Side Effects and Benefits of Lupron Depot

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Updated on February 03, 2020

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Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension), a GnRH agonist, is a hormonal agent that significantly reduces estrogen levels. The medication works in two distinct phases. Phase one stimulates the ovaries, causing them to produce more estradiol, the most potent of the three estrogens produced by women. In phase two, the messenger hormones that tell the ovaries to produce estrogen decline dramatically. The resulting drop in estrogen causes women to experience menopause-like side effects.

Doctor with medical chart talking with patient in examination room — Caiaimage / Agnieszka Wozniak / Getty Images

Uses

Lupron is prescribed for women with acute endometriosis or severe menorrhagia (abnormally heavy bleeding during menstruation). It is not a cure for endometriosis but can provide pain relief that lasts for several years. It also may be administered before assisted reproduction, or be used in children who are diagnosed with central precocious puberty (early puberty).

Side Effects

Side effects that have been associated with the use of Lupron Depot include hot flashes and night sweats and, less frequently, palpitations, syncope, and tachycardia.

Other side effects include:

generalized pain
headaches
vaginitis
nausea/vomiting
fluid retention
weight gain
acne
hirsutism
joint pain
loss of sexual desire
depression
dizziness
nervousness
breast tenderness or pain

What Treatment Is Like

For the first week or two after the first injection of Lupron, reproductive hormones increase, causing an increase in symptoms. However, after the first few weeks, these hormones decrease to levels seen in menopausal women. Most women stop having menstrual periods during Lupron therapy.

Lupron is not a contraceptive, however, and it is possible for pregnancy to occur during the first few weeks of therapy. Non-hormonal birth control should be used to prevent pregnancy. Suitable forms of contraceptives include condoms, diaphragms with contraceptive jelly, and non-hormonal IUDs. You should contact your clinician immediately if you suspect that you may be pregnant while using Lupron.

Lupron treatments are limited to six months.

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