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How long should you take Lupron for prostate cancer?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Dec 25, 2024.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Key Points

Lupron Depot is a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist hormone therapy approved by the FDA for the palliative treatment (to relieve pain and other symptoms) of advanced prostate cancer. Your doctor may recommend you use this medicine long-term.

GnRH agonists are often referred to as “androgen deprivation therapy” (ADT). These drugs work by reducing the amount of the male hormone called testosterone. Testosterone, an androgen hormone made in the testicles, can fuel prostate cancer growth.

After beginning treatment, testosterone levels will drop within 2 to 4 weeks and the manufacturer has noted that levels have been shown to remain at castrate levels for more than 5 years.

How often should I receive Lupron Depot?

Lupron Depot is given as an intramuscular (IM) injection into the muscle in your upper arm, buttock or thigh. Lupron Depot is available as single dose kits that contain a prefilled injection syringe of:

Depot formulations continuously release medicine into your body over a certain period of time after injection. This means you may not need to get a shot every day, or even every month. Your healthcare provider will give you Lupron Depot injection, and together you can decide which treatment dose and schedule might work best for you.

What happens if I stop Lupron Depot?

If Lupron treatment is stopped, testosterone levels can rise and your cancer may worsen. Do not discontinue Lupron Depot unless your doctor tells you to stop treatment.

In men, testosterone is reduced to castrate concentrations with Lupron Depot treatment. This is called medical castration, as opposed to surgical castration (orchiectomy,) when the testicles are removed surgically. The testicles make most of the testosterone in a man, about 95%. The adrenal glands above the kidney also produce a small amount of testosterone.

In patients with advanced prostate cancer, you may also receive other medicines along with Lupron Depot. These may include chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy or targeted drug treatments, or corticosteroids depending upon your stage of cancer.

You may experience side effects with Lupron Depot treatment such as:

Initially, testosterone levels may rise the first weeks of treatment after Lupron Depot injection, causing a flare of side effects, such as pain or urinary symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe antiandrogen agents like bicalutamide (Casodex) or flutamide (Eulexin) to help reduce this flare.

This is not a complete listing of side effects. If you experience side effects with Lupron Depot, speak with your healthcare provider about ways to manage them.

Learn more: Lupron Depot side effects (in more detail)

Can Lupron be used intermittently for prostate cancer?

The use of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (intermittent ADT) for prostate cancer is controversial, and studies have found differing results. Some physicians may recommend intermittent ADT and stop treatment for a period of time to help reduce side effects for patients with early, localized prostate cancer, but this may not be recommended for patients advanced, metastatic disease.

This is not all the information you need to know about Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate) for safe and effective use. Review the full Lupron Depot information here, and discuss this and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References

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