Lupron Side Effects
Generic name: leuprolide
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 25, 2022.
Note: This document contains side effect information about leuprolide. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Lupron.
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 Lupron
Along with its needed effects, leuprolide (the active ingredient contained in Lupron) 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 Lupron
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, hyperhidrosis, emotional lability/depression, nausea/vomiting, and pain.[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Very common (10% or more): ECG changes (19%), ischemia (19%), hot flush
Common (1% to 10%): Edema, hypertension, murmur, phlebitis, thrombosis, arrhythmias, angina, myocardial infarction
Frequency not reported: Cardiovascular collapse, palpitations, tachycardia
Postmarketing reports: Deep vein thrombosis, hypotension, pulmonary embolism[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[Ref]
Endocrine
Very common (10% or more): Hot flashes (up to 98%)
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pituitary apoplexy
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/'flare' phenomenon[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%)
Common (1% to 10%): dyspepsia, gastroenteritis/colitis, dysphagia, flatulence, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, GI disturbance, peptic ulcer, rectal polyps
Frequency not reported: Dry mouth, GI distress[Ref]
Genitourinary
Very common (10% or more): Vaginal dryness (37%), vaginitis (up to 28%), breast tenderness (14%), libido decreased, erectile dysfunction, testicular atrophy
Common (1% to 10%): Breast changes, breast enlargement, breast pain, breast soreness/tenderness, menstrual disorders, urinary frequency/urgency, hematuria, urinary tract infection, ovarian hyperstimulation, testicular soreness/pain, penile disorder, vaginal hemorrhage, gynecomastia, decrease in testicular size, impotence
Frequency not reported: Dysuria, lactation, urinary tract obstruction[Ref]
Hematologic
Common (1% to 10%): Anemia
Frequency not reported: Decreased red blood cell count (RBC)/hematocrit/hemoglobin, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia
Postmarketing reports: Decreased white blood cell count (WBC)[Ref]
Hepatic
Common (1% to 10%): Increased liver enzymes
Frequency not reported: Hepatitis, hepatomegaly, jaundice
Postmarketing reports: Hepatic dysfunction, serious liver injury[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions
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, pain, swelling, nodules, ulcers, irritation, necrosis at the site of injection[Ref]
Metabolic
Very common (10% or more): Weight gain/loss (up to 13%)
Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia
Frequency not reported: Appetite changes
Frequency not reported: Thirst
Postmarketing reports: Diabetes[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Common (1% to 10%): Bone/joint pain, myalgia, ankylosing spondylosis, arthritis, blurred disc margins, bone fracture, joint disorder, leg cramps, muscle stiffness, muscle weakness/tenderness, pelvic fibrosis, spasms/cramps
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Myalgia, weakness of lower extremities
Frequency not reported: Backache, muscle atrophy, limb pain, loss of bone mineral density
Postmarketing reports: Joint/muscle pain, spinal fracture/paralysis, tenosynovitis-like symptoms[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
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pituitary apoplexy (following initial administration in patients with pituitary adenoma)
Frequency not reported: Convulsions, syncope, taste perversion
Postmarketing reports: Peripheral neuropathy, stroke, symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia, sudden headache, transient ischemic attack[Ref]
Ocular
Frequency not reported: Conjunctivitis, ophthalmologic disorders, visual impairment
Postmarketing reports: Ophthalmoplegia, visual changes[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Pain (up to 24%), general pain (up to 19%)
Common (1% to 10%): Tinnitus, edema peripheral
Frequency not reported: Body odor, disturbance of smell/taste
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
Frequency not reported: Delusions
Postmarketing reports: Altered mental status, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt[Ref]
Renal
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal calculus[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
Frequency not reported: Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
Postmarketing reports: Shortness of breath, symptoms consistent with asthmatic process[Ref]
Frequently asked questions
- How long should you take it for prostate cancer?
- How does it work for prostate cancer?
- How do you inject it for prostate cancer?
- Does it need to be refrigerated?
- What does this drug do for IVF?
- Will I get my period while on Lupron?
- Are Lupron Depot and Eligard the same drug?
- Can you get pregnant on Lupron Depot?
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Drug class: gonadotropin releasing hormones
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References
1. "Product Information. Lupron (leuprolide)." TAP Pharmaceuticals Inc (2002):
2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
4. "Product Information. Eligard (leuprolide)." sanofi-aventis (2019):
5. "Product Information. Camcevi (leuprolide)." Accord Biopharma Inc (2022):
6. "Product Information. Fensolvi (leuprolide)." Tolmar Pharmaceuticals (2022):
7. "Product Information. Lupron Depot-Gyn (leuprolide)." TAP Pharmaceuticals Inc (2020):
8. "Product Information. Lupron Depot-Ped (leuprolide)." AbbVie US LLC (2022):
9. "Product Information. Viadur (leuprolide)." Bayer Pharmaceutical Inc (2006):
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.