Lupron and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• ols...
• September 17, 2014

For Prostate Cancer "Had my first Lupron shot before 45 days of radiation. Having hot flashes, muscle and joint pain but not too bad. Doing the shot every 3 months. PSA went from 11.5 to 0.1. Next shot coming up in a couple of weeks. Don't have a problem with the shot or after having it. I think Lupron has been helping me, but everyone has different experiences with it. Good luck to all you prostate cancer people."

• mdo...
• January 4, 2012

For Prostate Cancer "Had 1st shot 11/10/11, PSA was at 182, tested 3 weeks later, PSA had dropped to 3.3. Have prostate, metastatic bone and lymphatic cancer. This combined with radiation therapy, greatly improved my mobility (pelvis, hips fully involved, as well as on and inside spine). Side effects are hot flashes and night sweats, but other than that manageable for the relief I've gotten."

• Rus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 6, 2015

For Prostate Cancer "Prostate removed - huge 350 cc - Gleason 7, PSA 15, radiation for 8 weeks, Lupron every 3 months for one year, every 6 months for the next year and a half. PSA has been less than 0.01 since initial radiation. Weakness, memory problems, and hot flashes but no cancer. Treatment is worth the side effects. I feel very lucky."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2012

For Prostate Cancer "My cancerous prostate was removed when I was 65, 6 years ago. I receive a 22.5 mg Lupron injection about every 3 months. My PSA decreases each time from about 2 to undetectable. The injection area is sore for 2-3 days after each injection. I have perhaps a dozen relatively minor hot flashes daily. I take 4 venlafaxine HCl 75 mg tablets daily to curtail hot flashes."

• Mr ...
• October 26, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "Diagnosed with stage 4 PC in my right hip. PSA for years was between 2.0 to 3.5. Went from 3.5 to 29 in one year! I encourage all with a PSA of over 3.0 to get a bone density test! Started Lupron 30-day shot on July 5th, 2016. First 3 months went from 29 to 3, so heading in the right direction. Bone pain reduced after the first shot by more than 75%. Hot flashes around the clock, roughly 10 to 12 a day with an intensity level of about a 5 or 6. Very annoying but tolerable. Miscellaneous aches and pains in joints and muscles. Occasional fogginess and definitely wake up too much to pee. I'm trying Flomax now, I hope to see some improvement. Fatigue is real! I can't tell if this is harder on my family than me! So far, so good. God bless to ALL!"

• Len...
• July 13, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "Eight months into Lupron plus Casodex, and I am refusing the next three-month shot. PSA went from 5.7 to 0.2 to 0.1, and I am just finishing up nine weeks of radiation. GL scores were mostly 9's, but no metastatic found. To say a less common side effect is loss of libido is just plain BS. About a month after the first shot, I was done with sex. The doctor said once the testosterone is gone, that's normal. Little aches and pains linger, my testicles shrink, I lost all hair under my arms and it's slow-growing elsewhere. Sometimes I seem to be in a fog mentally. Hot flashes like you wouldn't believe until they offered me other meds, which help somewhat. I put on five pounds of blubber below the belly. Lack of energy as well. It works, but I think doctors keep you on it too long for stage 1 or 2 cancers."

• ble...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2012

For Prostate Cancer "I got this shot about two years ago. I was told by the urologist that it was a one-month shot. I had the shot because we wanted some time to research and decide what treatment would be best. Found out later that it was a 3-month shot! Suffered severe side effects! PSA dropped from 13 to 7, but the side effects were NOT worth it! Hot flashes, with some of them causing me to nearly pass out, were often (20 a day), memory problems, muscle/joint pain, and on and on! Once, while teaching, I suddenly didn't know where I was or what I was doing! After radiation, I was recently put on Trelstar on a MONTHLY basis, nearly the same side effects but NOT the really bad ones!"

• Nis...
• August 5, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "Diagnosed Stage 4 prostate cancer-July 2012-PSA=8. Radical prostatectomy-October 2012-PSA=0.6. Forty days of radiation-April 2013-PSA=0.1. PSA=0.3-Jan 2015. PSA=1.0-March 2015. First Lupron injection-April 2015-PSA=0.1. Second Lupron injection-Oct 2015-PSA=0.1. Third Lupron injection-April 2016-PSA=0.1. Fourth Lupron injection-Oct 2016-PSA=???. Lupron injections accompanied by daily tablets of Bicalutamide. Side effects: penis shrinkage (afraid it will soon disappear), libido absent, hot flashes, some insomnia, increased neuropathy, some itching, inflammation in hands, extreme fatigue. All side effects manageable-beats being dead-and has allowed me time to tie up loose ends and who knows-I may have years ahead!"

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2011

For Uterine Fibroids "Side effects experienced from 3-month shot: hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, cognitive 'fuzziness', decreased memory. I experienced a significant temporary reduction in fibroid size/abdomen size (pre-surgery)."

• alb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "This is pure poison. I have very bad side effects from this poison, and the doctor said he can do nothing. The physical and mental pain is so bad: hot flashes, very high blood pressure, headaches every day, pain urinating, joint pain, mental confusion, brain fog, memory loss, totally itchy all over, sleeplessness, very bad fatigue, and a lot more. My doctor never told me anything about this poison, just injected me with a 6-month supply at $6,000.00."

• Fly...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2017

For Prostate Cancer "At age 60, biopsy showed prostate cancer, PSA was 10. Had it out. After it was out, PSA was still ten. Started Lupron, and PSA dropped to 0 for two years. Then my doc suggested I go without the Lupron... I did for 8 months, and my PSA climbed to 4. Back on Lupron, and it dropped to zero. Did Lupron for another year, then went off of it again. Why? The side effects: bad arthritis, hot flashes, weight gain, 30 lbs in the first two months, then no more. No libido, and everything shrinks. No body hair. It was a joy to get off that stuff for a while, but my PSA started climbing again. Now back on Lupron, but no change in PSA. Went to a monthly shot, my PSA stayed at 4. Added Casodex, grew boobs, really bad. My PSA is now 2. I've been fighting cancer now for 6 years."

• Gru...
• September 30, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "My PSA was rising after RP to 0.59. Started radiation with Lupron. If you exercise really hard with lots of caffeine, no sugar in the morning and minimal sugar all day long with high-quality food, then the effects of Lupron are minimal other than the muscle pain and some joint pain. Sex life is about once a month. The more you exercise, the more likely you are able to have a sex life. After six months on Lupron, I can still have sex. I took Bicalutamide with my first shot. I highly recommend avoiding the hot flashes."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2009

For Endometriosis "I just finished my 3-month course of shots. The first two months were not too bad, but the third month has taken its toll on me. I can deal with the hot flashes, but the joint pain has become very intense. The pain is disruptive, where my hands are aching all the time. It keeps me up at nighttime, and then lack of sleep becomes a problem. I wish they would suggest a joint therapy program for you to take if you need it because it's not like you can just call up your doctor and see him right away."

• Rid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

For Prostate Cancer "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November of 2016. My PSA was 14.8, and my Gleason Score was 6. The good news is that the cancer did not spread outside the prostate and was in 9 out of 12 from the biopsy. I took Casodex for one month and had one Lupron injection, then started 44 treatments of radiation. Around treatment 20, my PSA went down to .09. After I complete radiation, I have one more Lupron injection to take, then that is it. No more cancer, I hope. The side effects are some hot flashes, weight gain, shrinking testicles, and frequent urination. After my next and last Lupron injection, I hope to be done with cancer."

• Eti...
• October 31, 2015

For Prostate Cancer "Stage 2B prostate cancer. Proton beam therapy coupled with six months on Lupron. Dreaded getting the second 3-month shot. Side effects: Almost total loss of libido and sexual function within 30 days-lasting for several months post-usage; debilitating hot flashes (2X/hour, 24/7); 15 pounds of weight gain; 50% increase in cholesterol under the same diet; dangerous liver impact (GGT > 130) without alcohol use; significant breast growth."

• dOC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2017

For Prostate Cancer "Hot sweats were the thing most mentioned and most noticeable. My apologies for lack of empathy to all those who I've known going through them. Muscle mass loss and decreased exercise tolerance. My total weight lifted in a usual workout fell to about 1/3. Dry scaling skin and increased dry hair. However, my creeping male pattern baldness was certainly less noticeable. Testicular size and libido took a hit."

• Anonymous
• August 16, 2011

For Endometriosis "This is my fourth month into the Lupron cycle. I have endometriosis. Have no period, no pain. I do get some hot flashes and a little weight gain, but that is the least of my problems on the shot. It is the joint pain. It is the worst in the morning when I get out of bed. My hands, legs, and feet are the worst. It is not so bad throughout the day. But when I sit for some time, then get up again, the pain starts all over."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2011

For Breast Cancer, Adjuvant "After surgery and radiation therapy, I was unable to take Tamoxifen, so I got a 1-month shot of Lupron to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer. I had no symptoms, so I got the 3-month shot and immediately had problems. I expected the bad hot flashes and dryness, but wasn't prepared for the severe bone pain and muscle pain. I'm used to dealing with pain, but this was extreme. By the end of the 3 months, the bone pain was gone, but the muscle pain and injection site soreness were still there. I got another 1-month shot and have been doing better. Now I have unexplained swelling/soreness in my left hand."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 10, 2017

For Endometriosis "Many years of pain - After exploratory surgery and a part of one ovary taken, then laparoscopic 3 times to get rid of the endo, I thought this was going to be my saving grace! It has ruined my life, and I'm talking well over 20 years ago. If I remember correctly, it was a new drug they were trying at the time. Yes, it stopped my period and pain, but literally jumped from 110 to 140 in one month, had a complete breakdown, first time ever in my life breaking a glass table. Depression and anxiety and anger became my life. I reported all symptoms, even the little ones, such as sweating and not sleeping, hot flashes, etc. So not worth the lasting side effects, depression never went away! Don't use this drug, it took my happiness in life -"

• Anonymous
• February 18, 2012

For Endometriosis "I have been on the Lupron shot now for 5 months. I have had no periods or period-associated pain since the second month. There is some minor pain and irritation at the injection site for a day or two after the shot. I have had pretty intense hot flashes and night sweats, minor joint and muscle pain, but the worst for me has been the massive headaches. I am taking another medication now to help with those. I would still recommend the shot if your endometriosis is severe, the side effects still aren't as bad as the pain I was in before. Trying to hang in there for another 4 months."

• kf7...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 20, 2012

For Endometriosis "I was on Lupron twice for endometriosis. The first time I had hot flashes and headaches, after I got off, they went away. The second time I had the same side effects, except when I got off of Lupron, the headaches did not go away and turned into migraines. Now I have had migraines for 16 years since being off of Lupron. I was never plagued with headaches before Lupron. My doctor said I always had the trigger for migraines and Lupron flipped the switch on. If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken a different approach to treating my endometriosis. Having endometriosis and migraines together was worse. Now I'm in menopause and going through everything to the nth degree."

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2011

For Endometriosis "I started the Lupron at the beginning of the summer, April 2011, to be exact. The only side effect I can say I had trouble with was the hot flashes, but nothing unbearable and usually over pretty quick. The first 3-4 weeks after an injection, I would have issues with vaginal dryness, but again, nothing unbearable. I had no mood swings or crazy headaches, but I have been constantly plagued with headaches since I was a child, so I wouldn't know if this had any effect on those. Overall, it has been a totally bearable experience, and the hot flashes were nothing compared to the pain I had before the Lupron. I would suggest it if your endometriosis is bad enough."

• Fut...
• April 17, 2013

For Endometriosis "I was diagnosed with fibroids twice, an ovarian cyst 8 cm big, and endometriosis. I'm going to take my third dose in two weeks, and I was prescribed this medicine for six months. Pros: after the first injection, no periods! Five months without a period was right up my alley, being I had been bleeding so much for so long, I needed the break. Cons: if you eat salty food or heavy carbs, you feel like you are going to throw up. Hot and cold flashes, sweats, stiff joints, joint pain, headaches, sleeplessness/severe insomnia, dry skin and dry eyes. I could go on, but I'm doing this to rid myself of ongoing bleeding, pain, and infertility. It's worth it to stick it out if it really works, I don't know if it does yet, but I know I'm not bleeding."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 20, 2016

For Endometriosis "I've been on Lupron for 8 months now. I have very, very painful endo that has put me in the ER at least 50 times in the last 5 years. I tried the depo shot and continuous use of the NuvaRing before this. Nothing has worked, except Lupron. I do suffer hot flashes and a bit of fatigue/joint pain around the time that would be my cycle. The first cycle on the injection was still hell, the second, I could still work! :) My doctor wants me on it for a while, as I'm only 23, and she doesn't want to jump to a hysterectomy just yet. I'm scared to go beyond the recommended year of Lupron, but so far, so good, and it's the only thing that's given my life back. I hope that if you try it, it works for you. Though, we are all different."

• Jen...
• October 6, 2014

For Endometriosis "I received my first shot on June 18 and thought I made the biggest mistake of my life after reading several blogs. After a couple of weeks, to my surprise, I felt good. I did have hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and joint pain, but it went away eventually. I had my second shot on Sept 18, I'm currently having hot flashes and joint pain."