and my side effects are terrible still... hot flashes, can't sleep, depression, the worse problem & scariest is the muscle/joint pain that won't go away and has worsened since my second & last shot. I was active and never any joint pain before the shot... this has caused me to fall into a deeper depression. I wish I never took the injection and knew more before i did it. I have talked to my doctor many times concerning this and she is puzzled by this and unaware of other side effects except hot flashes. I feel lost and don't know who to turn too concerning these serious side effects. Please, give me hope that I will feel good again and what can I do to relieve this pain. I am only 46 and feel 106 since this shot and is ruining my life.
How long does it take for Lupron to get out of your system? I had my last 3month shot in Nov.2009?
Question posted by givehope on 19 April 2010
Last updated on 9 August 2022 by Joy317
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
26 Answers
Joy317
9 Aug 2022
Hello. I am 52 and started 3 months ago on Lupron. My pain has been going away. I am hoping to have no more than 3
More injections because I want to go into menopause. Def some weight gain and joint pain.. hot flashes. I didn’t want to have a hysterectomy because I was scared. But if I still have pain after stopping the injection I’ll
Have no choice. Feel better
Dudley777
1 Sep 2021
I am a 78-year-old male who has Stage 4 metastasized prostate cancer. I have just finished 18 monthly shots of Lupron
prescribed initially To shrink a fair sized tumor in the principal lymph node of the pelvic area prior to receiving 33 Radiations. ( Making 76 IMRT’s in all since 2014.). I have most of the symptoms that have been described in these posts – the most difficult to deal with being loss of muscle mass/strength and insomnia.
I used to be an mesomorph body type, but not any more. Altogether the side-effects which include loss of body and scalp hair, penile retraction and testicle shrinkage, are quite shocking. I am troubled by occasional hot flashes but not nearly so much as others posting here; who have my utmost support and sympathy.
It is an horrible drug; but against that my cancer is now undetectable. Like many others I was not told of the full range of side-effects. I think this is because, were that the case, I would most probably have chosen to not take Lupron.
Considering my Oncologist thought it most likely satellite seeding was already likely to have occurred both throughout and outside of the lymph node system, Lupron has been helping me dodge a bullet. I’m hoping to stay six months off it now to allow some recovery from toxicity and will try to enjoy an hoped for lessening of side-effects. At the moment though my QOL is extremely low.
Do I wish that I had made a different
decision … i e to not take Lipton? Right now … yes. And of course I would be thinking the reverse of that if I were to have another tumor which most probably if and when it were to occur would be in either my bladder, brain, blood or bones. The thing is with cancer … that you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don’t. So ultimately it boils down to living in each day separately as a gift and as well as one possibly can.
gpl16554
10 Aug 2021
After reading all the answers about Lupron, I am surprised about how many issues with night sweats and body aches. I finished my 6 month Lupron shot the end of June 21. I never had any night sweats or hot flashes. Nothing major for joint aches. Did notice weakness, insomnia and shrinking T's as well as 0 libido. Some hair loss on my arms and legs I have been off it for over a month now. I still have the same symptoms. I do react to drugs differently. I also take 3 supplements which possibly had some reduction of symptoms. I think the main one I take which is NAC for memory improvement is the one oddball one I take but swear by it. It is also used to help heal the liver for Tylenol overdose. The only other two supplements I take is 5000 mcu of D3 and 2800 of B12. Again I had no hot flashes or night sweats during my 6 month Lupron shots
lalawatson
19 May 2020
I'm age 40 and I got one 3 month Lupron injection February 2020. I feel like death is near! I'm speaking the truth with no cares this shot has destroyed my life. I suffer severe depression, I feel lost, confused, out of complete shape, headaches, dizziness, and a major withdrawal feeling. I want to cry
HoosierSteve
9 May 2020
I am being treated for prostate cancer. I was given a 30 day injection in Oct 2019 and a second 90 day injection in Nov 2019. It wasn't long before the night and day sweats started. I would get so hot that I would go outside in 20 degree weather with just a t-shirt on and the steam would be pouring off me. I would have so many episodes at night that I had to have a fan blowing on me all winter or my wife would have to change the sheets daily. Finally in April 2020 they have started subsiding and only occur every few nights. I do however, have severe joint pain in virtually every joint in my body except my ankles. I have gained 17 lbs. on the same diet that was enabling me to lose weight previously, but have finally stabilized. I am 69 and was relatively active and able to do just about any task but now any serious physical task requires about a 3 day recovery time. I am exhausted when I get up in the morning no matter the amount of sleep.
Except for the night sweats, none of the other side effects are subsiding. I would have to do some serious thinking before I would ever take another injection.
Pintsize
19 April 2020
I came across this thread by looking up how long it takes Lupron to get out of your system... I see this topic started years ago but I wanted to give my experience... I was diagnosed with endo about 15 years ago. I’m 35 now. I have had 4 laparoscopic procedures and tried so many birth controls. After my last procedure on 11/18 I started Lupron (the 3 month dose)1/2019. About 3 weeks in my hot flashes started. Feels like someone cranked my body temperature to broil. Then back to cold. My hot flashes were terrible. I also noticed that I was very short and emotional at first. I hadn’t had any pain within 4 months but I was weighing my options before getting another injection in April because I hated these hot flashes. Then about 6 months in my hip started to really hurt. So for the next 6 months I was dealing with joint pain in my hip and hot flashes and sweating so much, and headaches a few times a week.
Oh and now I’m a year a 3 months in and I’ve gained 15 pounds. And I work out and it’s not going anywhere. So I’ve decided after this journey... I’m done with Lupron. I’m just waiting to see how long it takes to get it out of my system and get my period back and see how long I can go pain free. I failed to mention that I’ve only had pain 1 day out of this whole year and 4 months. So I guess you just have to pick your poison... I think I’d rather deal with my pain then keep injecting this into my body... and all these side affects.
Inactive
27 Jan 2020
I was given Lupron back in November of 2017 for a fibroid my doctor was wanting to shrink before surgery. It was an injection of a 3 month dose. I wish I had done my research before accepting because it made my life hell. I cried nonstop, ate everything in sight, and had crazy hot flashes all the time. Most of my symptoms have gone away except for the night sweats/hot flashes. I used to be a cold sleeper, wrapped up in multiple blankets. Now I have to sleep with the AC blasting, a sheet only, and the fan on. It drives my family crazy but I will wake up feeling like I’m burning up multiple times a night. It’s been 2 years and this side effect has never gone away. I hate it so much.
Strohz
10 Sep 2019
68 and going on 2 years from my last of 2 shots. 45mg 6 months apart. Hot flashes left about 6 mo's ago. Hips and belly are slowly getting back to normal. Testosterone is back to normal and body hair is coming back. Legs are still very weak and hurt from the combo of radiation. Hopefully strength and legs are better in a few years. Will NEVER go that route again. Has to be a better and non disabling treatment out there .
nurlinplus
26 May 2019
I also had my lupron 3 month shot on 9th Jan 2019. This stupid gynae of mine did not even ask me whether i wanted the shot or not or if it would give me some side effects. This shot actually ruined my life for the past 5 months. I had hot flushes, weight gain, chronic sinusitis, problem breathing, chronic gastritis, gerd and muscle pains. I was a healthy 45 year old woman before i had this injection. I am thinking that perhaps doctors just wanted to make more money by giving this shot. PLEASE make a report to FDA about the side effects of this drug so that they will ban it from doctors to make money. It has runied many peoples lives and they still let doctors precribe them. I too asked my doctor if this was the side effects but she seem to deny them. I have not felt so sick in my whole 45 years of living. You can take some hormone pills to add back to the side effects but it doesnt help much. Just stop taking the shots.
And there is no other way but to live with it until the side effects wears off. All the best to all of us victims. I would rather have my laproscopy again than take this horrible life ruining injection.
Rex999
10 April 2019
I had the same problems you described after my first Lupron injection and so my doctor prescribed the mild mood calmer, Lexapro 10mg, which helped me get through the 2 years of injections every 90 days. Lexapro has not affected me in any negative way and it allowed me to get through the Lupron injections, which saved me from dying of cancer eventually.
Ben Dover
9 April 2019
your report is very enlightening... and depressing... i had my last shot 12/27/18 and thought that my side effects would begin to taper off... wrong... my effects were hot flashes every 2 hours, mild depression, inability to sleep, and constant fatigue... i began taking gabapentin after my last shoton 12/27/18... i had been taking something else during the year that the lupron was active but it had almost no effect... i could not sleep until i got absolutely fatigued from staying awake and then i could sleep only until the next hot flash... i am taking 700mg of gaba per day now and the hot flashes are less severe but not less frequent... i put off having a hip-replacement surgery because i thought the flashes would go away... they didn't... the are so much less severe that i can actually sleep through 2 or 3 instead of waking up EVERY 2 hours... they were so bad that they soaked my t-shirt which i then had to get up change...
i have experienced no joint pain and pray that they diminish in your case... i was 75 when i had my first shot and am 77 now... lucky for me, i have NOTHING to do at any time, so i can rest and try to deal with the flashes... i cannot tell whether or not my depression and mood swings are caused by the gaba... i suspect that they are... good luck to you and thank you for your update...
Jeffangela1111
9 April 2019
I just happened upon the fact that everyone is experiencing problems with Lupron drug.
I have been experiencing severe bone pain in my legs, excessive sweating, 30+ lbs of weight gain, when I started the Lupron injections in 2001 (every 30 days for 1 year) for endometriosis, I couldn’t deal with the Lupron shots or the pain any longer and decided on a hysterectomy in 2002 for my 40th birthday. Fast forward to 2019, I am still having horrible bone pain in my legs, excessive sweating and I now have several added health issues like fatigue, depression, anxiety, chronic anemia and hypertensive lungs. Until now no doctor believes me regarding my pain and symptoms. I have been accused of having psychosis by the local hospital because they could not identify any reason for my symptoms.
Has anyone else been experiencing my same symptoms 17 years later after stopping the Lupron drug?
Chelle7544
24 Aug 2018
Thank you all for your responses. I am 43 and took one 30 day shot. During that time I had crazy mood swings and hot flashes. Around day 35 I thought I should be feeling better but I woke up and felt like someone beat me with a bat. My leg feels numb, my hips hurt, my entire body aches, and my mood swings and anxiety are out of control. I am a single mom of a child with a severe disability. He needs me for everything. He is unable to walk and weighs 120lbs. I am struggling to take care of him. My doctor knew this and knew I already suffered from severe anxiety. He lied to me about the side effects and no doctor seems to believe that Lupron caused all of my issues. I am so scared that this is my life now. There has to be help.
Highstrider47
27 Aug 2018
Hi - I posted about an hour ago but haven't seen it posted yet. I have had 4, 3 month shots of Lupron. Most serious side effect is/was hot flashes. I would drip sweat down my face and my shirt would turn damp. Am 70 years old and still working so this is totally disadvantageous. As a Christian man, I prayed and the Holy Spirit told me that the devil (the father of all lies) was sending a spirit of lies to my hippthalamus that I needed more heat, so my hippthalamus kicked in, resulting in a hot flash. I now pray against that spirit of lies, rebuking it, and commanding in the powerful name of Jesus, it be gone from my body and my mind. It works, and is a constant statement of faith that Jesus loves us and wants the best for us. Give Him your love and He will restore your body, and the greatest gift - your eternal salvation!!
Beautiful01
15 May 2018
I'm so thankful for all your responses. I know this sounds crazy but I'm glad there are others I can relate too. I thought it was just me. I've had two endo surgeries and I'm like the one lady said I wish I had never got it and only prayed I wouldn't need another surgery. They were 5 years apart. I have all these symptoms especially feeling like I'm 100. It's been about 4 months. I'm so over it
danifoff
14 April 2018
I was wondering how long the symptoms lasts. I had one shot (for three months) of lupron back in March of 2016 because of urinary fibroids I had one that was very big and the doctor was trying to shrink it before I had surgery but the lupron didn't work, to this day I feel like I'm still having side effects from it.
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lupron, depression, osteoarthritis, pain, sleep disorders, hot flashes, side effect, sleep
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