Lupron Depot

Even though your menstrual periods stop while you are taking Lupron, there is still a chance you could become pregnant and you should take birth control measures. Use condoms or diaphragms rather than hormonal methods such as birth control pills or Norplant, because hormones will interfere with Lupron treatment.

Notify your doctor if you continue to have a menstrual period. If you miss successive doses of Lupron you may have some bleeding.

Treatment with Lupron can cause an irreversible weakening of the bones (osteoporosis). No more than one course of therapy is recommended for women who develop this problem or who are at risk of bone loss. Adding norethindrone to the treatment regimen reduces bone loss, but increases the risk of other side effects such as clotting problems and fluid retention. If norethindrone is part of your regimen, your doctor will be on the alert for inflamed veins (thrombophlebitis) and other signs of clotting disorders. Norethindrone should be used with caution if you have heart-disease risk factors such as high cholesterol or cigarette smoking. The doctor should also monitor you carefully if you have kidney disease, asthma, epilepsy, or other conditions that might be aggravated by fluid retention. Norethindrone may cause depression, and should be discontinued if severe depression occurs. The drug should also be discontinued if you develop vision problems or migraine headaches.

Lupron therapy for endometriosis has not been studied in women under 18 years of age, nor is the product recommended for women over 65.

MEN

Men taking Lupron for prostate cancer may find that their symptoms get worse, or that new symptoms appear, during the first few weeks of treatment. If this happens, let your doctor know immediately. Bone pain may increase temporarily, and in rare cases a blockage in the urinary tract or pressure on the spinal cord may appear. If you already have problems in the spine or urinary tract, the doctor will start Lupron therapy with caution.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Lupron Depot

If Lupron is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Lupron with any type of hormones, such as birth control pills.

No interactions are likely in men.