Viadur Side Effects

Generic name: leuprolide

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 1, 2024.

Note: This document contains side effect information about leuprolide. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Viadur.

Applies to leuprolide: emulsion, powder for suspension 1 month, powder for suspension 3 month, powder for suspension 4 month, powder for suspension 6 month, solution.

Serious side effects of Viadur

Along with its needed effects, leuprolide (the active ingredient contained in Viadur) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking leuprolide:

For adults

Less common

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Rare

Bone, muscle, or joint pain
chest tightness
fainting
fast or irregular breathing
numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes
skin rash, hives, or itching
sudden, severe decrease in blood pressure and collapse
trouble breathing

For males only (adults)

More common

Arm, back, or jaw pain
bloody or cloudy urine
blurred vision
bone pain
chest pain or discomfort
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty with moving
dizziness
frequent urge to urinate
headache
increased urge to urinate during the night
muscle pain or stiffness
nausea
nervousness
pain in the arms or legs
pain in the joints
pale skin
pounding in the ears
slow or fast heartbeat
sweating
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
waking to urinate at night

Rare

Pain in the groin or legs (especially in the calves)

Incidence not known

Altered mental status
anxiety
blurred vision
burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
chest pain
cold, clammy, pale skin
confusion
dizziness or lightheadedness
double vision
dry mouth
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
increased hunger
increased thirst
increased urination
irregular heartbeat
loss of consciousness
seizures
thoughts or attempts at killing oneself
unexplained weight loss
unsteadiness or awkwardness
visual changes
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

For females only (adults)

Rare

Anxiety
deepening of voice
increased hair growth
mental depression
mood changes

For children

More common

Body aches or pain
chest tightness
chills
cough
cough producing mucus
difficulty in breathing
ear congestion
fever
headache
loss of voice
muscle aches
noisy breathing
pain or redness at the injection site
runny or stuffy nose
sneezing
sore throat
unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

Irritability
mood or mental changes

Rare

Burning, itching, or swelling at the injection site

Incidence not known

Blurred vision
change in ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
nausea and vomiting
seizures
severe headache

For females only (children)—expected in first few weeks

Rare

Vaginal bleeding (continuing)
white vaginal discharge (continuing)

Other side effects of Viadur

Some side effects of leuprolide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For adults

More common

Sudden sweating and feeling of warmth (hot flashes)

Less common

Bleeding, bruising, burning, itching, pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
swelling of the feet or lower legs
swelling or increased tenderness of the breasts
trouble sleeping
weight gain

For females only (adults)

More common

Light, irregular vaginal bleeding
stopping of menstrual periods

Less common

Burning, dryness, or itching of the vagina
pelvic pain

For males only (adults)

More common

Back pain
chills
constipation
cough
diarrhea
fever
general feeling of discomfort or illness
loss of appetite
pain or discomfort at the injection site
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
runny nose
shivering
sore throat
unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Less common

Decreased size of the testicles
inability to have or keep an erection

Incidence not known

Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
redness or other discoloration of the skin
severe sunburn

For children

More common

Constipation
feeling of warmth
redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest
stomach pain

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to leuprolide: intramuscular kit, intramuscular powder for injection, intramuscular powder for injection extended release, subcutaneous emulsion, subcutaneous implant, subcutaneous kit, subcutaneous powder for injection extended release, subcutaneous solution.

General

The most commonly reported side effects were hot flashes or sweats, gastrointestinal disorders, hyperhidrosis, edema, emotional lability or depression, respiratory disorder, urinary disorder, nausea or vomiting, injection site reaction, joint disorders, testicular atrophy, asthenia, flu syndrome, headache, skin reaction, fatigue, and pain.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): ECG changes (19%), ischemia (19%), hot flashes or sweats (57%)

Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, murmur, phlebitis, thrombosis, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, vasodilation

Frequency not reported: Cardiovascular collapse, palpitations, tachycardia, bradycardia, varicose vein, atrial fibrillation, deep thrombophlebitis, mitral valve incompetence, tricuspid valve incompetence, irregular heart rate, pallor, prolonged QT interval

Postmarketing reports: Deep vein thrombosis, hypotension, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Very common (10% or more): Hyperhidrosis (up to 98%), hair loss (18%)

Common (1% to 10%): Alopecia, skin rash, acne, itching, dry skin, ecchymosis, pruritus, photosensitivity, clamminess, night sweats, skin pigmentation, skin reactions, skin/mucous membrane reaction

Frequency not reported: Hair disorder, nail disorder, cellulitis, herpes zoster, melanosis, dermatitis, macropapular rash, actinic keratosis, hirsutism, skin hypertrophy, carcinoma of skin or ear, skin lesions

Postmarketing reports: Photosensitivity reactions^[Ref]

Endocrine

Common (1% to 10%): Decreased testicular size

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pituitary apoplexy (following initial administration in patients with pituitary adenoma)

Frequency not reported: Androgen-like effect, transient increase in serum testosterone concentrations during the first 2 days of therapy, initial flare of symptoms with management of endometriosis or flare phenomenon, feminization, goiter^[Ref]

Pituitary apoplexy included sudden headache, vomiting, visual changes, ophthalmoplegia, altered mental status, and sometimes cardiovascular collapse.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Nausea/vomiting (up to 25%), altered bowel function (up to 14%), constipation (up to 14%), diarrhea (up to 14%), gastrointestinal disorders (14%)

Common (1% to 10%): Dyspepsia, gastroenteritis or colitis, dysphagia, flatulence, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, peptic ulcer, rectal polyps, duodenal ulcer

Frequency not reported: Dry mouth, eructation, enlarged abdomen, gingivitis, gum hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction, periodontal abscess, rectal disorder, hematochezia, retching, abdominal distention, taste disorders^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Very common (10% or more): Vaginal dryness (37%), vaginitis (up to 28%), breast tenderness (14%), erectile dysfunction, urinary disorder (12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Breast changes, breast enlargement, breast pain, breast soreness or tenderness, menstrual disorders, urinary frequency or urgency, hematuria, urinary tract infection, ovarian hyperstimulation, testicular soreness or pain, penile disorder, vaginal hemorrhage, gynecomastia, decrease in testicular size, impotence, testicular atrophy, vulvovaginal dryness, spotting

Frequency not reported: Dysuria, lactation, urinary tract obstruction, balanitis, decreased urine specific gravity, gynecomastia, penis disorders, testis disorders, epididymitis, urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, pollakiuria, bladder spasms, metrorrhagia, vulvovaginitis

Postmarketing reports: Prostate pain^[Ref]

Hematologic

Common (1% to 10%): Anemia

Frequency not reported: Decreased red blood cell count (RBC)/hematocrit/hemoglobin, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, increased platelets, leukopenia, lymphedema, increased WBC, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, purpura

Postmarketing reports: Decreased white blood cell count (WBC)^[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Increased liver enzymes

Frequency not reported: Hepatitis, hepatomegaly, jaundice, increased liver function tests

Postmarketing reports: Hepatic dysfunction, serious liver injury^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions, allergic reaction

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic reactions (e.g., rash, pruritus, urticaria, wheezing or interstitial pneumonitis, anaphylactic reactions)^[Ref]

Immunologic

Frequency not reported: Flu syndrome^[Ref]

Local

Frequency not reported: Erythema, ecchymosis, induration, abscess, swelling, injection site nodule, ulcers, irritation, necrosis at the site of injection, injection site reaction, gait disturbance^[Ref]

Metabolic

Very common (10% or more): Weight gain/loss (up to 13%), edema (14%)

Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal lipids

Frequency not reported: Appetite changes

Frequency not reported: Thirst, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, dehydration, hyperlipidemia, gout, hyperkalemia, increased bilirubin, insulin resistance

Postmarketing reports: Diabetes^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (up to 12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Bone or joint pain, myalgia, ankylosing spondylosis, arthritis, blurred disc margins, bone fracture, joint disorder, leg cramps, muscle stiffness, muscle weakness or tenderness, pelvic fibrosis, spasms, or cramps

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Weakness of lower extremities

Frequency not reported: Backache, muscle atrophy, limb pain, loss of bone mineral density, neck pain, ptosis, rib fracture, bursitis, osteoarthritis, pain in extremity, arthropathy

Postmarketing reports: Joint or muscle pain, spinal fracture or paralysis, tenosynovitis-like symptoms, decreased bone density^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (sometimes severe [up to 65%]), migraine (up to 65%), asthenia (up to 18%), dizziness/lightheadedness (up to 16%), vertigo (up to 16%)

Common (1% to 10%): Memory disorder, neuromuscular disorder, paresthesia

Frequency not reported: Convulsions, syncope, taste perversion, hypesthesia, tinnitus, abnormal thinking, amnesia, confusion, dementia, cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemic attack, hyperkinesia, ataxia, hypertonia, lethargy

Postmarketing reports: Peripheral neuropathy, stroke, symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia, sudden headache, transient Ischaemic attack^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Conjunctivitis, ophthalmologic disorders, visual impairment, amblyopia, dry eyes

Postmarketing reports: Ophthalmoplegia, visual changes^[Ref]

Oncologic

Frequency not reported: Neoplasm, cyst, bladder carcinoma, second primary neoplasm, tumor flare^[Ref]

Second primary neoplasms include basal cell carcinoma, bladder transitional cell carcinoma, lung neoplasm, malignant melanoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.^[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Pain (up to 24%), general pain (up to 23%)

Common (1% to 10%): Tinnitus, edema peripheral, infection

Frequency not reported: Body odor, disturbance of smell/taste, decreased albumin, fever, decreased prostatic acid phosphatase, decreased total protein, increased BUN, increased phosphorus, increased prostatic acid phosphatase, increased total cholesterol, accidental injury, hernia, abnormal healing, prostate disorder, decreased bicarbonate, decreased HDL-cholesterol, increased glucose, fatigue, induration, increased urea nitrogen, hyperphosphatemia, increased prothrombin time (PT), increased partial thromboplastin time (PTT), decreased potassium, increased ALT, increased LDH, chills, hypothermia, pitting edema, increased calcium, increased alanine amino transferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase, increased gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), hard nodule in throat, hypertrophy, present antinuclear antibody, increased sedimentation rate

Postmarketing reports: Hearing disorder^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Depression (up to 31%), emotional lability (up to 31%), insomnia/sleep disorder (up to 31%), decreased libido (up to 11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, nervousness, mood changes, increased libido, decreased libido

Frequency not reported: Delusions, agitation

Postmarketing reports: Altered mental status, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, mood swings^[Ref]

Renal

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal calculus, uric aciduria, hematuria, hemorrhagic cystitis, nocturia

Frequency not reported: Hydronephrosis, renal failure^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, sinus congestion, chest tightness, decreased breathing sounds, hemoptysis, pleuritic chest pain, pulmonary infiltrate, rales/rhonchi, rhinitis, strep throat, wheezing/bronchitis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, respiratory disorder, cough, COPD

Frequency not reported: Interstitial lung disease (ILD), emphysema, hemoptysis, lung edema, increased sputum, increased creatinine, epistaxis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, pleural effusion, hypoxia, hiccup, voice alteration, influenza-like illness, pleural rub

Postmarketing reports: Shortness of breath, symptoms consistent with asthmatic process^[Ref]

Influenza-like illness include influenza, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, rhinorrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and viral upper respiratory tract infection.^[Ref]