Does Lupron cause weight gain?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Lupron cause weight gain?
Yes, Lupron does cause weight gain. This side effect is a little common with this medication as many people have reported it. Some gained a little amount of weight, just 3 to 5 lbs, whereas some people have gained a tremendous amount of weight on Lupron.
This hormonal therapy can generate different responses when different people start to take this medication. Weight gain associated with Lupron is found more common in women as compared to men. Some rare cases have also reported weight loss.
If you’re gaining weight rapidly on Lupron, immediately consult your healthcare provider. Discuss the safety and efficacy of this hormonal therapy for long-term use.
Why does Lupron cause weight gain?
Lupron, being a hormonal therapy, can make you gain weight in a number of ways. These include:
- Unusual eating behaviour
- High blood glucose levels
- Fluid retention
Unusual eating behaviour
Lupron, as it is a hormone-based medication, is bound to cause some behavioural problems. People who take this medication may begin to act differently because of the unusual levels of hormones in their bodies. This can not affect mood, but can also affect your appetite.
People, especially women, feel a significant change in their appetite and they begin to feel hungry literally all the time. This hunger makes them take way more calories than their bodies actually require for normal physiological functioning.
It is a known fact that when you begin to eat more, your body starts to store the unused calories as fat (1). This makes you gain weight.
High blood glucose levels
Lupron can cause your blood sugar levels to go high. This can significantly contribute to your weight gain. Some people may get away with mild and negligible changes, whereas it can significantly affect others.
This can not only cause weight gain but can also make it difficult for you to lose it. It can also increase the risk of diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder associated with a number of complications of its own.
Fluid retention
Lupron can cause fluid retention, especially in women (2). This fluid retention can make you heavier on the scale. However, this type of weight gain is temporary as you begin to lose it as soon as the excess fluid is eliminated from your body. However, if persistent, this side effect can cause edema and other physiological complications.
What to do if Lupron makes you gain weight?
There are a few things you can do if Lupron makes you gain weight. These include:
Talk to your doctor
Talking to your doctor should be the first thing you do. You should walk your doctor through all of the side effects you have been experiencing lately and should discuss the future use of this medication.
If you continue to gain weight on this medication, your doctor may give you another medication to support your weight or may switch you to another medication.
Cut back on table salt
It is best to consume less amount of salt while you’re being treated with Lupron. This is because Lupron is associated with water retention and it could contribute to weight gain by this medication.
If you continue to use higher amounts of salt, your body will increase the rate of reabsorption of water from your kidneys and this can make your body retain more water. This is why it is recommended to limit your salt intake, just in case.
Cut back on sugar
The most important thing to do while you suffer from Lupron-induced weight gain is to cut back on sugar. This is because Lupron can also increase the level of glucose in your body which can cause a number of other complications for you. This is why it’s best to cut back on sugar when you’re being treated with Lupron.
Do some exercise
Exercise is the most important addition to your routine if you wish to lose weight. Make sure you work out at least 3-4 times a week. It can not only help you lose weight but can also help you with depression as exercise is known to release happy chemicals in your brain.
Don’t choose unhealthy foods when Lupron makes you hungry
When Lupron increases your appetite, the best way to deal with it is to choose good and healthy foods to satisfy your hunger. This way you can eat as much as you want without gaining a significant amount of weight.
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References
1.-
Taşcilar ME, Bilir P, Akinci A, Köse K, Akçora D, Inceoğlu D, Fitöz SO. The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment (leuprolide) on body fat distribution in idiopathic central precocious puberty. Turk J Pediatr. 2011 Jan-Feb;53(1):27-33. PMID: 21534336. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21534336/
2.-
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012–. Leuprolide. 2018 Mar 22. PMID: 31643987. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548676/
