leuprolide
Other Name: Short- acting: Lupron®; long- acting: Lupron Depot®, Eligard®
- For treating prostate cancer and breast cancer.
- Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had heart problems (including irregular heartbeat), anemia (low red blood cells), diabetes, bone loss or thinning, seizures or have any allergies.
- People with cancer have a higher risk of getting other cancers or developing blood clots. Some cancer medications may increase these risks, especially if used for a long period of time. Discuss any concerns about this medication with your health care team.
- While this may not be directly applicable to you, the use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding
- If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must: ►Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while using this drug: Keep using birth control until 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Do not breastfeed while using this drug.
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
- Effects on Fertility: Probable
- Eligard® is injected under the skin by your doctor or nurse.
- Lupron Depot® (long-acting) is injected into muscle by your doctor or nurse.
- Lupron® (short-acting) is injected under the skin, usually by yourself or your caregiver.
- Various dosing schedules are used - check with your health care professional about how often this medication is given to you.
- Be sure to visit your doctor for your repeat injection. Speak to your health care professional to see what drugs and supplies you need to bring for your next visit.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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For mild aches and pain:
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding.
- Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any of these medications. They may hide a fever.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
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Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
- Follow storage instructions as noted on the packaging.
Common side effects usually occur in more than 1 out of every 10 patients. Other side effects are less common, but may be severe. You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Headache; mild joint or muscle pain; flu-like symptoms
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Mild swelling in arms and legs; puffiness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Tiredness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Reactions at the injection site (redness, burning, stinging, pain, itchiness, mild rash or swelling)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Rash
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Flare of symptoms (pain at tumour area, increased bone or back pain, difficulty passing urine or poor bladder/bowel control)
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
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Symptoms of having low testosterone levels
Increased sweating, feelings of warmth (hot flashes)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
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Heart problems |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Blockage of an artery (blood vessel) in your heart, brain, chest, belly, or limbs; this may result in stroke (sudden loss of vision, speech, or the use of your limb(s)) or heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath), or pain in chest, belly or limb Blood clot (limb pain or swelling, hardened vein in limb), may occur in lungs (sudden start of coughing, breathing problems, chest pain, coughing blood) |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Liver problems (tender right side of belly, yellowish skin or eyes, dark urine) |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Bleeding from the digestive system |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Blocked intestines |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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High blood sugar (increased thirst, urinates frequently)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
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Allergic reaction (severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness; may occur during or shortly after the drug is given) |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Bone pain; Bone loss |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
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Bleeding or blood flow problems in the pituitary gland
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Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Lung problems |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
| Seizures | Get emergency medical help right away | ||||||
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Mood changes; Having a low mood that doesn't seem to improve (may be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||||
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.