Lupron and hair loss

I have had two shots of Lupron, as a result I've gained almost 30lbs, had very bad joint pains and little hot flashes. I also experienced hair loss and became moody at times. However, my doctor did warn me that I would gain weight as a result of the shot and that I may experience hot flashes. December 2009 will make one year since my first shot the second shot was in April and I"m just beginning to feel normal again. It is now November 2009

I am suppose to get my fourth shot tomorrow!!I have been experiencing a lot of I am get hot flashes,vaginal dryness really bad, increased appetite,night sweats,and weight gain,last one that has been horrible to deal with is my severe headaches.I am 24 years old and mom of 3 children.We wanted to have the option open if we did decide to have another child.I am still having the cramping to the point that I can not be the mom I want to be.I really don't know what I should do.Now reading all these messages I am very scared.Any one with comments please feel free!!

I was on lupron following a laproscopic surgery when I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had two 3-month shots. I gained a little bit of weight, and had some hair loss. I would also recommend to people that they take add-back therapy like I did, it takes away a lot of the side effects, and I barely had any hot flashes or night sweats. In the beginning, I was so scared to get the shots with seeing all the horror stories online about what it has done to people, but for me I think it's a success story. I have been without pain for 10 months!

My 8 year old daughter started Lupron about six months ago due to precocious puberty. She started her period about eight months ago so we saw an Endocrinologist who told me there were NO SIDE EFFECTS. With the second shot, I noticed mood swings and tearfulness that I had never seen before. With the third shot, she had a rash for one day that was relieved by Benadryl. She no longer has mood swings and has not had a rash again but she has gained 8 pounds and I have noticed hair loss. The front of her hair is twice as long as the back. Her doctor has recommended that she stay on the shots until she is 11. Now that she is 9, I have decided to stop the shots and we will just have to deal with her having a cycle so young. It was a difficult decision for me to start her on the injections, but I made the decision believing that there were no side effects. This may be true in some patients, but it was not true for us. I just hope she can lose the weight and that the hair loss is not permanent.

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 started Lupron in April of 2008. The year before this I worked HARD to lose 80 lbs. I finally got down to my goal weight because I was tld my endometriosis symptoms could be relieved if I wasn't overweight. I had a laparoscopy in March of 2008 confirming my diagnosis- Lupron was a last minute decision because of my age and status the doctor didn't want to do the hysterectomy right away. My endometriosis is spread throughout the body- including the lungs. While Lupron helped with the pain I was experiencing, it caused other pain. Pain that I can no longer even deal with. I became lethargic, depressed, and angry. My hair was falling out in large clumps. I didn't gain weight right away.. except a pound the first shot and three pounds hte second shot but I figured that was alright if it was only like 15 lbs total. I oculd deal with that. Here I am almost a year later. my last injection was in August. I gained a total of 47 pounds. I am a fat slob. I couldn't work out because my bones hurt so bad while taking the medication. No one around me knows what I went through physically. They al think that it was just some excuse to be a lazy fat cow but it truly HURT to move. Just simply walking from my bedroom door to my bed killed me. It hurt my ribs, my knees, my shins, my back. There were times when I couldn't even get out of my bed ebcause I just didn't have the energy. Then the depression started shortly after losing a large amount of hair. By now I am thinking about how ugly i've become on top of how fat I am. Nothing went right but my doctor pushed the shot. I figured hes the one with years of experience he couldn't possibly be this wrong. I trusted him. When I would go to him with complaints of my weight gain he would tell me to stop eating. The problem was... I wasn't eating. I was too sick to my stomach to bother. Then when I would get hungry i'd over eat. I bled a lot through the shots and I still had pain here and there but I was too afraid of what he'd put me on next if I complained. I started to forget simple things. My career was going down hill because they were sick of me not being 100% commited to my job any more. I cried all the time. I finally got sick of the weight gain while I was on my shots and I decided to work out regardless of how I felt and three times I passed out in the gym and was transported to the hospital where I had to listen to their advice on being overweight WHICH WASNT THE REASON I WAS PASSING OUT TO BEGIN WITH but no one wnats to hear what I have to say. Every one just assumed that I was this pig who never worked out in her life and over did it this time. What no one understood was that three months before the incident i was my average weight. I was tachycardic all the time- my normal resting heart rate while i was on my shots was 162. During a work out it would get up to 220!

Ive been off them since August and I haven't lost a single pound. I get up at 4am every day and work out. I park as far away as possible. I use the stairs instead of elevators. I eat healthy. I cut out extra sugars and stopped rewarding myself when I deserve it. I started these shots at 155lbs and today I am 215. Ive been on a strict monitored diet, diet pills and work out regimens and I am still 215. My knees kill me nad sound like velcro when I walk- ive even fallen a couple of times because they hurt that bad. My back still hurts and my neck still wont turn to the right completely because of a nerve that pinches or what have you in there that sends the sharp pain through my face when I move. I still have the depression but i think thats more because of my weight now than it is anything else.. and I finally ended up losing my job.

I recently saw my OB for a follow-up where he stuck me on yet another birth control. This one makes me vomit and gives me stomach cramps so Ive decided im done. I won't take another pill because its making me worse. Id rather have my uterus fall on the floor than pop another drug.

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 am a little past my 2 weeks with my 1st luprone shot- 1 month. At first my pain symptoms didn't go away at all until one day(after a week and a half after the shot) I got my period and a serious hot flash. From then on I only get sweats and hot flashes at night. I am extremely fatigued. I am used to working long hour days, i.e. +12 hours, but I can't even hack making it through 3 hours these days. Other symptoms include: terrible migraines(all day), nausea, depression, terrible back and joint pain, my arms fall asleep all the time, pain a injection site, loss of appetite-slight weight loss, hair loss, and slight mood swings. This is the second time I have ovarian cysts, but now the doc's think I have endo too.

On July 9, 2008, I was admitted to the hospital for severe anemia, due to a heavy period that was on it's 3rd straight week. Because I had lost so much blood, I had to get a blood transfusion (4 pints). Since my bleeding would not stop, my doctor gave me a shot of Lupron. I was discharged from the hospital the next day because the Lupron stopped the bleeding. A week later I got, what I think was my normal period (which I don't even know what that is anymore) and that lasted 7 days. Almost immediately after receiving the shot, I noticed my hair was falling out in clumps when I washed it. 2 weeks later, I started getting bouts of suddenly feeling hot and sweaty. I didn't think much of it. I just thought my A/C unit needed more freon or something. That was until I went to see another Dr. for a second opinion. I am 38 years old with uterine fibroid tumors and my first doctor wanted me to get a hysterectomy. I have 2 teenagers and do not plan to have anymore children, but I just wanted another opinion. My second doctor informed me that Lupron's side effects are hair loss, loss of bone density, hot flashes, and premature menopause. When he mentioned hair loss and hot flashes, I knew then that I was not going crazy! Anyway, the second doctor explained to me that the loss of bone density and premature menopause would happen if Lupron is taken consistently. I just want to know when is my body going to get back to normal. All I had was one shot of this stupid drug! The hot flashes are not only uncomfortable but also embarrassing! It's been 3 months since I received the Lupron shot and the hot flashes have not vanished nor decreased. I know that every female's body reacts differently to different drugs, but if Lupron causes all these side affects, I suggest that you read up on the drug before taking it. I was told that if my bleeding comes back that I can ask for another Lupron shot. Well the answer to that is thanks but NO THANKS. Seriously, I would rather bleed than go through more hair loss, hot flashes or any other debilitating side effect.

Mood swings week following injections, slight hair loss, memory loss, headaches day of injection and couple days after, lack of concentration. Just had last (6th) injection about 11 days ago and started spotting about 5 days ago and cramping? Oh, also other major PMS symptoms, craving chocolate, salty things, very very irritable, and acne on chin area, neck, and shoulders? It caught me off guard a little considering I haven't had a period in almost 5 months. I assumed the Lupron would still be in my system? Called dr. and of course all they could say is "sometimes this happens and to wait till I come in for my follow up appt."? No explanation as to why? I was under the assumption that I wouldn't start AF or have these symptoms for another month or two. However, even with all of these side effects I have no pain, YET. I'm hoping for the best, also hoping I don't get divorced soon from all the moodiness!

I am taking Lupron as I had horrible endometriosis, two large-grapefruit sized tumors and several smaller implants removed. I lost my right ovary, and part of my left in the process. I am 28, newly married, otherwise healthy, and I want to have children, so I went on Lupron that my surgeon/OB suggested- monthly for six months. I read a lot of side effects and was TERRIFIED to go on it.

My own husband is an M.D. and I made him call different doctors in his hospital to see what they had to say...in a few days he called about 5 different OBs. Thankfully, they said that those that had side effects that were extremely severe was pretty rare. Still, I was scared.

I am now into my second month on Lupron and I have to say that the side effects aren't nearly as severe as I thought they would be. No hot flashes, no hair loss, no crazy depression, no anything else. I DO have fatigue, but it's manageable with coffee and extra sleep. I have some mood swings- mostly I feel more grumpy. The most noticeable and bothersome is the lack of sex drive and vaginal dryness. I also have trouble achieving "the big O."

Still, so far, very manageable. I'm not sure if it'll be worse if time goes on. But I feel like everything on the internet is really negative. I'm not discounting the tales of people who have had a bad time, but I wanted to put out there that it isn't always the worst thing in the world.

I;m only 17 and this is the third time that I've been on Lupron. It does suck at time's but you learn how to deal with it. Last month I had my 7th surgery for endo. In June when I turn 18 they are thinking about doing a hysterectomy, which I really need. The first time I was on Lupron I gained about 20 or 30 pounds. But the last two times I've actually LOST weight. Right now I'm experiencing hair loss, weakness, and headaches.I cry a lot, anything bad or anything people say I get really upset. Anger is like no other. Each day is different which is very difficult because my friends don't believe how I feel. From having stage 4 endo , I had to be pulled out of school and put into home schooling.

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 a 30 year old woman of 2. I have just started my second round of Lupron. The first one wasn't so bad, I had some hair loss, lack of sex drive and mood swings. I knew this could happen before I took the drug. I did get relief while on the drug.
I took the entire 6 months worth, and when I was finished I started my period again within 2 months. It was worse than before, if thats possible. My doctor refuses to do surgery and said it is safe to stay on the drug "indefinatly" with hormone replacement therapy.
I have just had my second shot on round two, this time the hot flashes are so bad I couldn't sleep, my hair is falling out in huge clumps, mood swings were horrible and sex drive was a thing of the past. However I find when I take the low dose hormones I do feel better, it helps with the hot flashes, mood swings and sex drive, somewhat. The only other thing I have noticed this time is my breasts are getting slightly smaller. I think these are small prices to pay for the pain to be gone.
I am undecided as to what I am going to do for the future, but I will proceed with caution after reading your stories. Thank you for sharing.

22.5 mg every three months for prostate cancer. hot fllashs, sweats, body took on female appearance, hair loss on upper torso, swollen breasts, sensitive testicles, shrunken penis, Low back ache, weak legs, loss of equilibrium. Second opinion urologist took me off lupron, said it wasnt necessary. No problems with prostate at any time. Reaction disappeared except for low back ache, weak legs, equilibrium, shrunken penis which I have had 4 years and may be permanent.

I have received my last of three injections of Lupron for uterine fibroids. I have had extreme hot flashes all through the therapy. Night sweats are horrible. Now experiencing hair loss. This is horrible. The tumors still have not shrunk!

headaches, insomnia, hot flashes, EXTREME fatugie, muscle weakness, hair loss, weight gain

Complicated migraines, scar tissue on brain, traveling parasthesia, hypertension, thyroid nodules, hair loss, insomnia, memory loss, depression, fatigue, decreased libido, increased: cholesterol, triglycerides, & liver enzymes, gastro-intestinal disorder, etc...............