Leuprolide and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• Wal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

For Prostate Cancer "Have had one month injection of Eligard and will not be taking another. Side effects including hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, joint pains, mood swings, memory loss - I get the lot. Worst decision I ever made and hope the effects wear off ASAP. I would rather take my chances than be half the person I am now. Reading other comments where there seems to be no ending to the side effects gives me little hope for a reprieve. Oncologist gave me no impression I would be suffering like this. Just 'this is the standard treatment' - it does not cure the disease just supposedly slows it. Personally I would rather have less time and good quality of life."

• 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."

• mrm...
• August 2, 2016

For Uterine Fibroids "I had a fibroid that had grown into my uterine cavity and it caused heavy bleeding, large blood clots, and discomfort. I had surgery scheduled in June of 2016 and was given a Lupron injection in March of 2016 to shrink the fibroid to make surgery easier. I had read terrible reviews and was scared of the side effects. Overall my experience was very positive. I had minor side effects such as hot flashes and migraines. I am in my mid-twenties and very active, which I believe helped. No weight gain or hair loss. I felt great throughout the 3 months and actually felt more mentally and hormonally balanced than ever before...I'm actually kind of upset it has worn off! Don't be afraid of this drug, it worked wonders for me!"

• 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."

• Sar...
• January 2, 2016

For Endometriosis "Don't let the online reviews cheat you out of a better life! I actually delayed getting Lupron by a year because I was so scared by the online reviews and reports of adverse reactions/symptoms. However, my experience was wonderful. My doctor put me on the ad-back and I did have a few hot flashes initially, but I would take those 1,000x over the pain my endometriosis caused me. I also took calcium to offset any bone density loss. Please, please, please work with your doctor to decide if Lupron is right for you. I did it and now I am on my way to restoring my quality of life."

• Dav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2018

For Prostate Cancer "I was prescribed Eligard by an oncologist due to a suspicion of prostate cancer. I was told my PSA of 80 was almost a certain indication of prostate cancer. Seven months ago, in February, I was given a three-month injection. Within an hour, I was nauseated. I vomited for three hours. After that, the effects of Eligard began to take effect. Hot flashes, going from sweating to cold within minutes, loss of libido for myself, no sexual satisfaction for my wife. Chest constriction, reduced ability to handle stress, disrupted sleep due to fluctuating temperature. Final comment: I conclude that no man would ever prescribe Eligard to another man if he had taken it himself. It is not a cure for prostate cancer, and it affected my life so negatively that I would never take it again, even if I knew I had cancer, which I don’t. I am writing to the Chief Medical Officer of my province that this drug is a poor choice for any purpose."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "Been taking Eligard 5x every 3 months, just over a year. Prostate taken out 10 years ago. I underwent radiation 45 times about 6 years ago. Eligard has been effective at reducing my PSA levels. Occasional hot flashes, tire easily, and often feel lightheaded. Little tolerance for BS and have been experiencing more headaches and breast enlargement. Thinking about stopping use."

• Kri...
• May 15, 2015

For Uterine Fibroids "I've been on Lupron since March 2015. Just had my 2nd shot. I have to tell you it's taken 100% of my nagging back pain and cramps away. I even lost 12 pounds after the first shot. It started to wear off towards the end so I took the shot 2 weeks early. I had surgery on May 12th to remove a huge polyp and 2 fibroid tumors - all benign. I'm having hot flashes, some headaches, some joint pain and that's about it. These symptoms are worth the trade from previous symptoms. I only hope my doctor gives me a hysterectomy soon. She feels Lupron will shrink the fibroids outside my uterus. I'm almost 50 so she says I should hold off on the hysterectomy. I want all this done with. Good luck to all of you."

• Oac...
• February 3, 2014

For Prostate Cancer "Started treatment 12/2011 ended 12/2013. The PSA went down as expected for the purpose of treatment, now waiting for side effects to end, which have been: loss of libido, hot flashes especially at night or after a meal, some sweating, loss of body hair, loss of muscle mass, joint and bone pain, tiredness, difficulty to start almost any quest, weight gain, chest/man breast augmentation. Have been taking vitamin D plus calcium, glucosamine, started an exercise program that has helped with muscle buildup, and also helps with better mood, by prescription have taken 3 applications of calcium to the vein. Have had excellent support from wife, have trust my Doctors and first of all God my father."

• Lup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 19, 2019

For Uterine Fibroids "I wanted to write a review for other women who are thinking about getting this injection. I read a lot of horror stories online, so I was pretty nervous. I got the 3-month injection to try and shrink my large fibroids. The upshot is, it wasn't that bad, but my fibroids didn't shrink; however, it stopped my periods. Preventing the excessive bleeding is good for health prior to a hysterectomy. But it's expensive, and insurance will make you jump through bureaucratic hoops to get it. After getting the shot, I felt kind of weird. Then I had one last awful period blowout a few days later. Since then, no periods. Menopause symptoms included hot flashes, brain fog, mild acne, some moodiness, and irritability. However, I think a lot of this can be worked around with good nutrition, exercise, breathable clothing, and meditation."

• Jer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 30, 2023

For Prostate Cancer "I have had my second dose of Eligard 45 mg, 6 months apart. Radiology convinced me I should do this to prevent the recurrence of cancer. I had a Grade 4, contained to the prostate. Had 28 radiation treatments. My PSA now is at zero. I have told the doctors I 'will not' take any more hormone injections. My life has been ruined. I am turning 76, but I have been an active walker, biker, lifted weights, etc., all my life. Now I have intense bone pain all over my body, my muscles are half what they were, and I have hot flashes all day and night. I force myself to exercise, but life is now hell. I get depressed and emotional. Wish I had never taken the first injection. Not sure if my body will ever recover. The doctors need to educate their patients with proper data and let them make a choice."

• 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."

• mik...
• September 17, 2009

For Prostate Cancer "I've been on Lupron (after prostate surgery) for a period of 7-1/2 years. I am also on 50mg Casodex. The side effects are minor (hot sweats, decreased energy). Injection sites were moved after 6 years from buttocks to shoulders due to lower back pain. I hope this gives hope to patients about to begin this regimen."

• 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!"

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2018

For Endometriosis "I’m a 24-year-old female who’s suffered from terrible endometriosis pain; my periods left me crumpled up on the ground, moaning in pain to the point that I seriously wished I were dead. I am not exaggerating in the slightest. Sometimes I’d get really dizzy and hear an intense buzzing in my ears right before I almost passed out. The pain was unbearable; I often had to miss school and work because of my period. I recently underwent surgery and was recommended Lupron. I read horrible reviews about it for weeks leading up to my doctor appointment and was terrified to try it, but so far I haven’t had any problems other than hot flashes (and that’s MUCH preferable to the agonizing pain I used to be in). Of course, it’s only been a few months since I got the injection, so we’ll see...but so far it’s been great! Don’t let the reviews scare you; if you’re in good health like I am, you probably won’t experience serious complications or side effects. Hope this helps!"

• Amb...
• November 2, 2015

For Endometriosis "I have been taking this for 6 months now, about to start my 7th, and I love it! I will say the first month or so, I was really wondering what I had gotten myself into. But now, I am so glad I did it. I take the 1-a-month, not the 3-month shot. I haven't had a period in 5 months, and I haven't cramped in 5 months. I was having hot flashes before I started taking this, and I will say that at times they are way worse, but I would much rather deal with hot flashes than be huddled over in my bed because the cramps are so bad that I can't even function. I do understand that some people have bad experiences with things, and some people don't. It is all up to your body. Everyone's body is different. I hope seeing a good review like this will help."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2020

For Endometriosis "I feel like I’m one of the few people who has had a positive experience on the medicine Lupron. I’ve been pain-free from my endometriosis for 3 months, now on my third dose. After my first dose, I had some joint pain and severe hot flashes for a couple of weeks, but those symptoms lessened as time went on. My mood has changed for the better while on this medicine, I no longer have pain from the endometriosis, and my only symptom from this medicine is minor hot flashes! I can’t believe it. This medicine has been a blessing."

• 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!"

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2016

For Prostate Cancer "I must say if I only knew what this medication was going to do to me, I would have never taken it. At the age of 61, this medication has destroyed my life. After each injection, it caused deeper and deeper depression. What at one time brought joy to my life is gone. There is no sense of any type of sexuality at all. Nothing brings joy to one's life. After each shot, it just makes it worse. The hot flashes are so severe I will have to change my work shirt a couple of times a day. I will soak a shirt within minutes. One has to remember that the Eligard will get rid of all your hormones. We are not made to run that way and there is no support that will help you deal with that or tell you what to expect. You are no longer male but not female either."

• I...
• August 19, 2016

For Uterine Fibroids "I have been on Lupron for 3 years. I began the shot in 2013 with an 11 cm fibroid that was too large for surgery at the time. I am now in my late 50s and still testing positive on hormone tests. In other words, if I go off Lupron, I am assuming the fibroid will grow again and I will begin to menstruate again and have heavy bleeding and large clots. My headaches became much less, and I only have hot flashes towards the end of my 3-month shot. I get shots quarterly. My bone density was just shy of normal with no concerns for many years. I take calcium, D3, and K2 (MK7 - helps make calcium go to bone, not soft tissue like calcification and bone spurs). For me, it has been the best thing in my life. I can't imagine why people have bad results. Oh, and no weight gain."

• ill...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "Received a 6-month injection of Eligard. Approaching 8 months since the injection, and I am still having several hot flashes every day and night. Unfortunately, there is not a remedy that will bring an end to the episodes."

• Pat...
• July 24, 2021

For Prostate Cancer "I just got my 3rd shot of Eligard. Hard to say exact side effects, because I also have end-stage COPD. I haven't got a PSA yet, prior to Eligard, it was 7, then 17, then 24. Due to COVID, I put off seeing an oncologist for 7 months. I got both Moderna vax in March. I started radiation in April and finished on June 9. It seems each shot of Eligard is getting a bit worse. This last one hurt and burned longer, a minor issue. Hot flashes seem more frequent. I too go to the bathroom about 9 or 10 times a night, every 1 to 1.5 hours, but that was happening before Eligard. I am dizzy a lot, and I don't have much energy (I used to be quite active). I am 66 years old. My cancer rated as Stage 3, there were tumors on 8 of 12 biopsy samples. Surgery wasn't an option since scans showed it may have spread to lymph nodes. I will update this (if possible) with my PSA score this September. Good luck to everyone. I can't recommend Eligard or condemn it as of this writing."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2019

For Prostate Cancer "On Lupron beginning July 2017. Now 2019 and still on a 3-month dose. I experience all the known side effects, and it is not much fun. I am 66 years old and have advanced prostate cancer stage 3. My PSA is undetectable since surgery and 40 radiation treatments. Hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, tingle in feet, itching, impotence, and bone aches. PSA is still undetectable...going off Lupron in May 2020...we will see what happens then."