Lupron and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2013

For Endometriosis "My daughter (19) was given Lupron immediately after surgery to remove endometriosis. The doctor came to us right as she was in recovery and said she was giving her Lupron to suppress the cause. No explanation of side effects... how I regret it. She had to leave college... and the pain, weight gain, lack of concentration, etc. have been traumatic for us all. It takes YEARS to get this out of your system! I regret EVERY day that I let this happen to my daughter. I should have asked the questions, but I trusted the doctor."

• 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."

• 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."

• Mau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2015

For Endometriosis "I've received my first round in June 2015. Almost immediately, I started experiencing side effects. Headaches, weight gain, hot flashes, constant sweating, mood swings, made my depression worse, now swollen legs and ankles, also severe joint pain. This is becoming unbearable, and I'm rethinking doing the next cycle. It's helped with my endometriosis, which I'm happy about, but these side effects are a...."

• Az-...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2020

"My prostate cancer was treated with radiation in 2003 but came back around 2013, and PSA has climbed all the way to 14.8 now in 2020, so thought it was time to try something. Lupron gave me horrible side effects, including severe hot flashes, about 2 every hour, 24/7, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, weight gain, constant urination, very low libido, etc. On the positive side, I only had one 3-month shot, and my PSA went from 14.8 down to 0.3, however, I am not going to take another shot and will see how it goes. Will try to eat and exercise better."

• Mis...
• July 12, 2015

For Endometriosis "I've been on Lupron twice in 6 years. The first time was 2008, and I didn't experience any symptoms. I was extremely happy about that. Like most of you reading, all the side effects had me a little on edge. The second time my doctor suggested that I get on it (Dec 2014), I agreed with no problem. Hoping that will be the same experience as the first time. Ohhhhhh, but it wasn't. I had hot flashes, night sweats, and weight gain. I couldn't wait until those 6 months were over. Unlike the first time, 3 months off Lupron, my cycle started, and 2 weeks later, two cysts, 7.5 cm. I was devastated and in so much pain, and before you knew it, I was having surgery. I'm 2 days fresh out of the hospital on Lupron again. I pray this time I have a different outcome."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 9, 2024

For Prostate Cancer "Given all the things that testosterone regulates in the male body, none of the side effects are unexpected. My blood work indicates that it’s working. The hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, and mild vertigo (among other side effects) subsided in a few months, just in time for the next every-four-month injection."

• any...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 2, 2024

For Prostate Cancer "I have been on Lupron for 20 months now, and it reduced my PSA from .64 to undetectable. The side effects for me have been hot flashes a couple of times a day, loss of body hair, 20 pounds of weight gain, and complete loss of my sexual function and appetite. I will be going off Lupron when this shot wears off in a couple of months. I have been receiving the 6-month shot. I am 67 years old and have high-risk prostate cancer, have had my prostate removed, and went through 38 rounds of radiation. I feel I am doing as well as can be expected and do everything I like to do minus my libido. Good luck to all!"

• Eag...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 28, 2024

For Prostate Cancer "The 7 months of treatment I am on, along with 9 weeks of radiation, appears to be working well. My PSA (with stage 3 prostate cancer) went from 7+ to 0.05. That said, I am fighting brain fog, fatigue, slight weight gain, loss of sexual interest, nearly chronic dry cough, general itching, and joint and muscle pain. Looking forward to the product wearing off starting around 6 weeks from now. Strongly recommend resistance exercise, it helps a great deal!"