Details

Leuprolide over-stimulates the body's own production of certain hormones, which causes that production to shut down temporarily. Leuprolide reduces the amount of testosterone in men or oestrogen in women. Leuprolide is used in men to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer. Leuprolide treats only the symptoms of prostate cancer and does not treat the cancer itself. Leuprolide is used in women to treat symptoms of endometriosis (overgrowth of uterine lining outside of the uterus) or uterine fibroids. Leuprolide is also used to treat precocious (early-onset) puberty in both male and female children. You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to leuprolide or if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor or if you are pregnant. Leuprolide usually causes women to stop ovulating or having menstrual periods. However, you may still be able to get pregnant.

Typical Uses

Leuprolide is used to treat advanced prostate cancer in men. It is not a cure. Most types of prostate cancer need the male hormone testosterone to grow and spread. Leuprolide works by reducing the amount of testosterone that the body makes. This helps slow or stop the growth of cancer cells and helps relieve symptoms such as painful urination. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment. Leuprolide is also used to stop early puberty (precocious puberty) in children. It helps to delay sexual development (e.g., growth of the breasts/testicles) and the start of menstrual periods. It also helps slow down the rate of early bone growth so that the chances for reaching normal adult height are increased. Leuprolide works by decreasing the amount of sex hormones that a child's body makes (oestrogen in girls, testosterone in boys). This medication may also be used to treat ovarian cancer.

Side Effects

Common side effects of leuprolide include bone pain, loss of movement in any part of your body swelling, rapid weight gain pain, burning, stinging, bruising, or redness where the medication was injected vomiting, confusion, slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, or slow breathing sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or hack painful or difficult urination increased thirst or urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odour, drowsiness, dry skin heart attack symptoms-chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating or signs of a stroke-sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance.

Drug Interactions

• Leuprolide+amiodarone- Using amiodarone together with leuprolide can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Leuprolide+bedaquiline- Using bedaquiline together with leuprolide can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Leuprolide+dronedarone- Using dronedarone together with leuprolide is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Leuprolide+fingolimod- Before starting fingolimod, let your doctor know if you are currently receiving treatment with leuprolide. Using fingolimod in this situation can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. This is most likely to occur early on after you start treatment with fingolimod, especially within the first 20 hours after the first dose. You may also

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Mechanism of action

Leuprolide binds to the gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor and acts as a potent inhibitor of gonadotropin secretion.

Pregnancy Category : X