How long does it take leuprolide acetate to lower testosterone levels?

In clinical studies, it took about one month for leuprolide acetate to drop testosterone to very low levels.

Will leuprolide acetate cure my prostate cancer?

Leuprolide acetate isn't a cure for prostate cancer. Instead, it helps slow down the growth of your cancer by lowering your levels of testosterone. [Testosterone](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/prostate-cancer/hormone-therapy-for-prostate-cancer) is a natural hormone that causes your prostate gland and cancer cells to grow.

Lupron Depot Injection

leuprolide acetate

Used for Endometriosis, Prostate Cancer

Leuprolide acetate is used to treat advanced prostate cancer. This medication is either injected under the skin or into your muscle. The brand name formulations of leuprolide acetate must be given by a healthcare provider.

Reviewed by:

Cydnee Ng, PharmD

Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD

Last reviewed on November 17, 2022

What is Leuprolide acetate?

What is Leuprolide acetate used for?

Advanced prostate cancer

How Leuprolide acetate works

Leuprolide acetate is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, which is a synthetic (lab-made) hormone similar to the GnRH your body naturally makes. Over time, it lowers testosterone levels, which helps slow down the growth of the prostate gland and cancer cells.

Are you looking for information on Lupron Depot (leuprolide) for endometriosis or uterine fibroids, or Lupron Depot-Ped (leuprolide) for precocious (early) puberty instead?

Drug facts

Common Brands	Lupron Depot, Eligard, Camcevi
Drug Class	GnRH agonist
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Lupron Depot, Eligard, Camcevi

Drug Class

GnRH agonist

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Side effects of Leuprolide acetate

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Hot flashes or sweats
Injection site reaction (e.g., burning, stinging)
Pain (e.g., general, muscle, bone, joint)
Tiredness
Swelling
Breathing problems
Digestive system problems
Urinary problems
Shrinking of testicles
High blood pressure

Less Common Side Effects

Headache
Weakness
Dizziness
Trouble sleeping
Waking up at night to urinate
Lowered sex drive
Difficulty getting or keeping an erection
Upper respiratory tract infection (e.g., common cold)

Leuprolide acetate serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Heart problems: racing heart, fluttering in your chest, abnormal heartbeats, heart attack, stroke
Convulsions (seizures): tight muscles, uncontrollable movements, painful cramping

Source: DailyMed

The following Leuprolide acetate side effects have also been reported

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

Less common

Fast or irregular heartbeat

Rare

Bone, muscle, or joint pain

fainting

fast or irregular breathing

numbness or tingling of the hands or feet

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes

skin rash, hives, or itching

sudden, severe decrease in blood pressure and collapse

tightness in the chest

trouble breathing

For males only (adults)

More common

Arm, back, or jaw pain

bloody or cloudy urine

blurred vision

chest pain or discomfort

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty with moving

dizziness

frequent urge to urinate

headache

increased urge to urinate during the night

muscle pain or stiffness

nausea

nervousness

pain in the joints

pale skin

pounding in the ears

slow or fast heartbeat

sweating

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

waking to urinate at night

Rare

Pain in the groin or legs (especially in the calves)

Incidence not known

Altered mental status

cold, clammy, pale skin

confusion

double vision

irregular heartbeat

visual changes

vomiting

For females only (adults)

Rare

Anxiety

deepening of voice

increased hair growth

mental depression

mood changes

For children

More common

Body aches or pain

chills

cough

cough producing mucus

difficulty in breathing

ear congestion

fever

headache

loss of voice

muscle aches

noisy breathing

pain or redness at the injection site

runny or stuffy nose

sneezing

sore throat

tightness in the chest

unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

Irritability

mood or mental changes

Rare

Burning, itching, or swelling at the injection site

Incidence not known

Seizures

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

Rare

Vaginal bleeding (continuing)

white vaginal discharge (continuing)

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

More common

Sudden sweating and feeling of warmth (hot flashes)

Less common

Bleeding, bruising, burning, itching, pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site

decreased interest in sexual intercourse

swelling of the feet or lower legs

swelling or increased tenderness of the breasts

trouble sleeping

weight gain

For females only (adults)

More common

Light, irregular vaginal bleeding

stopping of menstrual periods

Less common

Burning, dryness, or itching of the vagina

pelvic pain

For males only (adults)

More common

Back pain

chills

general feeling of discomfort or illness

loss of appetite

pain or discomfort at the injection site

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

runny nose

shivering

sore throat

unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Less common

Decreased size of the testicles

inability to have or keep an erection

For children

More common

Constipation

feeling of warmth

nausea

redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest

stomach pain

vomiting

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

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Pros and cons of Leuprolide acetate

Pros

Works well to lower testosterone levels
Lowers testosterone levels in about a month
Can choose how often you get your injections, depending on the formulation, brand name, and dose: every month, every 3 months, every 4 months, or every 6 months

Cons

Not a cure for prostate cancer; only helps slow cancer growth
Requires close follow up with regular blood draws and labs
Only available as an injection
No lower-cost generic available and must be given by a provider

Pharmacist tips for Leuprolide acetate

Leuprolide acetate raises your testosterone levels in the first few weeks before they go down. This can cause a flare-up in your prostate cancer symptoms, such as bone pain, bladder pain, blood in your urine, trouble urinating, or weakness. Let your provider know if these symptoms don't go away after a month.
Your healthcare provider will check your labs regularly to make sure leuprolide acetate is working.
Leuprolide acetate can sometimes make it difficult for you to get or maintain an erection. This is a normal side effect. The medication lowers your testosterone levels, which can affect your ability to have an erection. Ask your provider if you have any concerns if you experience this problem.
It's possible for leuprolide acetate to affect the ability in males to have children. Discuss this possibility with your healthcare provider before starting leuprolide acetate.

Common questions about Lupron Depot

In clinical studies, it took about one month for Lupron Depot to drop testosterone to very low levels.

Lupron Depot isn't a cure for prostate cancer. Instead, it helps slow down the growth of your cancer by lowering your levels of testosterone. Testosterone is a natural hormone that causes your prostate gland and cancer cells to grow.

Lupron Depot can worsen your prostate cancer symptoms when you first start the medication because it can temporarily raise testosterone levels during the first few weeks of treatment. These symptoms can include general pain or weakness, bone pain, blood in your urine, or trouble urinating. After about a month, these symptoms should get better as you continue treatment and Lupron Depot begins lowering your testosterone levels. Talk to your healthcare provider if they don't improve.

Lupron Depot, Eligard, and Camcevi all contain the active ingredient leuprolide to treat advanced prostate cancer. They each must be administered by a healthcare provider. The main difference is how the medication is injected. Lupron Depot is injected into the muscle, whereas Eligard and Camcevi are injected under the skin. Lupron Depot and Eligard are available in multiple strengths and can be given on a 1-, 3-, 4-, or 6-month schedule (depending on the dose). On the other hand, Camcevi is only available in one strength that's given once every 6 months. Discuss with your provider which formulation of Lupron Depot is right for you.

In clinical studies, some males using Lupron Depot had lower bone density after treatment. Having low bone density means that your bones are weaker than usual. This can make it easier for bones to break. Ask your provider about ways to improve your bone health during treatment, such as taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and performing weight-bearing exercises.

Risks and warnings for Leuprolide acetate

Leuprolide acetate can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Initial worsening of symptoms

Leuprolide acetate is a lab-made medication that works similarly to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) your body naturally makes. Similar to other GnRH medications, leuprolide acetate temporarily causes your testosterone levels to go up when you first start treatment. This can make your prostate cancer symptoms worse, usually during the first few weeks of starting the medication. Your testosterone levels should drop and your symptoms should get better after those first few weeks. Let your provider know if you experience any bone pain, bladder pain, or blood in your urine that doesn't go away in about a month.

Higher blood sugar levels and risk of diabetes

Males using leuprolide acetate have reported a rise in their blood sugars. This puts them at greater risk of developing new or worsening diabetes. Your healthcare provider will regularly check your labs to make sure your blood sugar levels and other blood-sugar related lab values are normal.

Heart problems

Risk factors: History of heart rhythm problems or heart failure | Electrolyte imbalances | Taking certain heart rhythm medications, mental health medications, or antibiotics

Although the risk is low, males who use leuprolide acetate might be at risk of having heart problems. These problems can include heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac (heart-related) death. Before starting the medication, your provider will check for your risk for heart problems. Get emergency help right away if you experience chest or arm pain, shortness of breath, a cold sweat, weakness on one side of the body, drooping face, bad headache, or trouble walking or speaking. These can be signs of a heart attack or stroke.

Medications similar to leuprolide acetate can also cause irregular heart rhythms. Before starting treatment, let your provider know if you have any conditions causing irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, or electrolyte problems. Your provider will discuss with you about the risks and benefits of taking leuprolide acetate with your condition.

Convulsions (seizures)

Risk factors: History of seizures | History of stroke | Taking certain medications including SSRIs or bupropion (Wellbutrin)

Some people using leuprolide acetate have experienced convulsions or seizures. This is more likely to happen if you've had seizures or strokes in the past or if you take certain mental health medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, like sertraline (Zoloft)) or bupropion (Wellbutrin). If you or a loved one notices that you have signs of a seizure like tight muscles, uncontrollable movements, or painful cramping, call your healthcare provider right away.

Possible spinal cord and urinary tract problems

Risk factors: History of spine problems | History of urinary tract problems

There have been a few cases of spinal cord compression, or pressure on the spinal cord, in people taking leuprolide acetate. This can possibly lead to paralysis (not being able to move). Also, some people have gotten a blockage in their urinary tract during treatment. This can lead to kidney damage or urinary problems. These problems might happen during the first few weeks of treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about your medical history or your concerns about the medication before starting leuprolide acetate.

Leuprolide acetate dosage

Typical dosage for Leuprolide acetate

Lupron Depot: The typical dosing range is 7.5 mg to 45 mg injected into your muscle by a healthcare provider. Depending on the dose, the medication is injected every month, every 3 months, every 4 months, or every 6 months. It's either injected in your shoulder, buttock, or outer thigh muscle.
Eligard: The typical dosing range is 7.5 mg to 45 mg injected under the skin by a healthcare provider. Depending on the dose, the medication is injected every month, every 3 months, every 4 months, or every 6 months. It's usually injected under the skin in your stomach or upper buttock area.
Camcevi: The typical dose is 42 mg injected under the skin every 6 months by a healthcare provider. It's injected under the skin in your stomach.

Interactions between Leuprolide acetate and other drugs

Leuprolide acetate may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Leuprolide acetate. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

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. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil
Cisapride
Dronedarone
Mesoridazine
Pimozide
Piperaquine
Saquinavir
Sparfloxacin
Terfenadine
Thioridazine
Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.