Investigation into Lupron Side Effects (Leuprolide Acetate)

I started Lupron in August of 2011 at the age of 49. I had previously been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer and was unable to take tamoxifin due to a history of a TIA. The first month I started Lupron, I noticed that I had an abundance of energy, a decrease of appetite, and trouble sleeping. About 1 week after my third month's shot, I lost my appetite completely and was only able to sleep for very short periods, if at all. I felt like I was "jumping out of my skin". I lost 10 pounds in a short period of time. My oncologist prescribed anti-anxiety and anti depressant medication to help me. He also recommended counseling and a psychiatric evaluation to rule out bipolar disorder or another mental health issue, despite my insistence that neither were the issue. The symptoms continued to the point where I felt the need to drive myself to the emergency room one night just to get something more to calm me. My thoughts had become scrambled to the point where I had difficulty functioning in my day-to-day activity. It felt as though I was on amphetamines. I was prescribed more anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs at the ER which helped minimally. The ER doctor also recommended counseling, despite my insistence that the only stress in my life at that point was the anti-estrogen treatment. By the end of the month, my symptoms had worn off and I discontinued all my medications, including the Lupron. My onocologist continued to think it was a "mental health issue" related to estrogen withdrawal. For this reason he was hesitant to recommend having my ovaries removed, as he felt a surgical menopause would be even worse for me. This was difficult for me as anti-estrogen treatment had been recommended to help prevent reccurence of my breast cancer. Fortunately, my oncologist encouraged me to seek a second opinion. The second opinion was from a doctor who was both a psychiatrist and breast oncologist. He felt, based on my symptoms, the Lupron had affected the hypothalamus of my brain causing hypomania. He recommended that my ovaries be removed, which I have since done. It has only been two weeks since having my ovaries removed, but the side effects that were so debilitating for me while on Lupron have not re-emerged. While I know it is still early, I am writing to say that there needs to be more information given to doctors about the possible side effects of this drug. That way, when a patient complains, they will be more informed.

I am 8 weeks into 3 month shot. I cannot stand.sit. without lightheaded. I have neuropathy.urinary issues. Autonomic dysfunction. I feel like I am going to die. DO NOT take this shot. I am 34 yrs old with 2 children I cannot care for now. THIS SHOT should not be given to anyone! Feel free to email me for reference I feel like I'm going to die....!belinda82877@gmail.com

To start suffering in your teens and twenties as my sister and I have is not right. Our suffering could last 80 years. Would you want to live that much of your life in pain that could have been avoided? Long term side effects must be known