Key takeaways:
Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) is an injectable hormone therapy used to treat advanced prostate cancer. It’s casually referred to as Lupron.
Lupron works by lowering testosterone levels in your body. This can help slow prostate cancer cell growth. It can cause side effects like hot flashes and injection site reactions.
There are ways to save on Lupron. If you’re eligible, a patient assistance program is available to help you access your prescription.
Save on related medications
In prostate cancer, testosterone is often responsible for fueling the cancer’s growth. If you or a loved one are diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s possible that your healthcare provider may suggest a treatment called hormone therapy.
One common hormone therapy medication for advanced prostate cancer is Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension), or Lupron for short. Lupron belongs to a medication class called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. They’re also known as luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists.
If you’re just starting treatment with Lupron injections, you may be curious about what to expect. Here are a few tips on how Lupron is given, what you may experience while taking it, and ways to save on the costs of treatment.
1. How does Lupron work?
Some prostate cancers rely on hormones like testosterone as fuel to grow. Lupron works by stimulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors (chemical binding sites) to eventually lower testosterone levels in the body. By cutting off the prostate cancer’s testosterone supply, Lupron helps slow down cancer’s growth.
Lupron is not a first-choice treatment for prostate cancer. Instead, it’s often used for advanced cancer that is still sensitive to testosterone.
Sometimes, prostate cancer is not sensitive to testosterone. This is known as castration-resistant prostate cancer. Lupron isn’t the best option for this type of cancer.
2. What are common Lupron injection sites?
Lupron is given as an intramuscular (IM) injection, meaning it's injected into the muscle. The most common injection sites are the buttock, outer thigh, or upper arm. The injection site should be alternated with each injection so as to avoid receiving it in the same place each time.
In general, it’s not recommended that you administer Lupron yourself. To ensure your dose has been stored and prepared correctly, a healthcare professional should give you your Lupron injection. This means you'll likely receive it at their office or clinic.
3. What is the typical dosage for Lupron?
Lupron has flexible dosing options. This is because Lupron is a controlled-release medication.
After it’s injected, the medication is slowly released into your body. This means you may only need a shot of Lupron once a month. You may even be able to space it out so that you only receive a Lupron injection twice a year.
Lupron is available in the following dosages for treating prostate cancer:
Once a month: Lupron 7.5 mg
Every 3 months: Lupron 22.5 mg
Every 4 months: Lupron 30 mg
Every 6 months: Lupron 45 mg
Speak with your healthcare provider about Lupron dosing options and what frequency is best for you and your schedule.
4. How long does it take Lupron to work?
Lupron begins working as soon as you receive your first injection. But in the first couple of weeks, Lupron may cause a short-term rise in your testosterone levels. This is also called a testosterone flare (or tumor flare). You may experience symptoms like pain or trouble urinating during this time.
To help with this, your healthcare provider may recommend a medication called an antiandrogen. Examples include bicalutamide (Casodex) and flutamide. Antiandrogens can help manage Lupron side effects during the first few weeks.
After the initial flare — which lasts for a few weeks — your testosterone levels should drop. Your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking antiandrogen medications at this point.
5. How do you get off Lupron?
If you need to stop taking Lupron for any reason, you can stop receiving the injection. It doesn’t need to be tapered off and it shouldn’t cause any withdrawal symptoms. But don’t stop taking Lupron without talking to your healthcare provider first. If you stop treatment with Lupron, your testosterone levels may rise again and your cancer could get worse.
If you miss your dose of Lupron, you should schedule another appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as you can. To help prevent missing a Lupron injection, it might help to set a reminder on your calendar. You may also be able to make your injection appointments in advance.
6. What are some side effects of Lupron?
Lupron affects your hormones, so there are some side effects to be aware of. Common Lupron side effects include:
Hot flashes
Sweating
Mood changes
Pain or reaction at the injection site
Shrinkage of testicles and penis
Lower sex drive
Trouble urinating
Feeling tired or weak
Headache
Joint, stomach, and breathing problems
If you experience hot flashes, consider wearing loose, lightweight clothing and staying in cool areas when possible. There are also some medications your healthcare provider may recommend to help with hot flashes. They include clonidine, low doses of certain antidepressants (like venlafaxine or fluoxetine), and gabapentin.
Serious side effects are not as common with Lupron, but they can happen. Some serious side effects can include:
Tumor flare, causing urinary blockage, squeezing of the spinal cord, and/or severe bone pain (but this depends on the tumor site)
High blood sugar, which may worsen your risk for diabetes
Heart problems, like heart attack and stroke
Irregular heartbeat — especially if you have heart failure or are taking medications that affect your heart’s rhythm
Spasms or seizures
If you have these or any other side effects while receiving Lupron, let your healthcare provider know. They’ll likely have recommendations or medications to help manage them.
7. What medications interact with Lupron?
No other medications are known to interact with Lupron, so you won’t need to separate them from Lupron. But you should still let your cancer specialist and pharmacist know about other medications you take. Don’t forget to include over-the-counter (OTC) products and supplements.
8. How long do you have to take Lupron?
You'll likely continue taking Lupron as long as it's working well to treat your prostate cancer, you aren't experiencing intolerable side effects, and your cancer doesn’t get worse or become resistant to treatment. Some people take Lupron for a short time, while others may continue to take it long-term.
Over time, hormone therapy like Lupron may not work as well for prostate cancer if it becomes “castration-resistant.” Depending on the situation, your cancer specialist may have you stop taking Lupron or add on other treatments, like secondary hormone therapy or chemotherapy, to better fight your cancer.
9. Is there a generic version of Lupron?
Lupron is usually used as a brand-name medication. But similar alternatives are also available.
Other brand formulations of leuprolide are available to treat advanced prostate cancer. Examples include Eligard (leuprolide acetate for injectable suspension) and Camcevi (leuprolide injectable emulsion). These medications contain the same active ingredient, leuprolide, but they are given subcutaneously. This means they are injected under the skin — not into the muscle.
A generic version of leuprolide is also available as a daily injection. It’s not prescribed very often, as it is not very easy to use. Most people also prefer Lupron to avoid getting a shot every day. But it may cost less to use this form of leuprolide.
If you have health insurance, it's possible your plan may prefer one brand over the other. To get more information about expected out-of-pocket costs, contact your insurance provider.
10. There are ways to save money on your Lupron prescription
There are ways to save on Lupron, which is primarily given as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.
If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Lupron’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost. The manufacturer of Lupron has a patient assistance program called myAbbVie Assist. You must meet certain requirements to qualify for this program.
If you don’t have health insurance or are underinsured, there are also other savings opportunities to consider.
The bottom line
Lupron is a hormone therapy medication that’s used to treat symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. It's formulated as a slow-release injection. There are several dosing options available to help suit your needs and lifestyle. Lupron can cause side effects like hot flashes, but there are ways to manage them if they occur. If you have any questions or concerns about Lupron injections, make sure to talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
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References
AbbVie Inc. (2022). Lupron Depot- leuprolide acetate [package insert].
Accord BioPharma, Inc. (2022). Camcevi- leuprolide injection, emulsion [package insert].
Bryant Ranch Prepack. (2022). Leuprolide acetate- leuprolide acetate [package insert].
Endocrine Society. (2022). Reproductive hormones.
Gupta, A. (2017). Hormone therapy–related hot flashes and their management. JAMA Oncology.
National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms. (n.d.). Testosterone flare.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2022). NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Advanced-stage prostate cancer.
Schwendeman, S. P., et al. (2014). Injectable controlled release depots for large molecules. Journal of Controlled Release: Official Journal of the Controlled Release Society.
Tolmar Therapeutics, Inc. (2019). Eligard for injectable suspension, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
