I have been experiencing dizziness and nauseous. I have been coming home from work the last couple of days because of this. I am so tired all the time - I take a nap during my lunch hour to just get through the day. Oh and the memory loss is so difficult for me. I cannot even remember co-workers names. I can't remember what I was supposed to do when I get across a room. I have to set a timer to remind me that I am cooking dinner!!!! I would definitely not recommend Lupron for any long time use. If my doctor told me that I would have to get another shot - I would say NO!!!!

I have gotten my second Lupron shot out of three this week. I looked up the side effects for Lupron before I started the shots. The main side effect for me, are the constant headaches. I am suffering from them everyday. I have tried over the counter pain meds, but they are not working. I have more bone pain, but I had that off and on before the Lupron shots. It is more acute than before. No weight gain, at this point. The hot flashes and nights sweats are starting to effect me. The Lupron has ease my constant bloating, due to fibroids. I do not need to take fiber pills now. I have felt some of the benefits, but the headaches are killing me.

53 year old, runner, given shot for fibroids,Day after 1st shot (30 day) side effects started: High blood pressure, racing heart, shaky hands, flushing. Had these problems for a couple of days, then started with chest pain, chest heaviness, shoulder and neck pain feeling like I couldn't breath, pounding heart, barely able to make it up the stairs in my house. Ended up in the ER from the severe chest pain - all tests were normal.
additional side effects two days later - blurry vision at times, tingling in hands and feet, occasionally spreading up to my head, insomnia, pounding feeling in my chest, another trip to the ER - again all tests normal. Now on top of all the above, I am having severe indigestion and feel like I have a large lump in my throat and have a hard time swallowing. I still have 2 weeks left. Hope it all goes away soon - also have been bleeding for about 10 days - What a nightmare!!!

I was on Lupron for 6 months to help reduce fibroids on my uterus. It worked fiarly well reducing the size of the fibroids so my everyday life was more comfortable (except for the menopause-like effects). However, I had to come off it because it caused a blood clot to develop in a vein around the jujuenum (sp?) in the intestines. I had severe vomiting and nausa. I had to come off it for which I was sorry because teh fibroids came back.

After reading all the horrs stories about Lupron I too was very afraid but I discussed it with a family member in the medical field and so I made a decision to try it. I took one 3-month shot of Luprin for firboids. I have several of them, one was the size of a 5month fetus. The hot flashes came fast and furious. Many nights I have slept without clothes. After the shot I continued to have lots of sex. I have seen some blury vison from time to time. I dont know if I should attribute this to the Lupron. But since it is not allergy season as yet it can well be that. I had the shot October of 2004. Did not have another one and still did not have a period. However my blood count have gone up. I have had some headache when I wake in the morning but was able to sleep it off. I All in all I am doing fine, even though from time to time I still have very mild flashes. I sympathize with people out there who have had sever symptoms and still continue to have them.

Just to give some perspective - I'm 35 and have been on Lupron for a month now, for fibroids. I, too, was petrified after reading about all of the side effects. I know that some women have horrible problems from lupron, and I really feel for all of you who suffer from it. But it's important to remember that usually, the only people who will post in forums like this are those that have horrible problems - the ones who do fine on the drug rarely, if ever, post anything. So it's easy to get a skewed picture.

After one month, the only side effect I've seen is a few mild hot flashes, mostly at night. A couple of times in the night, I'll have to pull the blankets off, then I go back to sleep. No big deal in my case. Otherwise, nothing - no weight gain, no excessive tiredness, no unusual moodiness, nothing. I'm hoping the next 2 months will be the same - and I think they will be.

I don't want to downplay the negative effects some people have had - I know they're real. But not everyone suffers from them, and I wanted to post for people who are considering starting Lupron, so that they can see it's not all bad.

I've been reading about the Lupron, considering it for large fibroids-size of 18-20 week pregnancy. I'm 52 yo, and haven't had a period since 11/2003. The symptoms decsribed as side affects of Lupron are some of the same symptoms I'm having from peri-menapause. I wake up about every hour all night long, I'm moody, hot flashes all day and all night. My joints ache, muscles ache, two weeks ago my teeth started aching, legs hurt when I walk for exercise, I've gained quite a bit of weight since Jan. 2004, and two weeks ago my teeth started hurting. Also I have the numbness in my hands and fingers some times. I'm going to ask about something for these hot flashes because they are getting unbeareable. if there is anyone out there who is closer to my age and is already going through the change and is using lupron for fibroids, I would appreciate hearing from you. I don't want to have hysterectomy if I don't have to. Read all the letters and I feel discouraged. Thanks for any information

Ruby

I am 33 years old and and am going next week for my fourth shot. I'm due to get t a total of six for adenomyosis which is similar to enym. I had surgery three months ago to remove fibroids but found out I had this condition. I have not slept in three months. I get up an average of four to six times a night. The hot flashes are the absolute worst so my doctor put me on premrin which has helped with the intensity of the hot flashes, but it makes my eyes very puffy. Since I have been on lupron, I have gained some weight and no matter how hard I work out, I can't seem to drop the pounds. My hair is growing like weeds and my memory (I'm in grad school) is beyond frightening. I can't remember one minute to the next which is really disturbing. I don't have periods anymore. My sex drive has not changed. I'm hoping this is working and I was just wondering if anyone out there went through this and went back to normal and if they did, how long did it take? It's nice to know I'm not as alone as I thought I was before I read all these testimonials.

OK ladies (and gentlemen too), I have just completed my second 6-month course of Lupron. The first time I had some side effects while on the medication (mood swings, hot flashes, massive - 40 lbs! - weight gain, memory and concentration problems, aches and pains, etc) - but the withdrawal was worse. I was trying to plan my best friend's bridal shower and couldn't do it because I was mentally non-functional, and I had diarrhea and other unpleasant effects. Within six months, however, I was able to hold a full time job, take graduate level classes, and do all my other activities. And Lupron gave me 12 symptom-free years - I was sure my endo was cured.

After I found out otherwise last fall, that I had huge endometrial cysts again PLUS some small fibroids (the result of all the pills and progestins I'd taken trying to help the endo), I faced surgery and Lupron again. My doctor was extremely conservative and JUST took out the large cyst on one side - leaving several smaller ones on the other side as well as ALL the adhesions. He recommended Lupron again, and I decided to take the bull by the horns and to do what I could to help myself.

During the course of Lupron treatment, I tried to consume at least 40 mg of soy (soy only!) isoflavones per day. I avoided beer, yams and other phyto-progestins. I upped my consumption of milk and other calcium-rich foods; if I craved sweets, I binged on them. In other words, I listened to my body.

Recent research has shown that the hot flashes and memory problems associated with menopause are the result of changes in the processing of carbohydrates that causes too little glucose to reach the brain. Likewise, I have read that the joint pains associated with Lupron are caused by the drug's undermining the liver's ability to produce glucosamine, another glucose-derivative. I noticed that when I would have symptoms and would, for example, eat sweets (no, fruit won't do), my mental symptoms would subside and my joints would almost immediately feel better. I realize most doctors would stone me for this advice, and I have gained 15 lbs - but I have /only/ gained 15, whereas I gained 40 before while attempting to eat right and exercise.

I have also found that MSM, especially when combined with chicken collagen, almost instantly helps my joints. The glucosamine/chondroitin formulations I tried tended to make me dizzy - again, probably something to do with the Lupron's effects on the liver.

For my immune system I have been taking Coenzyme Q10 and Juice Plus, a fruit and vegetable blend available online (www.juiceplus.com).

I won't say I haven't had side effects either while on the Lupron or since going off, but I have been functioning much better thus far than I did while on or immediately after going off the Lupron before. Can't hurt to try it. Good luck!

anyone taking Lupron for Fibroids......forget it! Go have UFE done.....It is a wonderful 1 day non invasive surgery that takes away all the pain, swelling a bleeding from almost the onset of the procedure and continues to shrink them over a period of 3-6 months. They never grow back, and you don't need Lupron! It is covered by most insurances and is the best thing I ever did.........

I am being treated for very large fibroids (aprox the size of a 4 month fetus) for about 2 years now. I have absolutely no memory. I forget simple conversations and my sight has drastically worsened (which is ironic since I had 20/20 vision prior to taking these shots.) I have the night sweats...and I become irrational and hypersensitive about everything. Sometimes I think I am going crazy...I'm not suicidal...but I can see it happening...because there are times I am severely depressed. I am waiting to be approved for a hysterectomy....but will the side affects ever go away?