How long do Lupron side effects last after treatment concludes?

As the ADT left my system and my testosterone levels returned to normal, the few side-effects that I did experience - warm flashes, zero libido, & muscle atrophy - all subsided.

I recall telling my wife that I thought the Eligard was wearing off because I was beginning to lift heavier weights at the gym. Since I wasn’t due for another “official” PSA test for another couple of months, I self-ordered another PSA & testosterone test, and those came back as 0.13 & 403.0, respectively, showing everything was going exactly as expected - that is, PSA staying low and testosterone increasing as the ADT was leaving my system. The muscles and strength all slowly returned.

My brother had a six-month Lupron shot When he had SBRT radiation. It took almost a year before things went back to normal. He was 77. Hot flashes lasted about nine months after the shot’s Give it five more minutes

The heroe study showed that testosterone comes back after about five months. A lot of it depends on age.

Here’s a link to the study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2588931123002900

As your testosterone level returns to normal, you will have increased sexual interest.

Lupron effects including the ones you mention are due to its suppression of testosterone. You can expect to have those effects until your testosterone returns which usually takes 6 months and can be up to a year AFTER the expiration of the shot. In effect you are still on Lupron and in the process of getting off and will be for many months.

What side effects (mental emotional and physical) to expect after going off a 6 month Lupron shot? Have been off for 1 month and feel mood swings, fatigue and hot flashes.

I was diagnosed 4+4 Gleason "high risk, aggressive" PC beginning to escape the envelope at the vas deferns. PET scan showed no LN involvement. Started 3month shots of 22.5 Lupron depot in 2024. I was 77 with PSA rising quickly and 254T. Muscles, joints, libido all good. Within 3 wks PSA was 0.16 and T undetectable. Libido? Zero. It was actually a relief not to feel like I had to chase my wife constantly. I could live with her like a lovely friend.
Last of 6 shots effect was to end 12/21/25. PSA 0.15. T Undetectable.
Things worse at least for now: muscle pain, balance, eyesight, mood swings, blood clot in leg, fatigue, shortness of breath. Hot flashes increased but they never were a difficulty for me.

I had been active with farm work and resistance training until the last 5 weeks and stopping may have made physical condition worse.
In addition to Lupron, I had HDR (hidose radiation) and 26 days of LDR (low dose Proton radiation.)

It is encouraging to hear that you were able to exercise. For me it is difficult as the stiffness and aching of joints and muscles becomes more intense with exercise. But I am encouraged to hear of your progress and outcome of recovery from the side effects.

Great, so now you have seen what the very experienced members of the forum have advised and you’ve stated that you had no surgery.
You had a Gleason 5+4 which is considered high risk (5+5 being the highest) and had radiation for it. Did you have a Decipher Test, which gives you an idea of the cancer’s ability to spread? Did you have a PSMA PET scan to show any spread outside the prostate?
These are very important things to know before you can determine what treatment you require. Your RO saying you need yo be on ADT for 18 months sounds reasonable - you have a very high grade cancer and it needs more ADT to weaken it. But you also may require additional meds - as others have had - to really hit this thing hard.
You might want to also consult with a medical oncologist in order to see if there are additional steps you should be taking NOW.
If you have been having trouble getting answers or finding a team to coordinate the best treatment for YOUR cancer, I will go back to what I said a few posts ago. Get away from your urologist - useless at this point. Locate a major cancer facility near you, ask for a consult and have copies of your records sent there. They may perform additional tests and scans which you haven’t had.
I will sum up by saying that prostate cancer is NOT simple; Gleason 5+4 is VERY serious; and you are NEVER DONE with this disease.
But remember that others in your situation have lived for decades with this and you can too!!

I was diagnosed in 2015. However, I stumbled across a 2010 occupational physical PSA result of 0.64. I know, most of you are laughing right now. Unfortunately, with my cancer this is a significant number. Over the past 10 years, my highest PSA has been 4.2 with the majority of my results below 1. Looking back, I realized that I started having ED symptoms in 2011.

I have had prostatectomy, radiation of the prostate bed, two sessions of chemotherapy, tumor ablations, Pluvicto treatment, Xtandi treatment, and currently on Vitrakvi. All of this time I have been on ADT.

I post this with two intentions. First, please take your PSA results as an indication of PCA activity and have your doctor explain it until you understand it. Second, have faith that you can beat this beast! Family, friends, and a medical team you believe in are extremely important. In my case, PRAYER has been very important to me. I pray you find strength to persevere.

"It’s all just really complicated.."

Yes, good news, yet, it means there is a plethora of choices. It can lead to "paralysis by analysis."

Do your homework, have discussions with your medical team, when they "recommend" a treatment, they need to explain why they chose that over other options given your clinical data.

Rules for me...

Don’t Walk In Cold to an Appointment. To make sure I do the best thing for my individual prostate cancer, I need to educate myself.

Knowledge will empower my BS detector. When my medical team told me ADT is what I need and did not want to talk about imaging and combining other therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy, I didn’t just have to accept their advice on faith.

I walk in the door ready to start the conversation at a different level. I don’t have to spend time talking about the basics, things like Gleason grade and clinical stage and what they mean. I already know. I can have an intelligent discussion about the merits of a particularly treatment for my cancer, my likelihood of being cured, and risk of side effects.

Kevin