Introduction
Lucrin Depot is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It is also used to treat endometriosis (endometrium of the uterus grows excessively and causes symptoms like pain, heavy or irregular periods), uterine fibroids and central precocious puberty (very early puberty).
Lucrin Depot is given as an injection under the skin by a qualified medical professional. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
Decreased libido, increased sweating, fatigue, muscle weakness, and hot flashes are some very common side effects of this medicine. The long-term use of medicine may cause weakened bones and reduction in bone mineral density. You are advised to take vitamin D and calcium supplements while taking this medicine. It might cause menstrual periods to stop for a period of 7- 12 weeks, inform your doctor if menstrual bleeding continues even during the treatment.
Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you have a history of drinking alcohol, smoker, and osteoporosis. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
Uses of Lucrin Depot
- Prostate cancer
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Precocious puberty (premature puberty)
Side effects of Lucrin Depot
Common
- Decreased libido
- Testicular atrophy
- Increased sweating
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bone pain
- Injection site reaction
How to use Lucrin Depot
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
How Lucrin Depot works
Lucrin Depot is a hormone similar to the one produced by a hypothalmus gland in the brain. It works by decreasing the blood levels of testosterone in males.
What if you forget to take Lucrin Depot?
If you miss a dose of Lucrin Depot, please consult your doctor.
Indication
Uterine fibroids, Endometriosis, Prostate cancer
Adult Dose
Advanced Prostate Cancer
Recommended Dose: 1 mg (0.2 mL) administered as a single daily SC injection.
Endometriosis
3.75 mg IM monthly for up to 6 months or 11.25 mg IM every 3 months for 2 doses (6 months total)
Recommended duration of treatment is 6 months; may treat again for additional 6 months, but with concomitant administration of norethindrone
Uterine Leiomyomata (Fibroids)
3.75 mg IM monthly for up to 3 months or 11.25 mg IM once
Use concomitant iron treatment
Child Dose
Central Precocious Puberty
Indicated when signs of sexual maturity begin to develop in girls <8 years old and boys <9 years old; may be discontinued at appropriate age of onset of puberty (eg, 11 years in females and 12 years in males), at physician's discretion
50 mcg/kg/day SC; may be titrated upward by 10 mcg/kg/day if downregulation not achieved
<2 years old: Safety and efficacy not established
Contraindication
Pregnancy, lactation; hypersensitivity to GnRH, GnRH agonist analogs or product excipients; undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Mode of Action
Leuprorelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue. Following an initial stimulation of gonadotrophins, continuous admin of Leuprorelin leads to down regulation of GnRH receptors and subsequently reduces pituitary gonadotrophin secretion. Reduced gonadotrophin levels lead to inhibition of sex hormone (testosterone and oestrogen) production. Within 2-4 wk after treatment initiation, testosterone levels in male may be reduced to below castrate threshold.
Precaution
Vary inj site periodically. May cause transient elevation of testosterone levels during the first 1-2 wk, which may lead to worsening or onset of new symptoms (e.g. bone pain, neuropathy, haematuria) in prostate cancer patients. Ureteral obstruction and spinal cord compression have been reported; closely monitor patients with urinary obstruction and/or metastatic vertebral lesion. Leuprorelin is associated with increased risk of diabetes and certain CV diseases (heart attack, sudden cardiac death, stroke) when used in men for treatment of prostate cancer. For prostate cancer, monitor response by testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.
For precocious puberty in children, monitor response by GnRH stimulation test sex steroid levels 1-2 month after treatment initiation. Leuprorelin usually inhibits ovulation and stops menstruation in women, but does not incur contraception, non-hormonal contraception should be used as pregnancy is contraindicated. May cause adverse reactions associated with hypoestrogenism and loss in bone density.
Lactation: Contraindicated; not known if drug is excreted in breast milk; make decision to either discontinue nursing or discontinue drug, taking into account risk and benefits to the mother
Side Effect
>10%
Hot flashes (57%),Cardiovascular changes or ischemia (19%),Fatigue (18%),Pain (13%),Peripheral edema (12%)
1-10%
Asthenia (10%),Gynocomastia (7%),Headache (7%),Testicular atrophy (7%),Anorexia (6%),Anemia (5%),Bone pain (5%),Constipation (7%),Urinary frequency (6%),Dermatitis (5%),Dizziness (5%),Nausea and vomiting (5%),Gastroenteritis (3%),Myalgia (3%),UTI (3%),Dyspnea (2%)
Frequency Not Defined
Convulsion,Depression,Neuropathy,Decreased bone density,Hematuria,Obstruction of ureter or bladder,Impotence,Sweating,Implant site reactions (pain, bruising, edema),Spinal cord compression (rare)