Lupron and weight gain

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!!

ok, so I am 28yrs old just had my lap for endo on October 1 and my doctor has recommended lupron, and am going to be getting the med in a week to 2weeks,but 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,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? did any one have a baby after doing this. my bigs thing is being able to have a baby. 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 am so glad that I found this website I thought I was loosing my mind. Maybe I have, I used to be really quick on decisions, I was able to remember things and concentrate since I have been on lupron I cannot remember things at all. I feel like a complete idiot when before I used to feel kind of smart. On top of that I have had massive hot flashes for about a year.
I had laparoscopic surgery in May 2008 for endometriosis, held of on taking lupron for a few months than finally gave into my doctors advice to take lupron in July 2008. I had my last lupron shot in February 2009 and still am having hot flashes, memory loss, depression, weight gain, and still no period. Which after all of this is the scariest part of the whole thing. I went to my doctor today and she told me that I should have started my period already and I may have now gone into menopause permanently.
Wow what a great way to start the day sorry you cannot have kids because you could be in menopause. HAS ANYONE HAD THERE PERIOD RETURN AFTER NOT HAVING ONE FROM LUPRON AFTER 6.5 MONTHS? I am really worried that my chance to have a child is no more after having surgery to prevent this very thing from happening. HELP.

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 just went in for my second shot of Lupron (out of a series of 6) for treatment of stage IV endometriosis. The most noticeable side effect I experienced was during my first menstrual cycle after my first dose of Lupron. I had never experienced menstrual pain or cramping (even though I had advanced endometriosis) until after Lupron. I have a fairly high pain tolerance and yet the cramping for the first 2 days of my period were almost debilitating. I had extremely heavy bleeding and have had spotting daily ever since (app.18 days). I have gained about 3 pounds because I have no energy at all. I'm usually active and work out 4-5 times a week but by the time I get off work, I'm too fatigued to do so (hence the weight gain I guess). I have hot flashes and night sweats all the time. The most recent side effect is high blood pressure. I have never had high blood pressure in my life (I'm a healthy 25-year-old woman) and when I went in for my 2nd Lupron shot today, they told me I all of a sudden do. I don't seem to have mood swings but do feel depressed and sometimes more anxious than normal. I have experienced a decreased interest in sex as well.

I've been searching for answers on LONG TERM side effects of Lupron hoping that it could give me answers as to what's going on in my body now!
23 yrs ago my fertility dr. gave me Lupron to inject MYSELF EVERY DAY (experimental back then). I had SEVERE endo since the age of 16 and was fighting that as well as trying to get pregnant thru invetro. I was 26. At 29 I had an emergency hysto. Now at 48plus I have chronic tendonitis where the tendons will shred off of the joints. I have been diagnosed with C spine and T spine disease, osteoarthritis and a mystery that I'm going to have to go to the Mayo to figure out (hopefully). I have tumors that are growing in my lower back...growing around nerves, tendons and bone, They aren't sure why they are there, why they are growing, or even what they are. Surgery removed 2 of them...but pathology shows foreign matter other than tissue/bone. All they DO know is that it is not cancer. One year ago I started losing weight (25 pds) for no reason. I'm now holding my own at 112 and hoping to figure all of this out. I can't help but wonder if Lupron or any other experimental drugs I was on has something to do with this. Is there anyone out there that used this drug so long ago??

Well, Let me offer a slightly more positive review of this drug. I have been on it for 5 months now and have one month to go. All my pain from the endo and the large cyst I had are gone, at least for now. Yes, I experienced hot flashes, night sweats, constant sweating actually, oily skin, nausea at first, and the two that are the hardest to deal with, acne and the weight gain. i think I've gained like 10 pounds, mostly in my stomach. From what I read on here it does not go back to normal after the drugs ware off as my Dr. assured me it would. Is that right? Has anyone gone back to normal weight wise after the drug? Oh, and I did have a mood swing here and here in the first 2-3 months but actually my mood is much better as the add back therapy had fake progesterone in it and I think my body was lacking that. I guess I'm happy with it as long as I can loose the weight afterward.

I was on the Depo Lupron for 4 months. I had all the typical side effects; hot flashes, acne, night sweats, and weight gain. All which I was told by my Doctor that are all normal.... I asked if there were any other major side effects and he said some, but with a very low occurrence and left it at that. Well, I started gaining more weight... I put on 15 pounds in less then a month. I had a lump on the side of my throat and couldn't figure out why I was so tired all the time, why my hair was falling out, and why my skin was so dry. I went online and read a little more about the drug and it's side effects. Yep, right there it said it was known to cause thyroid problems. So now I have to live with hypothyroidism, something that is manageable, but will never go away. All because this drug. I say if you don't need to take it, DON"T!

I just had my 2nd lupron shot, and I have to say I am fine, no negative side effects. My first shot, it had stop my hot flashes and I was sleeping better, after getting close to the 28 day mark , I started to feel the pain and discomfort that I had before the shots and agree to the 2nd shot. I was having hot flashes before the 2nd shot and still have them, but the most important thing is I am not having the pain which was horrible pain that I needed tylond codeine to help me. I have not seen any weight gain, I stay active and work out even harder , no increase in appetite, so I will take it and see each month if any side effects come upon me, but so far I am good. I have to say that I was already into menopause before these shots.

Im almost 19, and in summer of 08 I started having terribly sever abdominal pain, mostly in my right side right where you appendix is. I was sent to the ER multiple times because my OB thought I had appendicitis. I went through many MRI's, lots of blood work and ultrasounds and every time they tried to tell me that my appendix was fine and the implied that I was over reacting and the pain wasn't real. The only thing that they found was free fluid in my abdomen which they said was probably from a ovarian cyst. But the thing with that was that my pain should've been better after the cyst ruptured and it had not improved at all. Finally, my OB did another ultrasound and found that I had a blood clot on my right ovary. So my OB told me that she HAD to go in and do a laparoscopy in order to remove the cyst. When I woke up from surgery I was surprised to find out that not only did I have a blood clot, I had endometriosis all over my abdomen especially on my appendix causing so many problems there that she had to remove it. My doctors opinion on how to treat the ENDO was simple, to go on Lupron. She told me that people just RAVED about how good this drug was. Because of the pain I had been in before the surgery, I was very quick to decide to take the lupron. The first shot was the beginning of my problems. I cannot even begin to remember all of the problems I've had. The hot sweats where UNREAL. I mean I would be drenched in sweat. I could barely stand to have clothes on. I mean, every 10 minutes I would suffer from another hot sweat. They were constant. I was extremely nauseous. I would constantly throw up. My appetite was ruined, I became very sore all over my body. The most horrible of all of the side effects was the weight gain. I was around 130 pounds at the beginning of the shots I now weigh over 160 pounds and I BARELY EAT! and what I do eat is healthy, I work out, when I can, and still, no weight loss. I just continue to gain with every shot. I am on shot 4 of 6 right now and have decided to quit. I can't deal with the horrible side effects of this drug.

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.

In addition to the rather common occurrence of the sweats, I have gained 30+ pounds since commencing a Lupron intermittent protocol. The majority of the weight gain has manifested itself in my stomach. My appetite has not increased or if so, not significantly. I exercise regularly and in most cases, aggressive exercises. I have carefully monitored my diet and have been unable to shed any weight or stomach mass.

I have had endo for about 9 years now. 6 surgeries later, I decide to try the Lupron Shot. I took the 3 month dose twice. I did not experience any side effects until the 2nd month, which included hot flashes, mood swings, sleepiness, no interest in sex, weight gain, horrible headaches, loss of memory, pains in all my bones, breast tenderness, blured vision and so on. I am now off the shot after being on it for 6 months, and I am worse now then I was then. My pain is back from the Endo, my stomach feels like there is a huge ball in it, I have extremes of sever diarrhea to constipation. I feel like Im going to throw up every other hour..sometimes I do. My bones hurt worse than ever. I still have no memory and I cannot concentrate very well. My Dr. will not allow me to have a hyst because he feels I am to young. I am 27 married with a child..how much older do I have to be to get some relief? So, yes I liked Lupron, it did help. but I would rather get this crap taken out than go through all of this again.

I got my shot in Oct after 30 days of extremely heavy bleeding almost resulting in a blood transfusion. I got my shot in Nov. Still no period 9 months later. My doctor is telling me that it stays in people's systems for different period of time. I went through the night sweats and mood swings and now finally weight gain but NOOOO period. I'm 39, I hope I never get it again.

I ONLY HAD ONE INJECTION AND THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE HORRIBLE. I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD LIL BOY WHO IS WONDERFUL. WHEN HE WAS A YEAR AND A HALF I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVERE BLEEDING AND FOUND OUT THAT I HAD BEEN PREGNANT AND WAS HAVING A MISCARRIAGE. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER I HAD AN IRREGULAR PERIOD WHICH HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I HAD ONE AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER HAD ANOTHER AND IT WAS VERY PAINFUL. I WENT TO SEE MY GYN AND HE DID A VAGINAL ULTRASOUND AND TOLD ME I HAD A CYST THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL ON MY LEFT OVARY. HE PUT ME OF A HIGH DOSE OF BIRTH CONTROL TO DISSOLVE IT. TWO WEEKS LATER I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DR BC I WAS STILL IN A LOT OF PAIN. THE DR THEN TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA DO A LAPROSCOPE. WHEN I CAME OUT OF SURGERY THEY HAD INFORMED ME THAT I HAD ENOMETRIOSIS AND THAT MY BLADDER WAS STUCK TO MY UTERUS AND MY UTERUS WAS STUCK TO MY ABDOMINAL WALL. I ALSO HAD THE ENOMETRIOSIS ALL OVER MY OVARIES, UTERUS, AND BLADDER. IT WAS VERY PAINFUL. MY DR SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE A 6 MONTH TREATMENT OF LUPRON. SO I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY. I TOOK ONLY ONE INJECTION AND THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE HORRIBLE. I HAD MOOD SWINGS, HOT FLASHES, STOMACH PAIN, CRAMPS, FATIGUE, TIREDNESS, JOINT PAIN, SWELLING, WEIGHT GAIN ETC... I CALLED MY DR AND HE PRESCRIBED A HORMONE PILL WHICH DID NOTHING. SO I DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ANYMORE INJECTIONS. THAT WAS ALMOST 3 MONTHS AGO. I AM STILL IN SEVERE PAIN SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO GET OUT OF BED (WHICH I HAVE TO GET UP EARLY EVERY MORNING I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD). I STILL HAVEN'T HAD A PERIOD AND IM EXTREMELY RESTLESS AT NIGHT I AM TIRED BUT CANT SLEEP. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN I SHOULD EXPECT A PERIOD??

Well what more can be said really ? most all of us have suffered a great deal for a long time with going to a bunch of quack dr.'s listening to drug reps (Pushers) sell their dope and we all want to believe there is hope but there is none .these problems we have know one knows the actual cause so therefore there won't be a cure . sure there are a few success stories but for the majority these side effects are only the beginning I really don't want to bear children anymore due to i am afraid of what I put in my body and are my plumbing problems hereditary? I couldn't live with myself knowing that I passed on all theese problems to my child. I have been off lupron now for well I can't remember what year it was I think it was 2005or 2006 and I am still having issues.....................
Bone/Joint pain , MEMORY , G I problems , Weight gain , Depression , Tired all the time , Dizzyness , I can't walk straight , heart palpatations , upset stomach , impatient , the hair thinning has got better , but the dandreff hasn't , i'm irritable , moody , and my fave acne the night sweats went away after they gave me the northindrone it really helped and the prozac really helped with the sever mood swings . But I am not myself I haven't been in a long time . the worst side effect is a broken spirit. the con's FAR outweigh the pro's

pain killers and muscle relaxers with a laporoscopy with a briliant surgeon like a endocrinoligist not a plain GYN Along with a great diet and exercise and maybe throw some metformin in for kicks and that my friends is a great start . we do have alternitives . we just have to search for them sometimes .

I am a 43 year old women with 2 children. After my second child I started having problems with infections and pain during sexual intercourse After 5 years and 3 doctors I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had surgery and still had some discomfort so my doctor suggested the Lupron shots. I was very concerned about the side effects. I talked to my husband and prayed about it a lot and decided to go with the injections. I just had my last of 6 Lupron injections the other day. I have experienced most of the side effects such as fatigue, mood swings, joint pain, lack of desire for sex and night sweats but have handled it pretty well. I was very concerned about the weight gain so I started a pretty intense exercise schedule (work out everyday) I have lost 5 pounds and feel the exercise helps with the fatigue. Even though I did experience the side affects due to the fact that I did not take my add back therapy like I should have I feel so much better than before I started the Lupron injections.

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.

WOW...
I am about to start IVF and do one cycle of Lupron injections starting next Friday. You guys have officially scared the crap out of me. Thanks!

I'm 44, was diagnosed in Dec 07 with endometriosis. Started Lupron Therapy in January 08. The hot flashes are terrible. So far have not had any other symptoms that I know of. I have just taken my third shot. Other than the hot flashes that are worst at night and tend to keep me awake most of the night, I haven't had many other effects. I get some headaches, not too bad or too often. I have had a little weight gain but, I am on Wellbutrin and trying to quit smoking so the weight gain can be attributed to this as well. I'm not really sure what to expect after the therapy but, will be having a hysterectomy. I have not had any pain in more than two months and that makes me very happy. After almost 2 years of constant pain, I know there is now an end in sight. I wouldn't recommend this for everyone but, for me, it has been a God send.

hi I'm 28 yrs old and have been diagnosed with endo. i have been taking the Lupron shot since August 07. I'm only suppose to be on them for a year. 2 weeks after my 1st shot, i started getting severe headaches w/ nosebleeds. also, I'm so exhausted all the time. after my 2nd shot i started passing out with severe headaches. i told my doc about it and she took me off the shot til i got a cat scan which came out normal. at the beginning of February 08, i was back in the er room 3x in a matter of 48 hours, thats when an ob/gyn at the hos. gave me another shot of Lupron. since i got this 3rd shot, i started having severe migraines and passing out again along with extreme exhaustion. I'm very angry my doc won't do the hysterectomy. she says, I'm too young. but the shot sends u into perimenopause, whats the difference. i was taking the hormones as well before my doctor took me off the shot but they made me really, really angry all the time. when the doc at the hos. gave me the shot, she didn't put me back on the hormones. this shot is suppose to help me but instead its ruining my life. i have severe headaches and exhaustion with the shot and severe pain without the shot. i don't know what to do. I'm not suppose to have any pain after i get off the shot for up to like months or years i was told. the shot started to where off at the end of January and i had to get it again in February when i was originally suppose to take my 3rd shot. i still have pain in my stomach, it just makes it tolerable. my other side effects r: mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, no sex drive, extreme nausea, depression, stomach pains, swelling in my stomach, weight gain, and of course severe headaches. this is effecting my life so much. i do not recommend getting the depro lupron shot to anyone. of course everyone is different, but if the shot effects u like this, i recommend u not taking it. i will not be taking my next 1. i will be calling my doc 1st thing tomorrow morning cuz i passed out Friday with my 6 year old daughter here and no one else. i have been so afraid of this happening with my kids here and it has happened. as a mother u don't want your children to have to go thru something like that without no one else around. has anyone else had these side effects? i can live with most of them, but i can't live with the extreme exhaustion and severe headaches with passing out. thank u for listening.

I am a 30 year old woman and I got the Lupron Depot shot for the 6 months dose and I gained 25 Lbs. I gained 10Lbs. the first dose and 15 Lbs. the second dose.I have terrible headaches,Hot Flashes,mood changes. I am not very happy with the shot the side effects are terrible. My biggest concern is the weight gain because I've even started working out an hour a day and it seems like I'm still gaining weight. I wish my doctor would of told me more details about the side effects.I would like to know how long these side effects last.If had known that this would of cause these I would of never got the shot.I feel like I'm a 80 year old woman.I've lost interest in sex.I'm really irritable with everything I just feel bad.

Hi...I'm glad I found this sight! I don't recommend Lupron; I think its bad side effects outweigh its good ones.

I only took one 3-month shot of Lupron in July of '07. I had horrible hot flashes...which I was told to expect, but the vaginal dryness, lack of sex drive, weight gain, breast changes, vaginal dysfunction, and, I believe the high blood pressure I now have is associated with this drug. I actually started looking for side effects online because my blood pressure has been elevated ever since taking Lupron. It is now January '08, and I still don't feel normal!

55 year old male and used to be in excellent condition. I had radiation and Lupron Depot injections for prostate cancer and even though my PSA is down to .032, the hot flashes, joint pain, weakness, weight gain and atrial fibrillation caused by Lupron sucks. Now I am on medication for the a fib and it's really horrible.

I have been on Lupron Depot for a year and a half, and it has been terrible. I am a stage 3 endometriosis patient; I was diagnosed last year on my first day of school. They did a laparoscopy, D&C, and cystoscopy. I have experienced nausea, weight gain, mood swings, paranoia, night sweats, hot flashes, dizziness and have had to be hauled out of school in a wheelchair on many occasions. This is all while on Lupron Depot. It has barely taken my pain away, but I will say that at first it worked amazingly. I don't know if my system is just immune to it now, or what. I had to leave school today because of chest pain and my pulse was 111 bpm. Before I started Lupron, I was told that I "may experience some mild hot flashes at first, if anything." The hot flashes are absolutely brutal. I went from being a straight A student to barely scraping by, trying to get weeks of makeup work done. I have always been a sane, calm person, but when i went on Lupron, after about a month also had to go on Prozac because I was so incredibly paranoid and mood-swingy. I also went from a size 2 to a size 7 in about 2 months! I exercise regularly, I ride my horse everyday, and I eat right. I've always been in shape, but Lupron made me gain so much weight!!! I wouldn't recommend Lupron, but I don't really see what other choice there is, since they have already tried the pill and that stopped working after about a month. I'm so frustrated, and I can't take it anymore! Menopause and pain from endo are making me miss my life. I can never go out, I always have to call in to work, and I haven't been in school consistently for about a month.

To anyone considering going on Lupron Depot, I would think long and hard about whether you are ready to deal with the side effects of Lupron.

I had the worst experience of my life. It has been very hard for everyone around me to understand what I have been going through physically and mentally. I read one of the other posts about feeling like the "hulk" when your mood swings come on and it is no joke. I've lost friends and my boyfriend of three years. I have been off Lupron now for a month and I still haven't regained any strength. I used to actively go to the gym 4-5 days a week, now I'm lucky if I can make it through a one hour session every month. This medication was also recommended highly by my doctor without a description of the side affects. It was the most miserable experience of my life. There are plenty of other treatments out there and I beg for you to try them first.

well i havent started the shots yet but by what i am reading here i am not so sure i want to get these shots!! they found my endo a couple months ago and i have to have the shots but i really am scared!! i have much pain and problems now but it seems like the shot is going to make me worse!! i dont know what to do!! does anyone have any good sites for me to go on and do some research on these shots? someone help i dont know what to do!!! fara

In 10/2001 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and my MD prescribed a Lupron 3 month Injection to reduce the size of my prostate prior to radiation seed therapy. l started having the following symptons immediatetly frequent hot flashes which disrupted my sleeping at night from 4 to 6 times per night and which lasted for 9 months, I was no longer able to achieve an erection, although immediately prior I was able to have sex with an orgasm. I loss muscle and gained weight. Seven years have past and during that time I developed a heart arthymia which I was hospitalised for all this despite forcing myself to stay physically active, by walking, lifting weights and doing manual labor. I have never been able to regain my strength despite my exercising. I am now suffering from an undiagnosed skin disease and low blood platelets which my doctor thinks is an auto immune problem. This drug has had a severe impact on my well being and I tell all my male friends that if they ever have prostate issues to avoid hormone therapy at all cost.

I just took my 5th shot last week. The hot flashes are terrible some days and hardly noticeable others. Some times I just want to scream in anger for no reason. I feel like I'm hypersensitive to everything. I don't want to cry, I just want to lash out in anger. I've got one dose after this and am praying that it will have been worth it to have some relief from the endometriosis.

hair thinning, weight gain, decreased sex drive, incredible hot flashes. would never take it again.

Addendum to success story:

The longer I do not have my period, the better for the endo, as it does not grow without a period. My doctor and I have decided to think about inserting an IUD w/hormones in the 12th month. I need to research that first.

Forgot to add a couple of things to the side effects--I have had a substantial weight gain and short-term memory loss. The depression comes and goes (I suspect that some of my personal circumstances have a lot to do with that rather than the shot)

I WAS ON LUPRON FOR 6 MONTHS. IT WORKED GREAT FOR MY ENDO SYMPTOMS BUT IT CAUSED SO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. THE HOT FLASHES WERE UNREAL. I WAS NOT MYSELF,MOODY,CRYING ALL THE TIME. IT PUT A HUGE STRAIN ON MY MARRIAGE, FAMILY,AND FRIENDS. I GAINED WEIGHT 10 LB. THE FIRST MONTH.AND ANOTHER 10 THE SECOND SHOT AND STILL COUNTING.LEG PAIN,BREAST LUMPS,DRY SKIN. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE MY LAST SHOT. I HAVE ALL MY ENDO PAIN BACK, IT CAME BACK ALMOST AS SOON AS THE LAST SHOT WORE OFF. MY DR. WANTS ME TO DO IT AGAIN. BUT I WOULD RATHER SUFFER FROM THE ENDO. I STILL HAVE WEIGHT ISSUES, TERRIBLE MIGRAINS, SADNESS. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I AM THE SAME PERSON FROM BEFOR THE SHOT. I AM 30 YEARS OLD AND FEEL LIKE AN OLD LADY. I CAN BE FINE ONE MIN. AND THE NEXT IN SO MUCH PAIN I CAN HARDLY WALK OR SIT. I DON'T WORK BECAUSE I ONLY FEEL "GOOD" A FEW DAYS A MONTH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY DR.'S WON'T LISTEN TO THE LADIES WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS DRUG. DO NOT TAKE LUPRON.

The first time I used Lupron was about 6 years ago for 8 LONG months. The hot flashes and mood swings were rough at first, but became unbearable towards the end. That, however, was the easy part. I experienced severe depression, and weight gain of about 40 pounds. It did help the endo pain like I could not believe, though.
After about 3 years, I had to go back on it, and at this time, I was engaged to my current husband. I had to warn him that I would be a psycho like he had never seen. It was even worse the 2nd time around. The joint and bone pain was/is unbearable. It has been three years since my last injection, and I still have osteoporosis, severe migraines, joint pain, and have gained a total of 80 POUNDS!!! I work out, eat right, but nothing will take this weight off. My thyroid has been permanently damaged. I am only 31 years old, and I have to make sure I don't fall or bump into anything because my bones could break!
Please, do your research. It DOES work for the endo, no question about that. I feel like a new woman in that area, but I feel like I'm 80 in every other way.

I was diagnosed with endo in the spring of 2006. My Dr suggested getting the lupron shots because I had been experiencing horrible pain for over 12 years. I finished my 6 months of the lupron in Oct of 2006. The side affects i experienced were weight gain(about 30lbs), uncontrolable sadness and crying, and mood swings. The side affets were hard to deal with. I was really lucky not to have lost my fiance during the whole thing. I dont know how he could stand being around me, i could barely stand being around myself. Now that i have been off the Lupron for 2 months the pain is back, and I have to make the desicion if i want to go through another 6 months of the lupron shot. I think that the side affects as bad as they were are worth going through to stop the pain that I am in.

This shot has ruined my life! I started taking it April 1st 2006. I went through the whole 6 months treatment. The Hot flashes started first. I swear the only way I can discribe it is, it felt like hell escaping my body! The the headaches came. I was taking store bought migraine medication like it was candy. I gained 32 pounds and I am a small build woman. The weight gain is so uncomfortable. Then it hit like the devil I became depressed. I worry all the time about nothing at all, I cry like everyday all day, and I feel like crap all the time.
I recieved my last shot September 1st 2006 and had a Lap. the 13th of September. They said everything looked beautiful and that I was going to stop the hot flashes, the headaches would go away, lose the weight and I would be back to my old self in no time.
Well they were wrong. That medication (Lupron) has screwed me up totally!!! I have heard it worked miracles for some and that is great to each there own. But my oppinion it is the Devils works.
Good luck to those who take it, but I strongly suggest you talk to your doctor about everything that is possible and how and when it can be helped if you experience any side effects!!

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!!!!

After reading some of the posts on this board, I felt that I must submit my experience with the Lupron Depot injections. I am 25 and started the Lupron Depot in May 2006. I get the monthly injections and am planned to be on the treatment for 6 months. I just received my 3rd shot 4 days ago. I am very happy at this point that I decided to go on this treatment. My dr. suspects that I have Endometriosis and gave me the option of trying the Lupron Depot or having a laporascopy (spelling?) to diagnos it. I chose the Lupron Depot. The first 3-4 weeks after my initial shot was difficult. The symptoms I was having increased and sometimes hurt so badly that I would stay home or go home from work. I also experienced hot flashes (weren't too bad), night sweats, insomnia and mood swings. However, after the first month (before my second shot), the symptoms started to decrease. Now, I rarely have any pevlic or lower back pain which was a constant before the injections. I do have an occasional hot flash (I've had one in the past month), night sweats, trouble sleeping, slight memory loss, an occassional mood swing, and joint pain. Thse things may sound horrible, but it is so much better than before taking the Lupron. My Dr. had me stay on my continuous birth control (Yasmin 28) and attributes the fact that my Lupron side effects aren't bad to that. I was worried that my libido would decrease to nothing when reading about the side effects Lupron can cause, but I think it's gotten better. Now, I know that I can have intercourse with my husband and it not hurt. Before the Lurpon, I was suffering from depression because of the pain, decreased libido because of how much intercourse hurt, and the pain was unbarable most times. I think deciding to go on the Lupron Depot was one of the best decisions I've made, and I truly think my Dr. for recommending it.

I had my 5th and last injection in February 2006, I have yet to have a period, weight gain, depression, loss of sexual appetite, severe cramps. I feel like I am 50 and I'm only 35. I lost my job becuase of sickness, I have mood swings. I cannot take much more of this, please write to me if this has happened to you.

33 yr. old with "suspected" endometriosis. Had my last shot of 6 April 21st. 2 months later, I still have the nightsweats, hot flashes, weight gain (33 lbs as of this morning), swollen legs w/ pain, and no period which means no pain yet. I haven't slept a whole night in 8 months. When will all this end?!?!

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.

I will be having my 4th shot... I can hardly handle this. I have severe mood swings, I get really angry over nothing, and cry when I have no reason. It is hard to come to work everday and focus, and I have gained weight in my stomach. My husband is having a really hard time understanding me, and it puts stress in our marriage. He is wonderful about it all, but it must be really hard to watch someone you love get angry over anything. I was just put on premerin to help me sleep at night and to ease the hot flashes, but it's not helping my mood, if anything it is worse than before. Good luck to everyone!

Had surgury to remove ovary from endrometerosis then in about 5 yrs. had a laparascopy to remove endro again. I am 31 and the Insurance would not pay for complete removal of female organs to get rid of it once and for all. So doctor said Lupron Shots. I was on them for 3 months. It started out after 1st month with cravings leading to weight gain, severe headaches, being dizzy, breathing problems, THEN by the 3 1/2 month mark things changed drastically pain in foot couldn't walk traveled to my shoulder and arm thought I was having a heart attack so was ambulanced to hospital all test showed nothing. I could not walk was in a wheelchair and pain plus all the other effect above. Sent to a neurologist who told me some truthfull answers finally. SIDE EFFECTS LISTED FOR THE PHYSICIANS TO KNOW BUT NOT TOLD TO ME WERE ( PARALLISES AND COMPRESSION OF THE SPINAL CORD) I did not have my 4 th shot of Lupron and after a 2 more months and a lot of prayer from my church family God came thru and healed me I am up out of the wheelchair and walking as if none of this nightmare happened. I have to deal now with the excessive weight yet hopefully it will go too.

I am 30 and had my first Lupron shot last week. Needless to say, I have been exhausted, dizzy, nauseous and have been experiencing headaches on and off. I have also been experiencing chest pains but not sure if it is because of Lupron or not. One evening I did experience abdominal cramping so severe that it woke me up. However, since the location of the cramping was on the side where my endo and uterine fibroids are I attribute the pain more to that than anything else. No memory or speech loss but I have mood swings, am craving EVERYTHING and could eat constantly if I did not discipline myself. I am hoping to avoid the weight gain through exercise and monitoring my carb and sugar intake. I think it should be medically required to take a week off of work after every injection so we can deal with the side effects...sometimes it sucks to be a girl :-P

I have had one shot and waiting for the second due to insurance difficulties, I have had the hot flashes, memory loss, word loss, server headaches, joint pain, weight gain, muscle pain, easy brusing, rapid heart rate, light headed and dizzy, lactating, and now doctor is running test to see if hemoglobin and hematocrate is low and he drew a CMP lab, when I go through menopause when I get older I hope someone just shoots me. And I am only 25.

Has anyone had weight gain with this drug?

I hope I don't gain weight. Enough side effects I don't need that one too. How long before anyone experiened any of the hot flashes or night sweats? I haven't had that yet, still in my first month of Lupron.

Thanks for any remarks.

I just finished my first month. I have endo and adenomyosis. Those symptoms are SO much better. The most frequent side effects for me are hot flashes, memory loss, breast size reduction, slight weight gain, and fatigue ~ but the worst is the migraines. The are pretty much daily.

I had to take the Lupron shots for about 4 years because I was about to start my period and I was only about 9 years old or smaller. (I can't remember how old). I feel that the shot had made me gain weight rapidly. I did also get to grow taller. They told me that once I got off that shot, I would pretty much stay where I was. I have actually grown some more though. I also feel that it has something to do with my period now because it's not regular and it will last for about 5 days and then skip for 6 months and come back again. When I do have my period, it is so much blood that it's unbearable. So, I still need to get that checked. But, I think it could have some effects on this problem. Hope this helps!

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!