Care Gateway

Health Guide

	Health Encyclopedia
	Lab Tests

Drug Guide

	DrugNotes
	Spanish DrugNotes
	Detailed Drug Information
	Alternative Medicine

Leuprolide (Intramuscular route, subcutaneous route, intradermal route, injection route)

Pronunciation:

loo-PROE-lide

Brand Names:

Eligard
Lupron
Lupron Depot
Lupron Depot-Ped
Viadur

Dosage Forms:

Powder for Solution
Solution
Powder for Suspension, 1 Month
Powder for Suspension, 3 Month
Powder for Suspension
Powder for Suspension, 4 Month
Kit
Powder for Suspension, 6 Month

Classifications:

Therapeutic—

Endocrine-Metabolic Agent

Pharmacologic—

Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Agonist

Uses of This Medicine:

Leuprolide may be used for a number of different medical problems. These include treatment of:

anemia caused by bleeding of uterine leiomyomas (tumors in the uterus);
cancer of the prostate gland in men;
central precocious puberty (CPP), a condition that causes early puberty in boys (before 9 years of age) and in girls (before 8 years of age);
pain due to endometriosis in women.

Leuprolide is similar to a hormone normally released from the hypothalamus gland.

When given regularly to men and boys, leuprolide decreases testosterone levels. Reducing the amount of testosterone in the body is one way of treating cancer of the prostate.

When given regularly to women and girls, leuprolide decreases estrogen levels. Reducing the amount of estrogen in the body is one way of treating endometriosis. By shrinking tumors in the uterus, leuprolide helps stop anemia by decreasing the vaginal bleeding from these tumors. Iron supplements should be used to help treat the anemia.

When given to boys and girls experiencing early puberty, leuprolide slows down the development of the genital areas in both sexes and breast development in girls. This medicine delays puberty in a child only as long as the child continues to receive it.

Suppressing estrogen can cause thinning of the bones or slowing of their growth. This is a problem for adult women whose bones are no longer growing like the bones of children. Slowing the growth of bones is a positive effect in girls and boys whose bones grow too fast when puberty begins too early. Boys and girls may benefit by adding inches to their adult height when leuprolide helps their bones grow at the proper and expected rate for children.

Leuprolide is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, leuprolide is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:

Cancer of the breast

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Leuprolide will stop having an effect on a child treated for central precocious puberty soon after the child stops using it, and puberty will advance normally. It is not known if using leuprolide around the time of puberty causes changes in boys' and girls' future abilities to have babies. Their chances of having children later are thought to be normal. It is especially important that you discuss with the child's doctor the good that this medicine may do as well as the risks of using it.

Older adults—

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of leuprolide in the elderly to use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Pregnancy—

Pregnancy Category Explanation
All Trimesters X Studies in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. This drug should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant because the risk clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

Breast-feeding—

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Other medicines—

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems—

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Changes in vaginal bleeding from an unknown cause (for use for endometriosis or anemia due to tumors of the uterus)—Leuprolide may delay diagnosis or worsen condition. The reason for the bleeding should be determined before leuprolide is used

Conditions that increase the chances of developing thinning bones or
Osteoporosis (brittle bones), history of, or family history of—It is important that your doctor know if you already have an increased risk of osteoporosis. Some things that can increase your risk for having osteoporosis include cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and a family history of osteoporosis or easily broken bones. Some medicines, such as corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines) or anticonvulsants (seizure medicine), can also cause thinning of the bones when used for a long time

Nerve problems caused by bone lesions in spine (for use for cancer of the prostate) and
Problems in passing urine (for use for cancer of the prostate)—Conditions may get worse for a short time after leuprolide treatment is started

Proper Use of This Medicine:

Leuprolide comes with patient directions. Read these instructions carefully .

Use the syringes provided in the kit. Other syringes may not provide the correct dose. These disposable syringes and needles are already sterilized and are designed to be used one time only and then discarded. If you have any questions about the use of disposable syringes, check with your health care professional.

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more or less of it, and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. The exact amount of medicine you need has been carefully worked out. Using too much may increase the chance of side effects, while using too little may not improve your condition.

For adult patients receiving leuprolide for anemia caused by tumors of the uterus or for endometriosis :

Leuprolide sometimes causes unwanted effects such as hot flashes or decreased interest in sex. It may also cause a temporary increase in pain when you first begin to use it. However, it is very important that you continue to use the medicine, even after you begin to feel better. Do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor.

For adult patients receiving leuprolide for cancer of the prostate:

Leuprolide sometimes causes unwanted effects such as hot flashes or decreased sexual ability. It may also cause a temporary increase in pain or difficulty in urinating, as well as temporary numbness or tingling of hands or feet or weakness when you first begin to use it. However, it is very important that you continue to use the medicine, even after you begin to feel better. Do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor.

Dosing—

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For short-acting (daily) injection dosage forms:
- For cancer of the prostate:
  - Adults—1 milligram (mg) injected under the skin once a day.
- For central precocious puberty:
  - Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. It is injected under the skin once a day. The dose should be changed over time as weight changes.

For long-acting (1-month) injection dosage forms:
- For anemia caused by tumors of the uterus:
  - Adults—3.75 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle once a month for up to three months.
- For cancer of the prostate:
  - Adults—7.5 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or under the skin (depending on the specific product used) once a month.
- For central precocious puberty:
  - Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by the doctor. It is injected into a muscle once a month. The dose should be changed over time as weight changes.
- For endometriosis:
  - Adults—3.75 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle once a month for up to six months.

For long-acting (3-month) injection dosage forms:
- For anemia caused by tumors of the uterus:
  - Adults—11.25 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle as a single injection to last for three months.
- For cancer of the prostate:
  - Adults—22.5 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or under the skin (depending on the specific product used) once every three months.
- For endometriosis:
  - Adults—11.25 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle once every three months for up to six months.

For long-acting (4-month) injection dosage form:
- For cancer of the prostate:
  - Adults—30 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle or under the skin (depending on the specific product used) once every four months.

For long-acting (12-month) implant dosage form:
- For cancer of the prostate:
  - Adults—one implant every 12 months.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Dispose of used syringes properly in the container provided.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

For patients receiving leuprolide for endometriosis or for anemia caused by tumors of the uterus :

During the time you are receiving leuprolide, your menstrual period may not be regular or you may not have a menstrual period at all. This is to be expected when being treated with this medicine. If regular menstruation does not begin within 60 to 90 days after you stop receiving this medicine, check with your doctor.
During the time you are receiving leuprolide, you should use birth control methods that do not contain hormones. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
If you suspect you may have become pregnant, stop using this medicine and check with your doctor. There is a chance that continued use of leuprolide during pregnancy could cause birth defects or a miscarriage.

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

For adults

For males only (adults)

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

For females only (adults)

For children

For females only (children)—expected in first few weeks

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For adults

For females only (adults)

For males only (adults)

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Last Updated: 7/4/2008