If you are an adult with one of the following conditions, your doctor may prescribe Lupron Depot.

Doctors may also prescribe a form of this medication, called Lupron Depot-Ped, to certain children. It’s used to treat early-onset puberty.

To learn more about the drug’s uses, including limitations of its use, see the “What is Lupron Depot used for?” section below.

Lupron Depot basics

Lupron Depot contains the active drug leuprolide acetate. The medication isn’t currently available in generic form.

Lupron Depot is a therapy for women. It is part of a group of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists.

A healthcare professional will give you Lupron Depot as an injection directly into a muscle.

Lupron Depot vs. Lupron Depot-Ped

Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped have the same active drug. They treat different conditions in different age groups.

Lupron Depot is used in adults and children. The drug name refers topediatric.

The article talks about Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped. This medication has side effects, uses, and more.

Lupron Depot may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common side effects of Lupron Depot are described in the lists below. All possible side effects are not included in these lists.

Side effects of a drug can depend on other factors.

  • Your age.
  • You have other health conditions.
  • You take other drugs.

The side effects of Lupron Depot might be different depending on the condition it is being used to treat.

The doctor or the pharmacy can tell you more about the side effects of Lupron Depot. They can suggest ways to reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Lupron Depot can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Lupron Depot’s prescribing information.

There are some mild side effects of Lupron Depot.

The side effects of many drugs can be gone in a few days. If they become intolerable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Lupron Depot are rare. If you have serious side effects from Lupron Depot, you should call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, you should call the emergency number.

There have been serious side effects of Lupron Depot.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Lupron Depot.

A mild allergic reaction can include some symptoms.

A more severe allergic reaction is not uncommon. A severe allergic reaction can cause swelling under your skin, usually in your lips, hands, or feet. They can include swelling of your mouth, throat, and tongue, which can cause trouble breathing.

If you have an allergy to Lupron Depot, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, call the emergency number.

Your doctor will recommend the correct amount of Lupron Depot for you. The dosages are used but the doctor will decide the exact amount.

Forms and strengths

A healthcare professional will give you Lupron Depot as an injection directly into a muscle.

Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped come in a variety of needles that have a solution and a powder in them. A healthcare professional will mix the contents of the needle before injecting it.

The drug has a few strengths.

  • The amount of 3.75 milligrams is equivalent to about one-tenth of a gram.
  • 7.5 tablets per day.
  • 11.25 is the daily dose.
  • 15 tablets.
  • 22.5 tablets
  • 30 tablets.
  • 45 tablets.

Recommended dosages

The Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped are used to treat a variety of conditions.

The typical dosage for prostate cancer that’s advanced is one dose of Lupron Depot every 1, 3, 4, or 6 months.

For It is a condition where there is pain. or There are uterine fibroids., you’ll likely receive one dose of Lupron Depot every 1 or 3 months.

“The child’s body weight is the basis for the Lupron Depot-Ped dosage. The typical dose is one every 3 months.”

Questions about Lupron Depot’s dosage

There are many questions about Lupron Depot.

  • What if I miss a dose of Lupron Depot? A healthcare professional will give Lupron Depot injections to you. If you miss your appointment, contact your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. Missing doses of this medication could cause your condition to get worse.
  • Will I need to use Lupron Depot long term? Lupron Depot may be used short term or long term. How long you’ll receive this treatment depends on the condition it’s being used to treat.
  • How long does Lupron Depot take to work? Lupron Depot begins working right away. But in the first 1 to 2 weeks, the drug may cause a short-term surge in your body’s testosterone or estrogen level. This may cause the condition being treated to get worse before it gets better. Within 2 to 4 weeks of starting treatment, your testosterone or estrogen levels should drop. When this occurs, you may start to feel some improvement in the symptoms of your condition.

Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped are hormone therapy. This medication is part of a group of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists.

GnRH agonists work by activating the pituitary gland in your brain to release certain hormones. In turn, these hormones cause your reproductive system to release a surge of sex hormones. (These are mainly testosterone in males* and estrogen in females.*)

This surge signals your body to stop making the sex hormones. Ultimately, in males, Lupron Depot causes the testicles to stop making testosterone. And in females, the drug causes the ovaries to stop making estrogen and progesterone.

When the body stops making hormones, Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped can be used to treat certain conditions. These conditions are described.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Lupron Depot for prostate cancer

Lupron Depot is used for the palliative treatment of prostate cancer that’s advanced in adults. (Advanced means the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other areas of the body.) Palliative treatment eases symptoms of a disease but isn’t meant to cure the disease.

Lupron Depot is used to stop the body from making hormones. This includes testosterone, a hormone that helps prostate cancer cells grow and spread. By reducing testosterone in the body, Lupron Depot may help slow the cancer’s growth. This may ease the symptoms of advanced cancer, such as painful urination.

Lupron Depot for It is a condition where there is pain.

Lupron Depot is used to treat It is a condition where there is pain. in adults.

Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle affect the misplaced tissue, causing symptoms such as pelvic pain and heavy periods.

Lupron Depot works to treat It is a condition where there is pain. by stopping the body from making hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. It can help relieve pain and reduce the size of endometrium-like tissues outside of the uterus.

Lupron Depot may be used as a first treatment to manage It is a condition where there is pain. symptoms. For this purpose, the drug is prescribed together with norethindrone acetate.

Use with norethindrone acetate

Norethindrone acetate is a type of hormone replacement therapy called a progestin. It replaces progesterone, a hormone that Lupron Depot stops the ovaries from making. Taking norethindrone acetate reduces your risk of certain side effects of Lupron Depot, such as bone loss.

There is a limitation on Lupron Depot using norethindrone. The total duration of treatment is limited to 12 months.

Lupron Depot for There are uterine fibroids.

Lupron Depot is used to treat There are uterine fibroids. in adults.

Uterine fibroids are abnormal, noncancerous growths on or in the uterus. Common symptoms include heavy periods, heavy bleeding between periods, and pain in the belly. Heavy bleeding often leads to anemia in people with fibroids. (A person with anemia has a low red blood cell level.)

Lupron Depot works to treat fibroids by stopping the body from making hormones that cause menstrual bleeding. The drug can help reduce the size of There are uterine fibroids. and stop the excessive menstrual bleeding.

For this use, Lupron Depot is prescribed for 3 months together with an iron supplement. After 3 months, you’ll likely have surgery to remove the fibroids, as long as your red blood cell level has increased.

“Lupron Depot is only used for fibroids. The drug isn’t meant to be used with norethindrone.”

Lupron Depot-Ped for early-onset puberty

Lupron Depot-Ped is used to treat early-onset puberty in children. Early-onset puberty is also called central precocious puberty.

Puberty is the process of sexual development through which a child physically matures into an adult. Early-onset puberty occurs when this process begins too early (before age 8 years in females or before age 9 years in males).

The same signs of puberty are seen in children and adolescents. Symptoms of shorter height are psychological problems.

The body can make sex hormones if Lupron Depot-Ped is not stopped. This stops the signs of puberty. When a child stops taking their medication, their body will start making hormones again.

Find out what the answers are to some questions.

When will I get my first period after stopping Lupron Depot treatment?

You can get your period within 3 months after your last dose of Lupron Depot. This can vary depending on your dose.

Lupron Depot commonly causes changes in your menstrual cycle, such as not having periods. This is because the drug stops your body from making hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. These hormones typically regulate the menstrual cycle. As Lupron Depot slowly wears off, your body will resume making these hormones and having periods.

If you have questions about what to expect, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Lupron Depot used to treat breast cancer?

Doctors may prescribe Lupron Depot off-label to treat certain types of breast cancer. Off-label refers to when doctors prescribe a drug for a use other than the those specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Some cancers can be fueled by hormones. This includes breast cancer. Lupron Depot is used to stop the production of hormones. This effect is meant to slow the growth of the cancer.

If you have questions about FDA approved or off-label treatments for breast cancer, talk to your doctor.

If I stop my Lupron Depot treatment, will I have withdrawal symptoms?

Stopping Lupron Depot isn’t known to cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that may occur when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. With drug dependence, your body becomes used to a drug and needs it to function as usual.

Lupron Depot wears off after your last dose. How long depends on the dose you received. If you have side effects, you may have them until the drug wears off and your body starts making hormones. Lupron Depot works to stop your body from making hormones.

Changes in your body may be caused by hormones increasing. The symptoms of your condition may return. It is important to talk with your doctor before stopping treatment. They will help you decide if another plan is better for you.

Your doctor will explain how Lupron Depot will be given to you. They will explain how much you will be given and how often.

Receiving Lupron Depot

A healthcare professional will give Lupron Depot to you as an injection directly into a muscle.

They will give you a dose in one of the injection sites.

  • deltoid (muscle in your upper arm)
  • gluteal area of your buttock
  • The outer area of your thigh.

Receiving Lupron Depot with other drugs

If you’re receiving Lupron Depot for It is a condition where there is pain., your doctor may also prescribe norethindrone acetate.

Norethindrone acetate comes as an oral tablet. It’s a type of hormone replacement therapy called a progestin. It replaces progesterone, a hormone that your body stops making while you’re using Lupron Depot treatment. Taking norethindrone acetate with Lupron Depot reduces your risk of certain side effects of Lupron Depot, such as loss of bone strength.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about your treatment plan. Discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help you.

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Lupron Depot affect me?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment to make you feel more comfortable.
  • “If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it.”

“Your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. They want you to get the best care possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give feedback on your treatment”

Eligard and Lupron Depot are both brand-name prescription drugs. Both contain the same drug. They differ in some uses.

To learn more about how Lupron Depot and Eligard compare, see this article. You can also ask your doctor if one of these drugs may be right for you.

When considering Lupron Depot treatment, it is important to talk with your doctor about your health and medications. There are a number of factors that can affect whether Lupron Depot is a good treatment option.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

There are no known drugs or supplements that can interact with Lupron Depot. Drug interactions with Lupron Depot or Lupron Depot-Ped will be discovered in the future. New drugs may interact with the medications.

It is still a good idea to tell your doctor about all your medications, even if you are not taking any of them. You should also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use.

Drug interactions can be told to you by your doctor or pharmacist.

Other interactions

Certain lab tests may be affected by Lupron Depot. Lab tests that check hormone function can be affected by these medications. Doctors use lab tests to diagnose and monitor their patients.

Lupron Depot takes a while to wear off after treatment is stopped. Lab tests that check hormones may not be accurate up to 6 months after your last dose.

Talk to your doctor about lab tests and Lupron Depot.

Warnings

If you have a medical condition that affects your health, Lupron Depot may not be right for you. Before you take Lupron Depot, talk to your doctor about your health history. The factors to consider are listed below.

  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Lupron Depot or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lupron Depot. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.
  • Thin or weak bones. With long-term use, Lupron Depot may cause loss of bone mineral density (BMD), a measurement of bone strength. If you’ve been told you have osteopenia, osteoporosis, or another condition that causes bone loss, talk with your doctor. They may monitor your BMD during your treatment with Lupron Depot. Or they may prescribe a different treatment option.
  • Depression. Lupron Depot may cause depression in some people. If you already have depression, using this medication could make your condition more severe. Let your doctor know if you have depression. They’ll likely monitor you closely while you’re receiving Lupron Depot treatment. You and people close to you should also watch for new or unusual moods or behaviors.
  • Diabetes. Lupron Depot may cause high blood sugar. If you have diabetes, taking this medication may worsen your condition or make it more challenging to manage. Talk with your doctor if you have diabetes. They’ll likely recommend checking your blood sugar levels more often. If necessary, they’ll also adjust your diabetes medications.
  • Heart and blood vessel problems. In rare cases, Lupron Depot may cause serious heart and blood vessel problems, such as heart attack or stroke. If you already have heart disease, such as a heart rhythm problem called long QT syndrome, be sure to tell your doctor. They’ll help you weigh the risks and benefits of taking this medication and decide on the best treatment option for you.

Lupron Depot and alcohol

During Lupron Depot treatment, most people drink occasionally or in moderation.

Long-term alcohol use can increase the risk of bone loss. People who already have thin or weak bones are at increased risk of this.

If you drink alcohol, you should talk to your doctor about how much you can drink during Lupron Depot treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Lupron Depot is not safe for pregnant women. Lupron Depot can cause harm to a fetus.

If you are able to become pregnant, you will have to take a test. They need to confirm that you are not pregnant before they give you Lupron Depot.

Also, if you’re able to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about birth control. A nonhormonal birth control method, such as condoms, is recommended during Lupron Depot treatment.

It is not recommended to receive Lupron Depot while breastfeeding. There is no known effects of Lupron Depot on a breastfed child.

Before starting Lupron Depot, you should talk with your doctor about your health issues. They will give you the best treatment plan.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. To find current prices for Lupron Depot in your area, visit WellRx.com.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called myAbbVie Assist may also be available to help with the cost Lupron Depot.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, you can also check out this article.

Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped are used to stop the production of hormones. This can be used for conditions that are sensitive to hormones.

It is important to talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have if you are considering this medication as a treatment option.

Here are some questions to ask your doctor.

  • Should I continue taking birth control pills?
  • Is it possible to use herbal remedies to help prevent or ease the side effects of Lupron Depot?
  • Is there a way to treat my condition without Lupron Depot?

If you have It is a condition where there is pain., you can sign up for Healthline’s online newsletter to get helpful tips and personal stories from others living with this condition. You can also read about other treatment options for It is a condition where there is pain..

Q:

Will Lupron Depot affect my ability to have a baby?

Anonymous

A:

Lupron Depot may affect your fertility. After your treatment is over, your fertility should return to normal.

“Lupron Depot-Ped treatment shouldn’t affect a child’s fertility or pregnancies.”

Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped are a type of hormone therapy. They stop your body from making certain hormones, such as estrogen. Without estrogen, you’ll likely have The menstrual cycle changes., such as not having periods.

This medication is not contraceptive. It may cause harm if it is used during a pregnant period. Before starting Lupron Depot, you should talk with your doctor about your birth control needs.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.