Lupron Depot and Insomnia: What Users Say

• 65...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 22, 2015

For Prostate Cancer "I am experiencing the following side effects: Breast enlargement, reduction of size of testicles, complete ED, multiple hot flashes hourly, and a mental fog that prevents clear thinking. These were all expected side effects and came as no surprise. Additional unexpected side effects include: rapid pulse rate, elevated BP, breathlessness, short-term memory loss, extreme and uncontrollable emotional outbursts (uncontrollable crying over minimally emotional issues), and sleep deprivation (1-2 hours total sleep which could account for the emotional issues). Of additional concern are anecdotal statements by others claiming no reduction of any side effects even after years of removal from follow-up injections of Lupron. My concern is great enough to request suspension of this drug, even at the cost of an elevated PSA with a corresponding resurgence of the cancer. I know there are additional drugs I can take to counteract some of these side effects, but I would rather not complicate the situation with even more medication. My PSA stands at 0.3 as of this writing, and I would withdraw my request were it to increase to 4.0, however continued living with this nightmare drug is not my idea of life."

• Lex...
• October 5, 2015

For Endometriosis "Don't do it! I got the 3-month shot 1 month ago and have had these symptoms so far: constant and severe pelvic pain, sharp lower back pain, pain when the bladder is full and when emptying, lots of migraines and headaches, nausea, vomiting, high anxiety, extreme fatigue, very low mood swings, loss of appetite, and insomnia. The worst symptom of all is the severe depression, I have had several thoughts of suicide. I would rather deal with just the pain than all of these together. I was told by my doctor the only symptom I would get is hot flashes, and she had only heard of success stories with this drug, that was a total lie. If you react badly with other birth controls, do not do Lupron, it's a living nightmare!"

• Woo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2020

For Prostate Cancer "I’m a 66-year-old male who was diagnosed with moderately aggressive prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 8 and PSA of 7.2. I’ve had 2 Lupron injections, which have caused the following side effects: a chemical smell, muscle weakness, hot flashes, fatigue, PSA -"

• See...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2016

For Endometriosis "I would like to address women who already struggle with depression, insomnia, or mood disorders, like myself. If you're already bad off, don't do this to yourself, it might be the final 'push.' I got the 3-month shot (+add-back), and it made me suicidal. My moods went from extreme anger to sobbing, insomnia, hot flashes, and my left arm kept going numb in daily activities! This went on for a month, at 2 months, I leveled out. Not far into the 3rd month, the hot flashes came back, cold sweats (felt like drug withdrawal), and my pain was back! I went to my OB/GYN 1 week early because of this to find I had grown 11 new painful cysts! It didn't even work, and to stop it is also unpleasant (withdrawals). Worst med decision I ever made! HELL!"

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 14, 2023

For Prostate Cancer "My husband cannot comment, as he died 5 years ago. He was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer. He also had radiation treatments. He suffered from fatigue, depression, and insomnia. Radiation caused damage to the urethra. His prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was low while on Lupron Depot, but he was miserable and committed suicide. It would have been nice to have an alternative treatment. He didn’t want to live that way."

• Mel...
• September 27, 2018

For Endometriosis "I had severe cervical dysplasia requiring a portion of my cervix to be removed, chronic pain, PCOS, and was diagnosed with severe endometriosis following laparoscopic removal of many adhesions from my uterus and scarring of my ovaries. My OB recommended I do six to nine months of Depot Lupron after my laparoscopy to keep the endo at bay and help reduce scarring. I started out with the one-month shot and felt okay, a little achy, and some hot flashes. I went back to get the three-month shot. I was miserable, but my OB really pushed me to keep going with it. I am on my second three-month shot, and I am not me anymore. I am moody, extremely depressed, my bones hurt, I've gained 20 lbs, I'm fatigued, anxious, have insomnia, headaches, and have had horrible gastrointestinal symptoms. It is ruining my marriage. My work performance has suffered. I am foggy and forgetful. Everything is an effort. I will not be getting the last shot and hope this hasn't caused irreversible damage!"

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2019

For Uterine Fibroids "I’ve been on Lupron Depot for 4 months for heavy bleeding from a fibroid and extreme pain due to endometriosis. It has stopped my uterine heavy bleeding, and I have increased energy from not being anemic any longer. However, I have experienced hair loss, generalized whole body muscle pain and stiffness, as well as hot flashes, extreme jaw tension, teeth grinding at night, and occasional insomnia."

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2019

For Endometriosis "I had severe endometriosis. I had the kind of pain that makes you blackout. I would bleed all over my chair at work. I wear only black or navy pants. So far, I've taken 3 shots, and thankfully I am pain-free. I have no period. But the hot flashes are HORRIBLE. I'm always hot and tired. I don't remember the last time I had a good night's sleep. I've gone as far as putting ice packs on my bed so that I can sleep for a few hours. I've gained about 35 pounds in 9 months, my hair is thinning, I ache all over, my vision has decreased so much, I seem to forget everything if I don't write it down. I think I got the entire list of side effects, however, that pain before taking Lupron? No way! I literally shake when I think about it. I'll try to manage."

• Anonymous
• November 8, 2009

For Endometriosis "I was very pleased with my Lupron experience. I was on a six-month course and found the first three to four months easy. I did experience hot flashes, mood swings, and slight insomnia. My fifth and sixth months were a little more difficult for me. The hot flashes became a little more apparent, the mood swings more frequent, and my face began to break out. To me, that was the worst. Along with the Lupron, I had a laparoscopy 2 months before the medication, and I started acupuncture treatments about a month before beginning Lupron, which really helped with the side effects. My pain levels before medication were unbearable. I could hardly bring myself to get out of bed. I now notice that my pain level is low if I have any at all."

• ska...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2016

For Endometriosis "I got a month shot right when I was about to start my period. Period ended up lasting about 12 days. I was told night sweats and menopausal symptoms would happen, but I did NOT expect the suicidal urges (I've been diagnosed with depression, but it was manageable before this shot), migraines - the worst migraines I've ever experienced in my life, nausea, cankles. I've had to take roughly 5 days off work just in the last 3 weeks, and I may even lose my job. I am so irritable and cannot sleep for the life of me. I wake up at least 30 times a night. I'd rather have my excruciating menstrual cramps than go through this ever again. My body did NOT like this AT ALL!"

• Ale...
• August 18, 2017

For Endometriosis "I'm on the 6-month therapy treatment, and I got my 4th injection yesterday. At the beginning, I was getting the hot flashes, which I can deal with, the mood swings. I'd rather deal with that than the terrible belly button pain, bleeding from the navel, and chest pain. I was diagnosed with endo stage 4 about 3 years ago. But now I'm starting to think, 'Is it worth it?' with the insomnia, tiredness, diarrhea, and waking up with migraines."

• Lov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2017

For Uterine Fibroids "I was on Lupron a few years ago. For chronic pain, multiple cysts, I was bedridden a week or two of every month. This injection saved my life back then. I lost coverage, so I stopped. Now I have coverage and decided to try it again... it's not working this time! I'm in pain all the time still. I have trouble sleeping at night or staying asleep, my libido is gone... and I'm in the 4th month of treatment and started bleeding and have really bad pains again... and my hot flashes are back. The first month is the worst! The worst period of my life... but there was no bleeding until now... so I would recommend trying the once-a-month doses first."

• Fri...
• April 14, 2016

For Endometriosis "I've only had one dose of Lupron; before going on it, I did my research. One side effect is horrible insomnia (which I have). I know not every single change in my body can be blamed on the Lupron. I have endometriosis, and the Lupron basically puts you in a state of menopause. Headaches, insomnia, sweats, and mood swings were very bad the first couple of weeks; now my stomach hurts! So I think I can pick and choose what the medicine is responsible for and what the state of chemical menopause is doing to me."

• EC4...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2018

For Endometriosis "I am 25 and received 9 months of injections with Lupron for endometriosis and had a terrible experience with it. First was the symptom flare the first month, which made my pain even worse, and I missed 3 weeks of work out of 4 weeks. Then, even with add-back therapy, I had hot flashes, trouble sleeping, severe pain with sex, and bad acne. And it did nothing to help the pain I was having. I stopped this medication after 9 months, and even now, one year after stopping, I have residual digestive issues and continued vulvodynia, which started when I was on Lupron. Many doctors seem to use this drug as a first-line treatment against endo, but it is brutal and is only a temporary treatment."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2018

For Endometriosis "I just started the Lupron shot, and so far it's helping, but it's also come along with hot flashes, dizziness, prolonged QT heart interval (I already have the heart problem, but it is amplifying it), body pain which is slowly going down, brain fog, insomnia, fatigue, inability to breathe, and is making some of my connective tissue symptoms worse. I'm hoping at least some of these symptoms go away. If they do, I will continue the monthly shots since the endo symptoms are getting better (headache, bowel issues, insane amount of bleeding every month, and debilitating pain)."

• kai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 26, 2017

For Endometriosis "I've been on the Lupron shot for almost 2 years now. The first six months were the hardest. I woke up tired, icky feeling, and puked. I lost my appetite, lost a lot of weight, and it made my insomnia worse and my urge to pee worse, especially at night. Once the nausea settled and my appetite came back, the other side effects were easy to cope with on top of the side effects from the Implanon. I haven't bled at all and had no pain. I got off it for 3 months, and some of my shooting pain came back, but no bleeding, so I got put back on it. I just decided to take a break, and I'm crampy and starting to spot. My OB/GYN said I shouldn't have pain like I was before, so we shall wait and see. Since the Lupron is working, my Medicaid won't let me have a lap to see what stage my endometriosis is."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2022

For Uterine Fibroids "I have had many years of heavy, painful periods. Diagnosed with a bulky uterus (size 16 weeks) with endometriosis and fibroids. My gynecologist recommended Lupron Depot to shrink my uterus before going for laparoscopic hysterectomy. I'm 53 years old. I have had 2 shots now and am going for my 3rd next week. I have had a lot of side effects from this medication: night sweats (not every night, mild), insomnia, no energy, restless legs/muscle spasms, depression (cry every day at least once), and mood swings (my poor family). So next week when I get shot #3, I am hoping that he will have my surgical date booked as I cannot live with the pain and constant bleeding. The shot plus add-back therapy has only given me hope that I will eventually get back to normal and a better quality of life."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 24, 2025

For Prostate Cancer "I have been treated with Lupron Depot for seven years now for my prostate cancer, along with radiation, Taxotere infusions, and apalutamide. After reading the list of side effects, I now understand that my problems with memory loss, irritability, lack of energy, and trouble sleeping were due to this medication. My cancer remains but is not progressing, and my oncologist is happy with my progress and blood work."

• Sul...
• November 20, 2015

For Uterine Fibroids "This medicine has given me horrible headaches. Lost a lot of hair, gained weight, insomnia."