Key takeaways

  • Lupron Depot is a brand-name intramuscular injection (an injection given into the muscle).
  • It’s prescribed for advanced prostate cancer and other hormone-related conditions, such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and central precocious puberty (in children).
  • Drug dosages and side effects may vary depending on the condition the drug is being used to treat.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lupron Depot for the following uses:

  • as treatment of advanced prostate cancer in males
  • to relieve pain associated with endometriosis and to reduce the size of lesions (uterine tissue that forms outside the uterus) from this condition in females
  • to reduce the size of uterine fibroids, which helps relieve bleeding and pelvic pain or pressure in females

Another form of the drug, Lupron Depot-Ped, is approved to treat central precocious puberty in children.

The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.

Drug details

You’ll find key information about Lupron Depot here:

  • Drug class: gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists
  • Drug form: intramuscular injection
  • Generic available? no
  • Prescription required? yes
  • Controlled substance? no

What’s Lupron Depot-Ped?

Lupron Depot-Ped is a brand-name prescription medication that’s used to treat central precocious puberty in children. With this condition, children begin their sexual development earlier than usual.

Lupron Depot-Ped contains the active drug leuprolide acetate (the same as Lupron Depot). By blocking the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone, Lupron Depot-Ped delays puberty while it’s being given.

Although Lupron Depot-Ped and Lupron Depot contain the same active drug, they treat different conditions. This article will discuss both Lupron Depot-Ped and Lupron Depot.

Lupron Depot is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

Lupron Depot can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Lupron Depot. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while receiving Lupron Depot and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Lupron Depot. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Lupron Depot’s prescribing information here or here.

The mild side effects of Lupron Depot can include:

  • body pain
  • nausea
  • sweating
  • acne
  • reduced sex drive
  • depression or other emotional changes, such as anxiety
  • trouble urinating
  • abdominal pain
  • joint pain
  • muscle pain

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Lupron Depot aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects can include:

  • tumor flare with prostate cancer
  • estrogen spike with endometriosis
  • high blood sugar that may lead to new or worsening type 2 diabetes
  • loss of bone density, if Lupron Depot is taken long term.
  • convulsions (violent shaking, seizures).
  • problems with your heart’s electrical activity, such as long QT syndrome
  • cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack, sudden death, or stroke

Side effects in children

The most common side effects seen in children who took Lupron Depot-Ped for central precocious puberty include:

  • injection site reactions like pain, swelling, and infection
  • weight gain
  • pain throughout the body
  • acne
  • itchy rash
  • scales on the skin
  • mood changes
  • swelling of the vagina, vaginal bleeding, or vaginal discharge
Allergic reaction

For some people, Lupron Depot can cause an allergic reaction.

This side effect occurred in the drug’s studies of people taking taking Lupron Deport for advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids, and central precocious
puberty.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Lupron Depot, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

The Lupron Depot dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Lupron Depot to treat
  • the dose of Lupron Depot you take
  • other medical conditions you may have

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Lupron Depot is often used with other drugs to help make it more effective.

Drug forms and strengths

Lupron Depot comes in the following strengths: 3.75 milligrams (mg), 7.5 mg, 11.25 mg, 22.5 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg.

Lupron Depot-Ped (used in children) comes in the following strengths: 7.5 mg, 11.25 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg.

Dosage for advanced prostate cancer

For advanced prostate cancer, Lupron Depot can be given as:

  • 7.5 mg every month
  • 22.5 mg every 3 months
  • 30 mg every 4 months
  • 45 mg every 6 months

Dosage for endometriosis

For endometriosis, Lupron Depot can be given as:

  • 3.75 mg every 1 month
  • 11.25 mg every 3 months

Dosage for uterine fibroids

For uterine fibroids, Lupron Depot can be given as:

  • 3.75 mg every 1 month
  • 11.25 mg every 3 months

Dosage for central precocious puberty

For central precocious puberty, Lupron Depot-Ped can be given as a once-monthly dose that’s based on body weight in kilograms (kg). For reference, 1 kg is equal to about 2.2 pounds (lb).

  • 7.5 mg for children 25 kg (55 lb) or less
  • 11.25 mg for children more than 25 kg up to 37.5 kg (83 lb)
  • 15 mg for children more than 37.5 kg

Lupron Depot-Ped can also be given once every 3 months. The dosage options for taking it every 3 months are 11.25 mg or 30 mg.

How to use Lupron Depot

Lupron Depot is given as an injection by your doctor or healthcare professional. They will follow instructions provided by the manufacturer when giving you Lupron Depot.

What are the injections sites for Lupron Depot?

Lupron Depot can be injected into the muscle of:

  • the upper arm
  • the area above the buttocks
  • the outer part of the upper thigh

Your doctor will likely rotate where they give you the injection each time to avoid using the same spot two times in a row.

About using Lupron Depot

You’ll find information about key dosage issues here:

  • When it is given: How often you receive a Lupron Depot dose depends on the condition it’s being used to treat:
  • If you miss a dose: Lupron Depot is given as an injection by your doctor or healthcare professional. Your doctor’s office will work with you to make sure the injection appointments fit your schedule. To help make sure you don’t miss an appointment, try setting a reminder on your phone.
  • Length of use: How long you use Lupron Depot will depend on the condition it’s being used to treat. If you’re taking Lupron Depot for advanced prostate cancer, you’ll likely use it long term to ease your prostate cancer symptoms and to stop your prostate cancer from growing. However, Lupron Depot is not typically used long term for endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or central precocious puberty.

As with all medications, the cost of Lupron Depot can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Lupron Depot, help is available. Visit Medicine Assistance Tool to find programs that may help lower the cost of your prescription.

Generic version:Lupron Depot is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

The FDA approves prescription drugs such as Lupron Depot to treat certain conditions. Lupron Depot may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is prescribed to treat a different condition.

Lupron Depot for advanced prostate cancer

Lupron Depot is FDA approved advanced prostate cancer in adults.

Lupron Depot contains the drug leuprolide acetate. It works by blocking your body from creating certain hormones, like testosterone. This can help stop prostate cancer cells from growing.

Lupron Depot for endometriosis

Lupron Depot is FDA approved to treat endometriosis in adults. It can help relieve pain associated with endometriosis. It can also reduce the size of lesions, which can be painful.

With endometriosis, the lining normally found inside the uterus begins to grow outside the uterus. This may occur in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other areas. These lesions can bleed and break down, resulting in pain and scar tissue. The lesions grow with the help of a hormone called estrogen that’s naturally produced in the body.

Lupron Depot contains the drug leuprolide acetate. It works by blocking your body from creating certain hormones, like estrogen. This can help stop lesions from growing.

Lupron Depot for fibroids

Lupron Depot is FDA approved to reduce the size of uterine fibroids in adults. Lupron Depot is used with iron supplements for this purpose. This combination can help relieve bleeding and pelvic pain or pressure associated with uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids can grow as big as a grapefruit and can cause excessive bleeding between periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, and an enlarged uterus.

Because of the excessive bleeding, some people with uterine fibroids develop anemia. This is a condition that occurs when a person loses too much blood or doesn’t have enough iron in their blood. Anemia can make a person feel weak, tired, and cold.

Lupron Depot is usually given with iron supplements for 3 months before surgery to improve anemia associated with uterine fibroids.

The best way to treat uterine fibroids is to remove them, but it can be dangerous to have surgery if you also have anemia. Lupron Depot helps by blocking a hormone (estrogen) that causes the fibroids to bleed.

Lupron Depot for central precocious puberty

Lupron Depot-Ped is FDA approved for the treatment of central precocious puberty in children. With this condition, children to begin their sexual development earlier than usual. This can lead to a growth spurt earlier in life. However, children with this condition may stop growing earlier than their peers.

Children with central precocious puberty may be shorter as adults than they would be otherwise. The condition can also lead to emotional, psychological, and behavioral problems due to experiencing hormonal changes earlier than their peers.

Lupron Depot-Ped contains the active drug leuprolide acetate. It works by stopping the body from releasing certain sex hormones, which will delay puberty while it’s being given.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Lupron Depot.

Is Lupron Depot a chemotherapy drug?

No, Lupron Depot is not a chemotherapy drug. It works differently than chemotherapy drugs.

Chemotherapy drugs are sometimes used to treat certain kinds of cancers. They work by killing rapidly growing cells in your body. Cancer cells are usually fast-growing cells, so they’re affected by chemotherapy. However, some healthy cells in your body are also fast-growing cells. These healthy cells can also be affected by chemotherapy drugs.

Lupron Depot contains the drug leuprolide acetate, which belongs to a class of drugs called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. It works by blocking your body from creating certain hormones, such as estrogen or testosterone. This can help stop certain cells from growing.

Will Lupron Depot affect my ability to get pregnant or get my partner pregnant?

Lupron Depot may temporarily decrease fertility in adults. (Fertility is the biologic ability to conceive a child with a partner.) It may also stop your menstrual cycle during your course of treatment.

However, once Lupron Depot treatment ends, your menstrual cycle may return after several weeks. Additionally, the decrease in fertility typically goes away after a period of time.

The use of Lupron Depot-Ped in children isn’t known to affect fertility long term.

Lupron Depot contains the drug leuprolide acetate, which belongs to a class of drugs called GnRH agonists. It works by blocking your body from creating certain hormones, like estrogen and testosterone.

These hormones play key roles in many of our bodily functions. However, when the hormones are out of balance, they can cause negative side effects. For example, testosterone signals prostate cancer cells to grow. Lupron Depot works by stopping the production of testosterone in your body. This can help stop prostate cancer cells from growing.

With endometriosis, estrogen affects uterine tissue that forms outside of the uterus by stimulating them to bleed like uterine tissue. This is often uncomfortable and painful.

Estrogen also can cause uterine fibroids to develop and grow. By blocking estrogen production, Lupron Depot helps reduce pain and can shrink or get rid of lesions and uterine fibroids.

Lupron Depot-Ped is used for central precocious puberty, a condition in which a child experiences the effects of puberty earlier than usual. Lupron Depot-Ped works by blocking certain hormones that make children’s bodies undergo puberty. This delays puberty as long as the child uses the medication.

How long does it take to work?

Lupron Depot begins working right away in your body. However, it usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks to see the full effects of the treatment, such as symptom relief.

It’s not known if Lupron Depot interacts with other medications or supplements.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.

Lupron Depot may affect the results of certain lab tests.

Lupron Depot and other medications

There haven’t been any studies done to look at whether Lupron Depot can interact with other medications. However, it’s possible that Lupron Depot may interact with other medications.

Before taking Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Lupron Depot and herbs and supplements

There aren’t any herbs or supplements that have been specifically reported to interact with Lupron Depot. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Lupron Depot.

Lupron Depot and foods

There aren’t any foods that have been specifically reported to interact with Lupron Depot. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor.

Lupron Depot and lab tests

You may have reduced levels of certain hormones in your body during your treatment with Lupron Depot. If you have any lab tests that look for hormones, the results of the tests may be incorrect.

It’s recommended that you wait 3 months until after you’re done with Lupron Depot treatment before having these tests. This way, the results are less likely to be incorrect. Talk with your doctor about any tests you have scheduled while taking Lupron Depot to ensure your lab results will be accurate.

Alcohol interaction

There are no known interactions between Lupron Depot and alcohol. However, if you drink alcohol regularly, you may have a higher risk for bone density loss. When used long term, Lupron Depot may also reduce your bone density if not taken with other treatments that can help prevent this side effect. Bone density loss may lead to a higher risk of fractures and breaks.

If you drink alcohol regularly, talk with your doctor about the risk of bone density loss with Lupron Depot.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Alternatives for treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Examples of other drugs that may be used for treatment of advanced prostate cancer include:

Alternatives for endometriosis

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat endometriosis include:

Alternatives for fibroids

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat uterine fibroids include:

  • hormonal intrauterine devices like levonorgestrel (Mirena)
  • hormonal birth control like combination oral contraceptive pills
  • hormonal injections like medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera)
  • oral progestin pills like medroxyprogesterone (Provera), dienogest (Visanne), dydrogesterone (Duphaston)
  • goserelin (Zoladex)
  • naferelin (Synarel)
  • triptorelin (Decapeptyl, Gonapeptyl)

Alternatives for central precocious puberty

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat central precocious puberty include:

  • triptorelin (Triptodur)
  • histrelin (Supprelin LA)

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, fertility, birth control, and breastfeeding

Lupron Depot and pregnancy

Lupron Depot should not be used by people who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Lupron Depot may cause harm to a developing fetus if used during pregnancy. In animal studies, Lupron Depot was given to pregnant rabbits. It caused negative side effects in the offspring (such as pregnancy loss and low birth weights). This was true even at very low doses.

Leuprolide, the active ingredient in Lupron Depot, is sometimes prescribed off-label for people who are undergoing fertility treatments. It’s used as part of a complex hormone treatment plan that includes other medications. Lupron Depot should be used for this purpose only as recommended by your doctor.

Lupron Depot and fertility

Lupron Depot may temporarily decrease fertility. (Fertility is the biologic ability to conceive a child with a partner.) However, once Lupron Depot treatment ends, this decrease in fertility typically goes away after a period of time. And use of Lupron Depot-Ped in children isn’t known to affect fertility long term.

In animal studies of leuprolide acetate (the active drug in Lupron Depot), animals given the drug had shrinkage of their reproductive organs and decreased ability to reproduce. These changes went away after the treatment ended.

Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about your fertility with Lupron Depot treatment.

Lupron Depot and birth control

Lupron Depot is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Lupron Depot.

It’s not known if Lupron Depot passes into breast milk. If you’re breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Lupron Depot.

Before taking Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor about your health history. Lupron Depot may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Lupron Depot, see the “Lupron Depot side effects” section.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.