Give me the good the bad and the ugly re: Lupron

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ChemicalWorld
ChemicalWorld Member Posts: 172
edited September 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi to all.  To follow up from this thread, and after much soul searching, having a couple of crys, and feeling sorry for myself (because frankly, it sucks to have to make decisions like this), I have come from a recent trip to my gyno-oncologist with a prescription for monthly Lupron shots, so that I can dip my toe into this whole early menopause thing.  I have not yet taken the injection, still gearing myself up for potential side-effects etc. I am also still taking Tamoxifen, at least for the time being. 

I know everyone's experience is different, but I would love to hear from you all how you felt on this stuff.  Give me mentally, physically, socially, intimately, I want to hear it all. 


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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited July 2014

    I did 5 years of Lupron.   I had symptoms from being thrown suddenly into menopause, but nothing else to speak of.

     The first 3.5 years were a pain because my insurance insisted I go to the doc to get the shot (2 hours each way + waiting time).   My MO eventually convinced insurance to let my husband give it to me at home.  (The shot has to be given intramuscularly, which given the very long  needle means in the buttocks, so self-administering would be very difficult.)

     If you can possibly convince your insurance to let you get the shots at home and you have someone willing to give them to you , it's a real time saver. 

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  • kcat2013
    kcat2013 Member Posts: 391
    edited July 2014

    I just started Lupron about 10 days ago.  So far the only thing I've noticed is a return of hot flashes.  I had them pretty bad during "chemo-pause" but they'd gone away once my period came back.  I'm waiting to see if I any other side effects show up!  

    Kendra

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  • PoohBear-61
    PoohBear-61 Member Posts: 263
    edited July 2014


    I am on zoladex ( equivalent to lupron) since July 2013. I am 48 now . Was also scared to death at the thought of shutting my ovaries down.......one year later I am glad I chose this path .

    to answer your questions

    Mentally ....no side effects ( maybe first few months was a little teary )

    Socially ...no side effects

    Physically .... hot flashes a few times a day ( maybe 3 or 4 )starting 6 weeks after the first shot and after 6 to 8 months next to none ...just one when I wake up in the morning now ....I froze a lot at night time at the beginning because of the night sweats but that lasted about 3 months ..now I sleep like a baby . ( I work out a lot and eat low glycemic and I think it has helped me a lot ). weight is fairly stable. skin is a little tiny bite drier ....hair is never greasy anymore ...only need to shampoo once a week . don't have to shave my legs as often either . 

    Intimately......very low sex drive .... ...difficulty in reaching the BIG O.....but possible ...just takes longerLoopy ... ...we have quality naked time now ...which is still fun ....My hopes are that once I finish my 2 years of OS that I will get my period back and my libido ......but part of me is also a little scared to get my period back .

    According to the Zebra trial though .....the women that got their period s back after OS had the SAME reoccurrence rate as those that did not get their periods back and apparently a good portion of the women doooo get their periods back.I have one yr to go !!!!!! maybe my libido will come back too???..

    in a nut shell its Not all that bad .   

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  • ChemicalWorld
    ChemicalWorld Member Posts: 172
    edited August 2014

    Thanks everyone for your responses!  Glad to hear of "not that bad". I am going to start this in the next day or so, was working out some financial things.  I was able to successfully make an appeal to offset the costs of the drug, which is a great help.

    Oddly enough, even though I haven't started the drug yet, my hot flashes seem to have returned in anticipation it seems.  Ah summer.  If only I could sweat off those extra Tamoxifen pounds.

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  • ChemicalWorld
    ChemicalWorld Member Posts: 172
    edited September 2014

    Hi, just reporting back now that I've had two shots of Lupron since last report and wanted to share my experiences.  It is still early days so I guess it's possible there's more to come.

    Overall it hasn't been the scary mess I thought I'd be in for when I took to Dr. Google to look into the drug to begin with. Which is not to say I haven't been without side effects:

    -the evening of my first shot I was not feeling at all well.  I had what I can only describe as a combo of major major hot flash and anxiety attack, complete with heart racing, sweating, stomach distress and so hot I could not cool down for hours.  I had made the mistake of going out that evening and it was kind of warm out to boot, so I'd recommend staying close to home for a first shot until you know how you'd react. This happened about 5-6 hours after I'd had the shot and it was really unpleasant.  Knock wood, had my second shot 5 days ago and did not have this reaction.

    -have had general flu-like symptoms and fatique within the first week after the shot both times I've had it.  Kind of achy, cold and really tired.  Tired does not work well with my chemo brain, so that sucks.  Didn't miss any time from work or anything though, knock wood, but have been dragging myself along some days. 

    -Mood has been ok, seem to be a bit easier to tear up but for good reasons.  Nothing unexpected. 

    -no sleep disturbances, in fact sleeping pretty solid these days.   

    -second shot left me with a large lump at the injection site that is still there five days later.

    I have tried to be a bit proactive and using vitamin E to hopefully offset some issues vaginally.  Can't hurt I guess. 

    One weird thing that has also happened is that the nurses in my small town hospital didn't seem to really know what to do with the rig when giving me the shot.  I guess it has to mix or something, and I guess it is not something they use in outpatients on the regular.  It's a big needle, and first they thought I'd have to have it in my stomach (!!) but I got it in the top of my butt. 

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  • Jujube43
    Jujube43 Member Posts: 178
    edited September 2014

    My husband has prostate cancer. He gets a Lupron shot every 4 months. He gets hot flashes. ALL men should have at least one Lupron shot around the time his wife begins menopause...

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