Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
What Is Lupron Depot?
Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) is a man-made form of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) used in men to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer. Lupron Depot is used in women to treat symptoms of endometriosis (overgrowth of uterine lining outside of the uterus) or uterine fibroids, and is also used to treat precocious (early-onset) puberty in both male and female children.
What Are Side Effects of Lupron Depot?
Common side effects of Lupron Depot include:
- hot flashes (flushing)
- increased sweating
- night sweats
- chills
- clammy skin
- tiredness
- swelling of the ankles/feet
- increased urination at night
- mental/mood changes (e.g., depression, mood swings)
- dizziness
- injection site reactions (burning, redness, stinging, pain, bruising, swelling, abscess)
- acne
- increased growth of facial hair
- breakthrough bleeding in a female child during the first 2 months of Lupron Depot treatment
- weakness
- nausea
- diarrhea
- constipation
- stomach pain
- skin redness/itching/scaling
- joint or muscle pain
- vaginal itching or discharge
- breast swelling or tenderness
- testicle pain
- impotence
- loss of interest in sex
- sleep problems (insomnia)
- rash (including a painful rash with fever)
- memory problems
- blisters/sores
- facial swelling
- vaginitis
- weight gain
- headache
Dosage for Lupron Depot
The recommended dose of Lupron Depot 22.5 mg for 3-month administration is one injection every 12 weeks. The recommended dose of Lupron Depot 30 mg for 4-month administration is one injection every 16 weeks. It is administered under physician supervision.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Lupron Depot?
Other drugs may interact with Lupron Depot. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Lupron Depot During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Lupron Depot must not be used during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor. Consult your doctor to discuss birth control. Non-hormonal birth control methods are recommended. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because the effects on a nursing infant are unknown, breastfeeding is not recommended.
Additional Information
Our Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
IMAGES
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Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, sweating, fast heartbeats, dizziness, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- problems with your pituitary gland--sudden severe headache, vomiting, problems with your eyes or vision, changes in mood or behavior;
- bone pain, loss of movement in any part of your body;
- swelling, rapid weight gain;
- a seizure;
- unusual changes in mood or behavior (crying spells, anger, feeling irritable);
- sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or hack;
- painful or difficult urination; or
- high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor.
Rare but serious side effects may occur. Call your doctor if you have:
- pain or unusual sensations in your back, numbness, weakness, or tingly feeling in your legs or feet;
- muscle weakness or loss of use, loss of bowel or bladder control;
- 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.
Common side effects may include:
- pituitary gland problems;
- cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough with or without mucus;
- fever, tiredness, not feeling well;
- stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation;
- wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing;
- hot flashes, sweating;
- dizziness, mood changes;
- headache, general pain;
- vaginal swelling, itching, or discharge;
- weight changes;
- decreased testicle size;
- decreased interest in sex; or
- redness, pain, swelling, or oozing where the shot was given.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Lupron Depot (Leuprolide Acetate for Depot Suspension)
SLIDESHOW
Screening Tests Every Man Should Have See SlideshowSIDE EFFECTS
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
- Loss of Bone Mineral Density [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Hypersensitivity Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Initial Flare of Symptoms with Management of Endometriosis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Convulsions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Clinical Depression [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
LUPRON DEPOT 11.25 mg (Monotherapy)
The safety of LUPRON DEPOT 11.25 mg for the endometriosis and fibroids indications was established based on adequate and well-controlled adult studies of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg for 1-month administration and on a single trial of LUPRON DEPOT 11.25 mg. The safety of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg was evaluated in six clinical studies in which a total of 332 women were treated for up to six months. Women were treated with monthly IM injections of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg. The population age range was 18 to 53 years old.
Adverse Reactions (>1%) Leading to Study Discontinuation
In the six studies 1.8% of women treated with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg discontinued prematurely due to hot flashes.
Common Adverse Reactions
The safety of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg was evaluated in controlled clinical trials in 166 women with endometriosis and 166 women with uterine fibroids. Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 5% of women in either of these populations are noted in Tables 2 and 3, below.
Table 2. Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 5% of Women with Endometriosis Taking LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg -2 Studies
| LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg N=166 | Danazol N=136 | Placebo N=31 | |
| % | % | % | |
| Hot flashes/sweats* | 84 | 57 | 29 |
| Headache* | 32 | 22 | 6 |
| Vaginitis* | 28 | 17 | 0 |
| Depression/emotional lability* | 22 | 20 | 3 |
| General pain | 19 | 16 | 3 |
| Weight gain/loss | 13 | 26 | 0 |
| Nausea/vomiting | 13 | 13 | 3 |
| Decreased libido* | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Dizziness | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Acne | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| Skin reactions | 10 | 15 | 3 |
| Joint disorder* | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Edema | 7 | 13 | 3 |
| Paresthesias | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| GI disturbances* | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| Neuromuscular disorders* | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| Breast changes/tenderness/pain* | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| Nervousness* | 5 | 8 | 0 |
In these same studies, symptoms reported in < 5% of women included:
| |||
Table 3. Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 5% of Women with Uterine Fibroids (4 Studies)
| LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg N=166 | Placebo N=163 | |
| % | % | |
| Hot flashes/sweats* | 73 | 18 |
| Headache* | 26 | 18 |
| Vaginitis* | 11 | 2 |
| Depression/emotional lability* | 11 | 4 |
| Asthenia | 8 | 5 |
| General pain | 8 | 6 |
| Joint disorder* | 8 | 3 |
| Edema | 5 | 1 |
| Nausea/vomiting | 5 | 4 |
| Nervousness* | 5 | 1 |
In these same studies, symptoms reported in < 5% of women included:
| ||
In one controlled clinical trial utilizing the monthly formulation of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg and LUPRON DEPOT 7.5 mg in women diagnosed with uterine fibroids received one injection every 4 weeks for a duration of 12 weeks. Adverse reactions of galactorrhea, pyelonephritis, and urinary incontinence were reported in the 7.5 mg dose group but not in the 3.75 mg dose group. Generally, a higher incidence of hypoestrogenic effects was observed at the higher dose.
In a pharmacokinetic trial involving 20 healthy female subjects receiving LUPRON DEPOT 11.25 mg, a few adverse reactions were reported with this formulation that were not reported previously, including face edema.
In a phase 4 study involving women with endometriosis who received LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg (N=20) administered monthly or LUPRON DEPOT 11.25 mg (N=21) administered every 3 months, similar adverse reactions were reported by the two groups of women. In general, the safety profiles of the two formulations were comparable in this study.
LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg In Combination With Norethindrone Acetate 5 mg
The safety of co-administering LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg and norethindrone acetate was evaluated in two clinical studies in which a total of 242 women with endometriosis were treated for up to one year. Women were treated with monthly IM injections of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg (13 injections) alone or monthly IM injections of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg (13 injections) plus norethindrone acetate 5 mg daily. The population age range was 17 to 43 years old. The majority of women were Caucasian (87%).
In one study, 106 women were randomized to one year of treatment with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg alone or with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg and norethindrone acetate. The other study was an open-label, single arm clinical study in 136 women on one year of treatment with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate, with follow-up for up to 12 months after completing treatment.
Adverse Reactions (>1%) Leading to Study Discontinuation
In the controlled study, 18% of women treated monthly with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg and 18% of women treated monthly with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions, most commonly hot flashes (6%) and insomnia (4%) in the LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg alone group and hot flashes and emotional lability (4% each) in the LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone group.
In the open-label study, 13% of women treated monthly with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions, most commonly depression (4%) and acne (2%).
Common Adverse Reactions
Table 4 lists the adverse reactions observed in at least 5% of women in any treatment group, during the first 6 months of treatment in the two add-back clinical studies, in which women were treated with monthly LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg with or without norethindrone acetate 5mg daily co-treatment. The most frequently-occurring adverse reactions observed in these studies were hot flashes and headaches.
Table 4. Adverse Reactions Occurring in the First Six Months of Treatment in ≥ 5% of Women with Endometriosis
| Controlled Study | Open Label Study | ||
| LD-Only* | LD/N† | LD/N† | |
| N=51 | N=55 | N=136 | |
| Adverse Reactions | % | % | % |
| Any Adverse Reaction | 98 | 96 | 93 |
| Hot flashes/Sweats | 98 | 87 | 57 |
| Headache/Migraine | 65 | 51 | 46 |
| Depression/Emotional Lability | 31 | 27 | 34 |
| Insomnia/Sleep Disorder | 31 | 13 | 15 |
| Nausea/Vomiting | 25 | 29 | 13 |
| Pain | 24 | 29 | 21 |
| Vaginitis | 20 | 15 | 8 |
| Asthenia | 18 | 18 | 11 |
| Dizziness/Vertigo | 16 | 11 | 7 |
| Altered Bowel Function (constipation, diarrhea) | 14 | 15 | 10 |
| Weight Gain | 12 | 13 | 4 |
| Decreased Libido | 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Nervousness/Anxiety | 8 | 4 | 11 |
| Breast Changes/Pain/Tenderness | 6 | 13 | 8 |
| Memory Disorder | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Skin/Mucous Membrane Reaction | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| GI Disturbance (dyspepsia, flatulence) | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| Androgen-Like Effects (acne, alopecia) | 4 | 5 | 18 |
| Changes in Appetite | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Injection Site Reaction | 2 | 9 | 3 |
| Neuromuscular Disorder (leg cramps, paresthesia) | 2 | 9 | 3 |
| Menstrual Disorders | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Edema | 0 | 9 | 7 |
| * LD-Only = LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg † LD/N = LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate 5 mg | |||
In the controlled clinical trial, 50 of 51 (98%) women in the LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg arm and 48 of 55 (87%) women in the LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate arm reported experiencing hot flashes on one or more occasions during treatment.
Table 5 presents hot flash data in the last month of treatment.
Table 5. Hot Flashes in the Month Prior to the Assessment Visit (Controlled Study)
| Assessment Visit | Treatment Group | Number of Women Reporting Hot Flashes | Number of Days with Hot Flashes | Maximum Number Hot Flashes in 24 Hours | |||
| N | (%) | N2 | Mean | N2 | Mean | ||
| Week 24 | LD-Only* | 32/37 | 86 | 37 | 19 | 36 | 5.8 |
| LD/N† | 22/38 | 581 | 38 | 71 | 38 | 1.91 | |
| * LD-Only = LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg. † LD/N = LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate 5 mg. 1 Statistically significantly less than the LD-Only group (p<0.01). 2 Number of women assessed. | |||||||
Serious Adverse Reactions
Urinary tract infection (1.9%), renal calculus (0.7%), depression (0.7%)
Changes In Laboratory Values During Treatment
Liver Enzymes
Three percent of women with uterine fibroids treated with L
UPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg for 1month administration, manifested post-treatment transaminase values that were at least twice the baseline value and above the upper limit of the normal range.
In the two clinical trials of women with endometriosis, 2% (4 of 191) women receiving leuprolide acetate plus norethindrone acetate for up to 12 months developed an elevated (at least twice the upper limit of normal) SGPT and 1% (2 of 136) developed an elevated GGT. Among these six women with increased liver tests, the increases in five were observed beyond 6 months of treatment. None were associated with an elevated bilirubin concentration.
Lipids
Triglycerides were increased above the upper limit of normal in 12% of the women with endometriosis who received LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg and in 32% of the women receiving LUPRON DEPOT 11.25 mg.
Of those endometriosis and women with uterine fibroid whose pretreatment cholesterol values were in the normal range, mean change following therapy was +16 mg/dL to +17 mg/dL in women with endometriosis and +11 mg/dL to +29 mg/dL in women with uterine fibroids . In the women with endometriosis, increases from the pretreatment values were statistically significant (p<0.03). There was essentially no increase in the LDL/HDL ratio in women from either population receiving LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg.
Percent changes from baseline for serum lipids and percentages of women with serum lipid values outside of the normal range in the two studies of LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg and norethindrone acetate are summarized in Table 6 and Table 7 below. The major impact of adding norethindrone acetate to treatment with LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg was a decrease in serum HDL cholesterol and an increase in the LDL/HDL ratio.
Table 6. Serum Lipids: Mean Percent Changes from Baseline Values at Treatment Week 24
| LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg | LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate 5 mg daily | |||||
| Controlled Study (n=39) | Controlled Study (n=41) | Open Label Study (n=117) | ||||
| Baseline Value* | Week 24 % Change | Baseline Value* | Week 24 %Change | Baseline Value* | Week 24 % Change | |
| Total Cholesterol | 170.5 | 9.2% | 179.3 | 0.2% | 181.2 | 2.8% |
| HDL Cholesterol | 52.4 | 7.4% | 51.8 | -18.8% | 51.0 | -14.6% |
| LDL Cholesterol | 96.6 | 10.9% | 101.5 | 14.1% | 109.1 | 13.1% |
| LDL/HDL Ratio | 2.0† | 5.0% | 2.1† | 43.4% | 2.3† | 39.4% |
| Triglycerides | 107.8 | 17.5% | 130.2 | 9.5% | 105.4 | 13.8% |
| * mg/dL †mg/dL | ||||||
Changes from baseline tended to be greater at Week 52. After treatment, mean serum lipid levels from women with follow-up data returned to pretreatment values.
Table 7. Percentage of Women with Serum Lipids Values Outside of the Normal Range
| LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg | LUPRON DEPOT 3.75 mg plus norethindrone acetate 5 mg daily | |||||
| Controlled Study (n=39) | Controlled Study (n=41) | Open Label Study (n=117) | ||||
| Week 0 | Week 24* | Week 0 | Week 24* | Week 0 | Week 24* | |
| Total Cholesterol (>240 mg/dL) | 15% | 23% | 15% | 20% | 6% | 7% |
| HDL Cholesterol (<40 mg/dL) | 15% | 10% | 15% | 44% | 15% | 41% |
| LDL Cholesterol (>160 mg/dL) | 0% | 8% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 11% |
| LDL/HDL Ratio (>4.0) | 0% | 3% | 2% | 15% | 7% | 21% |
| Triglycerides (>200 mg/dL) | 13% | 13% | 12% | 10% | 5% | 9% |
| * Includes all women regardless of baseline value. | ||||||
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of LUPRON DEPOT monotherapy or LUPRON DEPOT with norethindrone acetate add-back therapy. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
During postmarketing surveillance which includes other dosage forms and other populations, the following adverse reactions were reported:
- Body As A Whole: Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, localized reactions including induration and abscess at the site of injection
- Nervous/Psychiatric System - Mood swings, including depression; suicidal ideation and attempt; convulsion, peripheral neuropathy, paralysis
- Hepato-Biliary System - Serious liver injury
- Injury, Poisoning And Procedural Complications - Spinal fracture
- Investigations - Decreased white blood count
- Musculoskeletal And Connective Tissue System - Tenosynovitis-like symptoms
- Vascular System - Hypotension, hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack
- Respiratory System: Symptoms consistent with an asthmatic process
- Multi-System Disorders - Symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia (e.g., joint and muscle pain, headaches, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal distress, and shortness of breath), individually and collectively.
Pituitary apoplexy
During postmarketing surveillance, cases of pituitary apoplexy (a clinical syndrome secondary to infarction of the pituitary gland) have been reported after the administration of leuprolide acetate and other GnRH agonists. In a majority of these cases, a pituitary adenoma was diagnosed, with a majority of pituitary apoplexy cases occurring within 2 weeks of the first dose, and some within the first hour. In these cases, pituitary apoplexy has presented as sudden headache, vomiting, visual changes, ophthalmoplegia, altered mental status, and sometimes cardiovascular collapse. Immediate medical attention has been required.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Lupron Depot (Leuprolide Acetate for Depot Suspension)
© Lupron Depot Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Lupron Depot Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.