• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is leuprolide?
Leuprolide is a man-made form of a hormone that regulates many processes in the body. Leuprolide overstimulates the body's own production of certain hormones, which causes that production to shut down temporarily. Leuprolide reduces the amount of testosterone in men or estrogen in women. Leuprolide is used in men to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer. Leuprolide treats only the symptoms of prostate cancer and does not treat the cancer itself. Use any other medications your doctor has prescribed to best treat your condition.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of leuprolide?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• bone pain;

• swelling, rapid weight gain;

• pain, burning, stinging, bruising, or redness where the medication was injected;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• painful or difficult urination;

• urinating more often than usual; or

• sudden headache with vision problems, vomiting, confusion, slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, or slow breathing.

Rare but serious side effects may include:

• pain or unusual sensations in your back;

• numbness, weakness, or tingly feeling in your legs or feet;

• muscle weakness or loss of use; and

• loss of bowel or bladder control.

Less serious side effects may include:

• acne, increased growth of facial hair;

• breakthrough bleeding in a female child during the first 2 months of leuprolide treatment;

• dizziness, weakness, tired feeling;

• hot flashes, night sweats, chills, clammy skin;

• nausea, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;

• skin redness, itching, or scaling;

• joint or muscle pain;

• vaginal itching or discharge

• breast swelling or tenderness;

• testicle pain;

• impotence, loss of interest in sex;

• depression, sleep problems (insomnia), memory problems; or

• redness, burning, itching, or swelling where the shot was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use leuprolide?
Leuprolide is given as an injection under the skin or into a muscle. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes. This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

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What is the most important information I should know about leuprolide?
This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to leuprolide or similar medications such as buserelin (Suprefact, Suprecor), goserelin (Zoladex), histrelin (Supprelin), nafarelin (Synarel), or if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been diagnosed by a doctor; or if you are breast-feeding a baby. Before using leuprolide, tell your doctor if you have epilepsy, asthma, migraines, heart or kidney disease, a history of depression, bone cancer affecting your spine, blood in your urine, or if you are unable to urinate.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose. Women who miss more than one leuprolide dose may have breakthrough bleeding. Children who miss more than one dose may have a return of pubertal symptoms such as breast development, growth in the testicles, or menstrual periods.

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What other drugs will affect leuprolide?
There may be other drugs that can interact with leuprolide. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Leuprolide has been assigned to pregnancy category X by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence an increase in major fetal abnormalities, increased fetal mortality, an decreased fetal weights. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Inhibition of gonadotropin secretion may adversely affect pregnancy outcome. Leuprolide use during pregnancy is considered contraindicated.

The manufacturer has stated that leuprolide is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant while receiving the drug and that the possibility exists that spontaneous abortion may occur if the drug is administered during pregnancy. However, while not FDA approved, leuprolide has been used in the treatment of infertility. The safety of this use has not been determined. Only the short-acting subcutaneous form of leuprolide should be used in the treatment of infertility.

There are no data on the excretion of leuprolide into human milk. While adverse effects in the nursing infant are unlikely due to destruction of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract, milk supply may be adversely affected.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to GnRH, GnRH analogs, or any ingredient in the respective formulations.
• Known or suspected pregnancy. (See Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality under Cautions.)
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology.
• The 30 mg (4-month) formulation of leuprolide acetate injectable suspension (Lupron Depot^®) should not be used in women.
• Formulations of leuprolide acetate injectable suspension (Eligard^®) and leuprolide acetate implant (Viadur^®) are contraindicated in women and children.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include weakness, or irritation where the leuprolide shot was given.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using leuprolide?
Certain brands or strengths of leuprolide are used to treat only men and should not be used in women or children. Always check your medication to make sure you have received the correct brand and strength prescribed by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicine you receive at the pharmacy. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to leuprolide or similar medications such as buserelin (Suprefact, Suprecor), goserelin (Zoladex), histrelin (Supprelin), nafarelin (Synarel), or if you have:

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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