Type of medicine: gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (hormone therapy for prostate cancer)
Generic and brand names: leuprolide acetate, injection; Lupron Injection
This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat advanced prostate cancer. It helps lessen the symptoms of prostate cancer, but it is not a cure. It may be given when other medicines or surgery are not likely to be helpful or are considered unacceptable.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your provider if you smoke cigarettes or you take steroid or seizure medicines.
This medicine should not be given to women or children. Women should not take this medicine if they are pregnant or may become pregnant because it may cause a miscarriage or birth defects.
The shots are given just under the skin each day. Your healthcare provider will determine the exact dosage. If your healthcare provider is giving you the shots, keep all your appointments.
Sometimes you can give yourself these shots or have someone at home give them to you. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Be sure you know how and when to have them and how much medicine to use. Use sterile, disposable syringes and needles. Use them only once and dispose of them safely, following your healthcare provider's instructions.
Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine for preparing the shots.
Wash your hands before using this medicine. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots:
If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: decreased activity, trouble breathing.
This medicine may increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or abnormal heartbeats.
You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
This medicine may cause impotence (trouble having and keeping an erection), decrease your sex drive, or reduce the amount of semen released during sexual intercourse. These effects are usually temporary.
Continued treatment with this medicine may affect bone density. Your healthcare provider may order tests to check if this medicine is affecting your bones.
Your symptoms may become worse during the first few weeks of treatment. Usually they improve after you take this medicine for a while. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms continue or become bothersome.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.
You may develop diabetes when you take this medicine. If you already have diabetes, it may get worse. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irritation or rash at the spot where the shots are given; seizures; trouble urinating; weakness, numbness, or tingling in your legs; fever; depression; thoughts of suicide; abnormal thoughts; worsening of your symptoms; sudden headache with vision problems; vomiting; confusion; slow heart beat; fainting; slow breathing.
Other: Hot flashes, swelling of your hands or feet, muscle or joint pain, headache, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, sweating, shrinking testicles, vomiting, change in sexual ability or desire, hair loss, change in sense of taste, vision changes, dizziness, tiredness.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Do not let it freeze. Keep the vial in the box until you use it. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Do not use this medicine after the expiration date on the bottle.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
