How long do Lupron side effects last after treatment concludes?

@dillon5520
There are solutions for the hot flashes. My oncologist prescribed a depo-provera Shot every three months and it stopped my hot flashes almost completely. I was getting really severe ones multiple times a day and they would start off with a lot of fatigue and then the hot flash.

Some people have found that Acupuncture actually works to stop the hot flashes and it has to be done a few times before it becomes effective.

One of the Mayo doctors posted this information on drugs you can take to stop the hot flashes. Oxybutynin is included in the list and I’ve heard from people that have been using it and found it to be very helpful. Gabapentin has helped some people, but I’ve been on a lot of it for many years and don’t find it helps at all. Different people have different results.

Another thing you can do is get estradiol patches. You only need one patch and you can try different strengths, but it’s supposed to make a major difference in hot flashes.

I immediately began having a side effect apparently no one else ever experienced. Every single time a hot flash was about to come on I first experienced leg pain from the knees down lasted 3-4 minutes when gone the hot flash came on. Happened 10-15 times a day and night. I spoke to several Dr about this no one had anything to say. After one year of full dose of lupron every 6 months we tried half dose every 3 months the number of time reduced slightly did not go away. Did that for year 2 then switched to Rugolix pill for the year 3. Finished that in December. Still experiencing the leg pain 10-15 times day and night. The other side effect was insomnia pulmanary Dr tried 5 different sleep pills none of which offered any relief. Average sleep time now is 2.7 hours a night not continuous. I fear this is a way of life for me now.

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!!