Lupron Side Effects
Even though most people tolerate Lupron well, side effects can occur and may include hot flashes, headaches, and general body pain. Most of these problems are typically easy to treat. However, contact your healthcare provider right away if you are using Lupron and develop symptoms such as blood in the urine, blurred vision, or difficulty breathing.
An Introduction to Lupron Side Effects
Just like any medicine, Lupron® (leuprolide acetate) can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are treated easily by you or your healthcare provider.(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Lupron. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
Common Side Effects of Lupron
Lupron has been studied extensively in clinical trials involving adults and children. In these studies, the side effects that occurred in a group of people using Lupron were carefully documented.In these studies, common Lupron side effects in adults included:
- Hot flashes -- in up to 56.1 percent of people
- General body pain -- up to 13.3 percent
- Swelling in the arms, hands, legs, or feet (edema) -- up to 12.2 percent
- Lack of energy -- up to 10.2 percent
- High blood pressure (hypertension) -- up to 8.2 percent
- Headaches -- up to 7.1 percent
- Insomnia -- up to 7.1 percent
- Constipation -- up to 7.1 percent
- Decreased testicle size -- up to 7.1 percent
- Breast tenderness, pain, or enlargement -- up to 7.1 percent.
Other common side effects, occurring in 1 to 6 percent of people, included:
- Decreased appetite
- Feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bone pain
- Dizziness
- Sinus congestion
- Skin irritation, such as red or itchy skin
- Impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Muscle pain
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Change in taste
- Memory problems.
Common side effects in children included:
- Skin reactions at the injection site, such as burning, itching, redness, or swelling -- in up to 8.8 percent of children
- Excessive emotional reactions and frequent mood changes (mood lability) -- up to 4.5 percent
- Vaginal discharge or bleeding -- up to 3.1 percent
- Acne or flaky skin -- up to 3.1 percent
- A rash -- up to 2.9 percent
- General body pain -- up to 2.9 percent
- Headaches -- up to 2.6 percent
- Widening of the blood vessels, which could cause flushing (sudden warmth and reddening of the face and neck) -- up to 2.1 percent.