Came across an interesting article from the National Women's Health Network about a drug called Lupron that's being used to treat endometriosis, fibroids and as a part of some fertility treatments.
According to the article the drug was originally used to treat prostate cancer in men and can have some side effects in women that include:
*Tingling,
*Headache and migraine,
*Dizziness,
*Severe joint pain,
*Difficulty breathing,
*Chest pain,
*Nausea,
*Depression,
*Emotional instability,
*Dimness of vision,
*Fainting,
Weakness and many, many others.
The makers of the drug say the side effects only last about six months, however. Some women say that's not the case.
Has anyone used this drug? If so, what has been your experience? Would you recommend it?
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In 2006 I did a trial of oral lupron for my endometriosis. BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE!!!! I had been diagnosed w/fibromyalgia a couple of years before that and nothing was said to me about that being a problem. The fibro was made much worse. But the real devastation is the PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE. I am not even 40 and have now had 3 surgeries to try and repair the prolapse of my bladder, rectum, vagina, and uterus. Ended up w/hysterectomy last year because of the severity of prolapse. My appearance has suffered too because of the lack of estrogen. My surgeon couldn't believe the state of my tissues and said they were more like a post-menopausal 70 yr old than a 35yr old.
I only recently have started putting together the Lupron and POP. Good news is there was no evidence of endo when they removed my uterus. I would trade the disabling symptoms I had from the endo in a heartbeat compared to the horror of the pain and dysfunction I now have.
November 9, 2011 - 10:10amThis Comment
I have been suffering from Endometriosis since i was 14, i am now 27. I have been through several treatments, i have had many Laparoscopies (my ovaries are now attached to my bowels and many of my organs are attached to each other), i've been to 5 specialists-all of which have put me on every birth control pill out there;thinking that will cure my severe pain and heavy periods. I've also been on danazol; never would recommend it, it caused me to have steroid related symptoms. After several years of no solution i was running out of options, i thought i had tried everything, thinking i had no options left i was considering a hysterectomy at only 26yrs old. I went to a new doctor because no doctors would do a hysterectomy at my age considering i've never had children or been married. The last doctor i went to suggested Lupron, with no other options i started the injections a month and a half ago, the first month i had no symptoms or side effects, i had a light period for 3 days with no pain (which was such a relief). I got my second injection on October 13th which is a 3 month injection, so far i've been getting acne on my face and back, and ave been feeling somewhat agitated or anxious, a little joint pain, and have been getting real tired. All of these i would trade for the sever pain and problems i was experiences before. I've been through depression and had bad mood swings before the lupron. I know there's a lot of side effects to the lupron and a lot of women experience bad ones, so far mine are bearable considering what i was going through before. I will try to keep everyone updated on the side effects i experience. I am also a Police Officer and with my line of work i can't keep living with the sever problems with Endometriosis. If the lupron does not work i am worried that my only option left is a hysterectomy. Thanks for reading my story, i am new to this site. Melika
October 27, 2011 - 12:29pmThis Comment
I have your same problem and my pain is so severe during and after my period I could just die. Lupron saved me from depression. I had hot flashes and vaginal dryness, a very small price to pay for what I had experienced prior too. I wish there was a pill form of Lupron or something similar that spared your calcium and had less side effects.
September 23, 2014 - 8:37amThis Comment
Thank you so much i got my pain clear now...
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July 15, 2011 - 12:18amThis Comment
I was on lupron for a 6 month period. I had a series of side effects, mostly hot flashes that came 2x an hour everyday. I was absolutely miserable, but I physically felt better on the lurpon than I do currently off of it and on a BC. My other side effects were headaches - this lasted only the first month of the shot and went away. I was also beginning to develop depression. But now that I'm off of it, I wish I were back on it because I'm back to having abdominal pains.
February 22, 2011 - 6:14pmThis Comment
Since your symptoms have come back (abdominal pains), have you talked with your doctor?
February 24, 2011 - 9:19amThis Comment
I been through several rounds of Lupron since my diagnosis of endometriosis 14 years ago. It was severe. My ovary ruptured and most of my abdominal organs had growths and had grown together. I had a laparotomy, as they could not remove the cysts or seperate the organs without cutting me open. A month after surgery I began Lupron. Having been through 4 courses, I will NEVER take it again. The bone pain and joint problems are pretty bad. I gained back all the bone density that I lost, but people don't really mention the fact that it is a form of chemotherapy.
February 11, 2011 - 2:48pmThere is already a link established between weakened immune response and endometriosis, but I found that my immune system got worse with each treatment. I catch every cold and virus that's going around and it takes me longer to get over it. In some joints (particularly the hips) there is damage. It feels like I have arthritis and they seem to want to "pop out."
While I know that everyone reacts differently, I wanted to share how I reacted to it. At 31 now, I feel much older and the endometriosis is still there. Please be careful and do as much research as possible. I wasn't given an option by my doctor, and there is so much more information now than there was 14 years ago.
Good luck!
This Comment
I am so sorry you are struggling with this severe-form of endometriosis, but wanted to thank you for sharing your story.
I am curious, after reading that you would not recommend Lupron, yet you say there is much more information and other options for women, what information and/or treatments have you found as better options, either from your personal experience and/or from information-gathering and research?
February 15, 2011 - 11:59amThis Comment
I took Lupron at age 15 for a full 10 months after a lap, and it was a horrible drug. It not only did not stop menstruation or the pain of my endo, the side effects were too much. The "emotional instability" is a nice way of saying "suicidal tendencies" and sever depression. I have been treated for endo since I was 14 and had 3 surgeries and multiple drug therapies and nothing has been as bad as this drug. When I was 24, my (different) doctor recommended it to switch off of depo provera for a while and I refused because I will never go back to it. I would never recommend anyone take this drug.
November 16, 2010 - 4:29pmThis Comment
Thanks for your comments. It's always helpful to our readers when a woman shares her experiences, and your comments will help other women in the future.
November 16, 2010 - 6:34pmThis Comment