Lupron Depot: Worth the Side Effects?

Peggy Rowland — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:56:58 +0000

Lupron Depot is one of the few drugs that will cause your doc to say, “You will have side effects.”

Lupron is prescribed for women in cases of severe endometriosis (often referred to as endo), fibroids and sometimes before fertility treatments. For men, it’s used to treat prostate cancer, but I’m not covering that use in this post.

The medicine is given via an injection by a nurse once a month for six months. I took three injections of Lupron for severe endo several years ago.

If you’re thinking of taking Lupron for endometriosis or another reproductive problem, it’s important to realize that Lupron is not a cure. It’s a treatment, and if you have severe endometriosis, your symptoms may possibly come back quickly after treatment. Those with mild endometriosis may have longer lasting benefits.

I won’t get into all the technical ways that Lupron works. (This subject is complicated enough already!) Simply, it throws you into a very sudden state of menopause. Women who go through menopause naturally do so gradually. Lupron is a shocking experience, to say the least.

You can read more about Lupron’s side effects at WebMD or Mayo Clinic. (The Lupron Depot site is temporarily unavailable.)

In my next post, I explain all the side effects I experienced.

(This information is intended for educational purposes only. It does not substitute for medical advice from a professional.)