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Be sure to consult your physician with any questions you may have or for information about LUPRON INJECTION (leuprolide acetate) and its use.

WHAT IS LUPRON?

LUPRON INJECTION (leuprolide acetate) is chemically similar to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH or LH-RH) a hormone which occurs naturally in your body.

Normally, your body releases small amounts of LH-RH and this leads to events which stimulate the production of sex hormones.

However, when you inject LUPRON INJECTION (leuprolide acetate), the normal events that lead to sex hormone production are interrupted and testosterone is no longer produced by the testes.

LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) must be injected because, like insulin which is injected by diabetics, LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) is inactive when taken by mouth.

If you were to discontinue the drug for any reason, your body would begin making testosterone again.

DIRECTIONS FOR USING LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection)

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. If using a new bottle for the first time, flip off the plastic cover to expose the grey rubber stopper. Wipe metal ring and rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe each time you use LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) . Check the liquid in the container. If it is not clear or has particles in it, DO NOT USE IT. Exchange it at your pharmacy for another container.
3. Remove outer wrapping from one syringe. Pull plunger back until the tip of the plunger is at the 0.2 mL or 20 unit mark.
4. Take cover off needle. Push the needle through the center of the rubber stopper on the LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) bottle.
5. Push the plunger all the way in to inject air into the bottle.
6. Keep the needle in the bottle and turn the bottle upside down. Check to make sure the tip of the needle is in the liquid. Slowly pull back on the plunger, until the syringe fills to the 0.2 mL or 20 unit mark.
7. Toward the end of a two-week period, the amount of LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) left in the bottle will be small. Take special care to hold the bottle straight and to keep the needle tip in liquid while pulling back on the plunger.
8. Keeping the needle in the bottle and the bottle upside down, check for air bubbles in the syringe. If you see any, push the plunger slowly in to push the air bubble back into the bottle. Keep the tip of the needle in the liquid and pull the plunger back again to fill to the 0.2 mL or 20 unit mark.
9. Do this again if necessary to eliminate air bubbles.
10. To protect your skin, inject each daily dose at a different body spot.
11. Choose an injection spot. Cleanse the injection spot with another alcohol wipe.
12. Hold the syringe in one hand. Hold the skin taut, or pull up a little flesh with the other hand, as you were instructed.
13. Holding the syringe as you would a pencil, thrust the needle all the way into the skin at a 90° angle. Push the plunger to administer the injection.
14. Hold an alcohol wipe down on your skin where the needle is inserted and withdraw the needle at the same angle it was inserted.
15. Use the disposable syringe only once and dispose of it properly as you were instructed. Needles thrown into a garbage bag could accidentally stick someone. NEVER LEAVE SYRINGES, NEEDLES OR DRUGS WHERE CHILDREN CAN REACH THEM.

SOME SPECIAL ADVICE

• You may experience hot flashes when using LUPRON INJECTION (leuprolide acetate). During the first few weeks of treatment you may experience increased bone pain, increased difficulty in urinating, and less commonly but most importantly, you may experience the onset or aggravation of nerve symptoms. In any of these events, discuss the symptoms with your doctor. Like other treatment options, LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) may cause impotence. Notify your doctor if you develop new or worsened symptoms after beginning LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) treatment.
• You may experience some irritation at the injection site, such as burning, itching or swelling. These reactions are usually mild and go away. If they do not, tell your doctor.
• If you have experienced an allergic reaction to other drugs like LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) , you should not use this drug.
• Do not stop taking your injections because you feel better. You need an injection every day to make sure LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) keeps working for you.
• If you need to use an alternate to the syringe supplied with LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) , low-dose insulin syringes should be utilized.
• When the drug level gets low, take special care to hold the bottle straight up and down and to keep the needle tip in liquid while pulling back on the plunger.
• Do not try to get every last drop out of the bottle. This will increase the possibility of drawing air into the syringe and getting an incomplete dose. Some extra drug has been provided so that you can withdraw the recommended number of doses.
• Tell your pharmacist when you will need LUPRON (leuprolide acetate injection) so it will be at the pharmacy when you need it.
• Store below 77°F (25°C). Do not store near a radiator or other very warm place. Do not freeze. Protect from light; store vial in carton until use.
• Do not leave your drug or hypodermic syringes where anyone can pick them up.
• Keep this and all other medications out of reach of children.

ADMINISTERING THE INJECTION

Read this booklet before injecting the medication. Read the complete instructions for injection.

ADMINISTERING THE INJECTION

1. Wash hands thoroughly.

2. Check the liquid in the container. It should look clear. DO NOT USE if it is not clear or if it has particles in it. If using a new bottle, flip off the plastic cover to expose the grey rubber stopper. Use an alcohol swab to cleanse the metal ring and rubber stopper on medication bottle every day, just before you use it.

3. Remove outer wrapping from one syringe.

4. Pull the syringe plunger back until its tip is at the proper mark.

5. Uncover needle. Do not touch the needle.

6. Place the bottle on a clean, flat surface and push the needle through the center of the rubber stopper on the bottle. Push the plunger all the way in to inject air into the bottle.

7. Keep the needle in the bottle. Lift the bottle and turn it straight upside down. Check to see that the needle tip is in the liquid.

8. With the needle tip in the liquid, slowly pull back the plunger until syringe fills to the proper mark. If any bubbles appear in the syringe, remove them by pushing the plunger up slowly. With the needle tip still in the liquid, pull the plunger until it is once more at the proper mark.

9. Choose a different injection site each day. Cleanse the injection site with a new alcohol swab. Hold the skin the way you were instructed. Slide the needle quickly all the way through the skin, into the subcutaneous tissue, at a 90 ° angle.

10. Push the plunger to inject the medication. Withdraw the needle at the same angle it was inserted (90 °). Wipe the skin with an alcohol swab.

11. Dispose of the syringe and alcohol swabs as you were instructed. Remember: use the disposable syringe only once.

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