Leuprolide acetate, the suspension form of Lupron Depot, is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone that binds to receptor cells. It works by lowering the levels of certain hormones produced by your testes or ovaries. The decrease of these hormones prevents the growth of certain tumors that require the hormones to grow. Additionally, leuprolide acetate can treat some gynecological disorders and early puberty in children.
Administration
Doctors give leuprolide acetate as an injection under the skin or into your muscle. The exact therapy depends on the specific condition that you want to treat. Doctors administer leuprolide acetate daily, monthly or every three to four months. Additionally, doctors can prescribe a once yearly implant of leuprolide acetate. Because of the long-acting nature of this medication, take the medication at the designated intervals for the medication to function properly. Should you miss a dose, make up the missed dose as soon as possible.
Side Effects
A large number of patients who take leuprolide acetate will experience side effects from the use of this medication. Most side effects will discontinue once you stop treatment. The most common side effects associated with the use of leuprolide acetate include hot flashes, decreased libido and impotence. According to "BRS Pharmacology," these side effects occur in more than 30 percent of patients who take leuprolide acetate. Less common side effects that occur in approximately 10 to 29 percent of the patients include depression, sweating, breast pain, increased bone pain, urinary retention, blood test abnormalities and weakness.
For Women
Doctors prescribe leuprolide acetate to women for severe endometriosis, abnormally heavy periods, or menorrhagia, and breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers. Additionally, doctors prescribe this drug to women receiving in vitro fertilization to control ovarian stimulation. The medication works in two different phases. In the first phase, the drug stimulates the ovaries to produce more estradiol, the strongest estrogen produced by women. In the second phase, estrogen levels drop because messenger hormones that instruct the ovaries to produce estrogen decline significantly.
For Men
In men, leuprolide acetate works by instructing the pituitary gland to stop producing luteinizing hormones. This stimulates your testicles to release testosterone. The medication does not have a direct effect on cancers. The reduced amount of testosterone, however, impedes cell growth in testosterone dependent cancer cells. Specifically, doctors use leuprolide acetate to treat prostate cancer because prostate cancer cells require testosterone to grow and reproduce.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Leuprolide Acetate; February 2009
- Lupron Depot: Use and Important Safety Information
- Lupron Depot: Prescribing Information
- "BRS Pharmacology"; Gary C. Rosenfeld and David S. Loose; 2009
