Triptodur (triptorelin) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat central precocious puberty. Triptodur can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include infection and injection site reaction.

Triptodur helps treat central precocious puberty (CPP) in certain children.

The active ingredient in Triptodur is triptorelin. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes as a liquid suspension (a type of liquid mixture) that a healthcare professional gives as an injection into a muscle.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Triptodur can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Some children may experience mild to serious side effects during their Triptodur treatment. A few examples of Triptodur’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • injection site reactions, such as pain and itchiness
  • infections, such as ear, sinus, and stomach infections
  • headache
  • cough
  • worsening symptoms of puberty* during the first weeks of treatment

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Examples of mild side effects that people receiving Triptodur have reported include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Usually, these side effects are temporary. And some may be easily manageable. But if your child has any ongoing or bothersome symptoms, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop Triptodur treatment unless your child’s doctor recommends it.

Triptodur may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect your child has had with Triptodur, visit MedWatch.

It’s possible to have serious side effects with Triptodur. Serious side effects of Triptodur are listed below. Many of these weren’t reported in studies of the drug. Instead, they were reported after the drug became available on the market. It’s unclear how often these side effects happened or whether Triptodur was the cause.

Serious side effects that Triptodur may cause include:

If your child develops serious side effects while receiving Triptodur, call their doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think your child is having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

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Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Triptodur’s side effects.

Does Triptodur cause any long-term side effects?

Studies of Triptodur didn’t report long-term side effects. Reported side effects usually lasted for a few weeks after starting treatment.

Some children may have certain side effects after each dose of Triptodur. This happens because specific hormone levels rise quickly after receiving a dose of the medication. After a few weeks, hormone levels should drop, and side effects should go away.

Studies didn’t report any side effects occurring after stopping Triptodur. But since the drug is used to delay puberty, once the treatment ends, puberty will likely start again for your child.

If you’re concerned about Triptodur causing long-term side effects, talk with your child’s doctor. They can recommend ways to manage any side effects of Triptodur that your child may develop. Depending on the severity and type of side effect your child has, your child’s doctor may stop prescribing Triptodur.

Can Triptodur cause weight gain?

No, weight gain wasn’t a reported side effect of Triptodur in studies. But other drugs similar to Triptodur can cause weight gain. For example, Supprelin LA is another medication that doctors prescribe for central precocious puberty. Unlike Triptodur, it can cause weight gain.

In a study, researchers reported weight gain in females* taking drugs similar to Triptodur. But weight gain stopped after a year.

If you have concerns about Triptodur and weight gain, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Learn more about some of the side effects Triptodur may cause.

Anxiety and other mental health problems

Children may develop mild or severe anxiety when receiving Triptodur. Symptoms of anxiety include:

  • nervousness
  • feeling worried
  • insomnia (trouble sleeping)
  • restlessness
  • rapid heart rate
  • rapid breathing

If your child has other mental health problems, symptoms of their condition may worsen during Triptodur treatment. Examples of these symptoms include:

What might help

If your child has anxiety or other mental health conditions, tell their doctor before starting Triptodur treatment. They can let you know whether Triptodur is safe for your child to receive.

If you notice your child having any new or worsening symptoms of anxiety or other mental health problems, tell your child’s doctor right away. During follow-up appointments, they’ll check for changes in your child’s mental health. Depending on the severity of your child’s condition, the doctor may change their treatment.

For information about how to recognize anxiety in a child and treatments for this condition, see this article.

Changes in mood

Changes in mood can occur with Triptodur. Depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors are rare side effects of Triptodur. If your child has a mood disorder, they may have a higher risk of changes in mood while receiving Triptodur.

Symptoms of mood changes include:

What might help

Tell your child’s doctor if your child has any mood disorders. If your child’s mood changes after starting Triptodur treatment, let their doctor know. They can tell you whether treatment with Triptodur is still safe for your child. Or they may suggest a medication other than Triptodur for treating central precocious puberty.

For information about how to recognize depression in a child and treatments for this condition, see this article.

Worsening symptoms of puberty

Due to the changes in hormone levels that occur when first starting Triptodur treatment, your child’s symptoms of puberty may worsen after each dose. For example, females* may have more vaginal bleeding. In studies of Triptodur, this was a commonly reported side effect.

* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

What might help

Worsening symptoms of puberty that may occur when starting Triptodur treatment usually resolve on their own over time. Once hormone levels drop a few weeks after the injection, puberty symptoms should disappear.

But if your child’s symptoms continue beyond 2 months after receiving a dose of Triptodur, contact your child’s doctor.

Pseudotumor cerebri

Triptodur and similar drugs can cause a severe side effect called pseudotumor cerebri. Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition that has the same symptoms as a brain tumor but without the tumor.

Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include:

These symptoms are likely due to increased pressure inside the brain.

What might help

If your child has any symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri, make sure to tell their doctor. During follow-up appointments, your child’s doctor will check your child for signs and symptoms of this condition. If your child has pseudotumor cerebri, their doctor will likely recommend stopping Triptodur treatment.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Triptodur can cause an allergic reaction in some children.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • hives
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under the skin, usually in the eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to Triptodur can include:

What might help

If your child has mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your child’s doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your child’s symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine your child takes by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you or your child applies to their skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your child’s doctor confirms that your child has had a mild allergic reaction to Triptodur, they’ll decide whether your child should continue receiving it.

If your child has symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your child’s doctor confirms that your child has had a serious allergic reaction to Triptodur, they may suggest a different treatment instead of Triptodur.

Keeping track of side effects

During your child’s Triptodur treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects they’re having. You can then share this information with their doctor. This is especially helpful when your child first starts taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug your child was taking when they had the side effect
  • how soon your child had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your child’s symptoms were
  • how it affected your child’s daily activities
  • what other medications your child was taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your child’s doctor will help them learn more about how Triptodur affects your child. They can then use this information to adjust your child’s treatment plan if needed.

Triptodur may not be right for your child if they have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether Triptodur is a good treatment option for your child.

Discuss your child’s health history with their doctor before they start Triptodur treatment. Factors to consider include those described below.

Mental health problems. Children taking drugs such as Triptodur may develop mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, or mood changes. If your child has mental health problems, Triptodur may worsen them. Your child’s doctor will monitor them for any worsening mental health symptoms.

Allergic reaction. If your child has had an allergic reaction to Triptodur or any of its ingredients, their doctor will likely not prescribe it for them. Ask them about other medications that might be better options for your child.

Seizures or brain conditions. Children who have seizure disorders such as epilepsy may have a higher risk of convulsions with Triptodur. Certain brain conditions, such as brain tumors, can also increase the risk of convulsions in children receiving Triptodur. If your child has a seizure disorder or brain condition, tell their doctor. This will help them determine whether Triptodur is safe for your child.

Liver or kidney problems. In adults with liver or kidney problems, Triptodur can build up in the blood. This can increase the risk of side effects. It is unclear whether this same effect can occur in children. If your child has a history of liver or kidney problems, talk with their doctor before they start Triptodur treatment. The doctor will discuss with you whether Triptodur is a good treatment option for your child.

Alcohol and Triptodur

While some medications interact with alcohol, Triptodur isn’t one of them. But if your child takes medications or uses products that contain alcohol, talk with their doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you whether your child can still use these products safely with Triptodur.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while receiving Triptodur

Triptodur is not safe to receive during pregnancy. The rise in hormones that occurs with Triptodur can increase the risk of pregnancy loss. If your child becomes pregnant while receiving Triptodur, contact their doctor right away.

It’s uncertain whether Triptodur can pass into breast milk or what effect it might have on infants breastfed by someone taking the drug. If your child is breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with their doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Triptodur during this time.

Mild side effects of Triptodur are common. But these usually only last for a few weeks after starting treatment. Some children may have short-term side effects after every dose.

For more information about Triptodur’s side effects, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist. Here are a few questions you may want to ask:

  • If my child has a headache after a Triptodur injection, how will I know whether they may have pseudotumor cerebri?
  • How can I prevent my child from getting infections while receiving Triptodur?
  • How does Triptodur affect my child’s chances of getting pregnant in the future?
  • How will Triptodur treatment affect my child’s growth?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.