Eligard (Leuprolide Acetate) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 10, 2012

Eligard

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The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder. (See the diagram that follows.) The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. The main function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar. Semen is the fluid that transports the sperm to assist with reproduction. A man can manage quite well, however, without his prostate gland. (See the section on surgical treatment for prostate cancer.)

In a young man, the normal prostate gland is the size of a walnut (<30g). During normal aging, however, the gland usually grows larger. This hormone-related enlargement with aging is called b...

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Eligard

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ELIGARD
(leuprolide acetate) Suspension for Subcutaneous Injection

DRUG DESCRIPTION

ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) ® is a sterile polymeric matrix formulation of leuprolide acetate, a GnRH agonist, for subcutaneous injection. It is designed to deliver leuprolide acetate at a controlled rate over a one-, three-, four- or six-month therapeutic period.

Leuprolide acetate is a synthetic nonapeptide analog of naturally occurring gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) that, when given continuously, inhibits pituitary gonadotropin secretion and suppresses testicular and ovarian steroidogenesis. The analog possesses greater potency than the natural hormone. The chemical name is 5-oxo-L-prolyl-L-histidyl-Ltryptophyl-L-seryl-L-tyrosyl-D-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-arginyl-N-ethyl-L-prolinamide acetate (salt) with the following structural formula:

ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) Structural Formula Illustration

ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) ® is prefilled and supplied in two separate, sterile syringes whose contents are mixed immediately prior to administration. The two syringes are joined and the single dose product is mixed until it is homogenous. ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) ® is administered subcutaneously, where it forms a solid drug delivery depot.

One syringe contains the ATRIGEL® Delivery System and the other contains leuprolide acetate. ATRIGEL® is a polymeric (non-gelatin containing) delivery system consisting of a biodegradable poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGH or PLG) polymer formulation dissolved in a biocompatible solvent, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).

Refer to Table 5 for the delivery system composition and constituted product formulation for each ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) ® product.

Table 5: ELIGARD (leuprolide acetate) ® Delivery System Composition and Constituted Product Formulation

		ELIGARD® 7.5 mg	ELIGARD® 22.5 mg	ELIGARD® 30 mg	ELIGARD® 45 mg
ATRIGEL® Delivery System Syringe	Polymer	PLGH	PLG	PLG	PLG
	Polymer description	Copolymer containing carboxyl endgroups	Copolymer with hexanediol	Copolymer with hexanediol	Copolymer with hexanediol
	Polymer DLlactide to Glycolide Molar Ratio	50:50	75:25	75:25	85:15
Constituted Product	Polymer delivered	82.5 mg	158.6 mg	211.5 mg	165 mg
	NMP delivered	160.0 mg	193.9 mg	258.5 mg	165 mg
	Leuprolide acetate delivered	7.5 mg	22.5 mg	30 mg	45 mg
	Approximate Leuprolide free base equivalent	7.0 mg	21 mg	28 mg	42 mg
	Approximate administered formulation weight	250 mg	375 mg	500 mg	375 mg
	Approximate injection volume	0.25 mL	0.375 mL	0.5 mL	0.375 mL

What are the possible side effects of leuprolide (Eligard, Lupron, Lupron Depot, Lupron Depot-Gyn, Lupron Depot-Ped)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

bone pain;
swelling, rapid weight gain;
pain, burning, stinging, bruising, or redness where the medication was injected;
feeling like you might pass out;
painful or difficult urination;

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Eligard »

What are the precautions when taking leuprolide acetate (Eligard)?

Before using leuprolide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: diabetes, heart disease (such as heart attack), stroke, family history of sudden cardiac death.

Leuprolide may weaken your bones and increase your risk for bone loss (osteoporosis) if used for a long time. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have osteoporosis or if you have any of the following risk factors for osteoporosis: long-term alcohol use, smoking, family history of osteoporosis...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 3/3/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.