Anyone using LUPRON Injections to help PCOS?

Ibelong2hoss · 07-04-2006, 06:36 AM

Hi!
This is my first post. I am 30, married to wonderful man who supports me, and been a PCOS survivor (yes, survivor I believe anyone with this disorder is a survivor). I was dxed in 2001. Seen over 20 specialists in 6 different states, and now I am trying a new method to help with the pain. I have sort of come to terms with the fact that having children naturally is out of the question, we don't have all the money in the world to do clomid and such. Quite frankly, I find the emotional roller coaster of trying to get pregnant not something I want to do. We have decided to foster children, and to adopt sibling groups to have kids.

So my next step, was to try to deal with the everyday symptoms so that I could be the best Mom I could be. I found a Doctor who decided to try a Lupron Injection to control the hormones. It is used widely in cases of endometriosis but, I found few PCOS patients who have tried it. (Very expensive at $600 a shot every 2 months). Have any of you heard of this? I would welcome some feedback.

Thanks!!!!!!!
Sara

guineapig · 07-06-2006, 02:22 AM

I'm bumping b/c I'm also curious about this...if you take away the brain signals to ovary (which is basically what Lupron does in a nutshell), will free-floating excess insulin still make ovary go wild?

onyo · 06-04-2007, 04:58 PM

Hi Sara,

Since im in a similar situation to yours...i went to a new doctor yesterday who wants to give me the 3 month Lupron injection to regulate my hormones. I don't have endo, just pcos and im the thin type. Can u plz update me with your situation? did u go for it? did it help with your hormones? did u suffer any problems due to taking that injection? im afraid that it cud trigger my pcos to get worse...like get acne or gain lots of weight. I hope that things have worked well for u...
thanks
Onyo

Danger Kitty · 06-04-2007, 08:52 PM

Hi, Onyo,

I'm at a loss as to why Lupron would even be suggested to "treat" PCOS. Taking Lupron shuts down your endocrine system, as least as far as the reproductive portion is concerned. That is, it will induce a menopausal state. Complete with all of the issues associated with menopause - hot flashes, bone loss, etc., if taken over a prolonged period or time.

Lupron is useful in shrinking fibroids (but as soon as you stop taking it, the fibroids will start growing again), and is used as part of the "supression" phase in IVF to prevent premature ovulation before egg retrieval, and, as the OP noted, to treat endometriosis, but it doesn't address the fundamental issues with PCOS.

If you're not already on it, metformin (or actos) would be a better bet to pull any blood sugar / insulin / androgen issues into line (along with diet and exercise - EVEN IF YOU'RE THIN!!). If you can tolerate them, bcps can also help with the symptoms, although they don't address the underlying disease. This would be particularly helpful for those who are not TTCing.

hth,

DK

onyo · 06-05-2007, 07:16 AM

Hi Danger Kitty,

Thank u for your reply.
When I asked the doctor about any side effects he only mentioned the hot flashes...is that because he is planning to give me just one shot? Even though i don't have endo, but i do have a fibroid, so maybe it will benefit me in that part. Im still worried about shutting down the endocrine system...but i wish the metformin worked for me. The metformin only worked for me the first month i took it, when i woz still working towards the 1500 mgs, my facial hair decreased and no more occasional cystic acne and most important AF arrived. After that it just made me soooo skinny and facial hair resumed its speed of growth plus no AF at all. Th worst part woz my zero energy which really affected my life including the sex drive...even though i woz taking loads of vitamins including a super B complex.
What this new doctor wants to do..he asked for my blood tests again. To check my LH which woz really high (19) when i checked it a few months ago. He is also checking the rest (prolactin, testoterone, T4, T3...)
He told me that if the LH is still high, then he will prescribe the Lupron coz its the only way to lower the hormone in a short period of time. So after that we can try ovulation induction. He also mentioned that metformin is a good idea for me, but he said that 1500mgs woz way too much since im a thin cyster...he said it shud only be 500mgs in my case. He also rescribed me a weekly B12 vitamin shot (i don't know what its related to) but i didn't mind since i do need it in many ways. Meanwhile he insisted that i stop all the vitamins im taking and take only 500 mgs folic acid.
This is really very confusing...i wish i knew what is the best to be done. I have been searching to find a doctor who will concentrate with me...as i discovered that being a thin cyster is really a mystery to solve.

Danger Kitty · 06-05-2007, 07:37 PM

Onyo,

{{hugs}}. Hope you get this sorted soon.

DK