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Side Effects Of Lupron Injections For Prostate Cancer

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Lupron Depot For Endometriosis

Darolutamide (Nubeqa) Lupron for High Risk Prostate Cancer | Learn About Clinical Trials

Lupron Depot is used to treat endometriosis in adults.

Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle affect the misplaced tissue, causing symptoms such as pelvic pain and heavy periods.

Lupron Depot works to treat endometriosis by stopping the body from making hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. It can help relieve pain and reduce the size of endometrium-like tissues outside of the uterus.

Lupron Depot may be used as a first treatment to manage endometriosis symptoms. For this purpose, the drug is prescribed together with norethindrone acetate.

Use with norethindrone acetate

Norethindrone acetate is a type of hormone replacement therapy called a progestin. It replaces progesterone, a hormone that Lupron Depot stops the ovaries from making. Taking norethindrone acetate reduces your risk of certain side effects of Lupron Depot, such as bone loss.

But theres a limitation on Lupron Depots use with norethindrone acetate. The total duration of treatment of Lupron Depot with norethindrone acetate is limited to 12 months.

Intermittent Or Continuous Therapy

Once prescribed, hormone therapy used to continue for life, but scientists are now reevaluating that strategy and investigating whether hormone therapy can be taken intermittently, with so-called holidays from treatment. The thinking is that this may not only help restore quality of life as, for example, returning libido and sexual health but also delay the hormone resistance that eventually develops in men taking hormone therapy.

Clinical trials evaluating whether intermittent therapy is as effective or more effective than continuous therapy are now under way, so it is too early to say for sure.

Lupron Depot And Alcohol

For most people, drinking alcohol occasionally or in moderation is safe during Lupron Depot treatment.

But long-term alcohol use may increase the risk of bone loss. Lupron Depot treatment also may increase this risk, especially in people who already have thin or weak bones.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to consume during Lupron Depot treatment.

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What Are Some Things I Need To Know Or Do While I Take This Drug

For all patients taking this drug:

Males:

  • The chance of severe and sometimes deadly problems may be raised in people with bladder blockage. It may also be raised in people with growths on or near the spine or spinal cord. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.
  • Lowering male hormones in the body may raise the chance of a type of heartbeat that is not normal called prolonged QT interval. Talk with the doctor.
  • This drug may affect being able to father a child. Talk with the doctor.

Females:

  • This drug may affect being able to get pregnant. This effect goes back to normal when the drug is stopped. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
  • Most of the time, this drug stops you from having a period . This is not a method of birth control. Use a non-hormone type of birth control like condoms to prevent pregnancy while taking this drug.
  • If you miss doses of this drug, bleeding between cycles can happen. Talk with your doctor.
  • This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
  • A pregnancy test will be done to show that you are NOT pregnant before starting this drug. If you get pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.
  • Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

What Is Lupron Depot

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Lupron Depot overstimulates the body’s own production of certain hormones, which causes that production to shut down temporarily. This medicine reduces the amount of testosterone in men or estrogen in women.

Lupron Depot is used in men to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer .

Lupron Depot is used in women to treat symptoms of endometriosis or uterine fibroids.

Lupron Depot-Ped is used to treat precocious puberty in both male and female children at least 2 years old.

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What Should I Know About Lupron Depot Vs Eligard

Lupron Depot and Eligard are both brand-name prescription medications. Both contain the same active drug, leuprolide acetate. But they differ in some of their uses.

To learn more about how Lupron Depot and Eligard compare, see this article. You can also ask your doctor if one of these drugs may be right for you.

When considering Lupron Depot treatment, some important things to talk with your doctor about include your overall health and current medications. Read on to find out more about what factors can affect whether Lupron Depot is a good treatment option.

Secondary Treatment Following Relapse

Hormone therapy may also be used as a secondary or salvage treatment when PSA levels rise following initial prostate cancer treatment, indicating the cancer has returned. This situation is known as biochemical recurrence. The salient points to keep in mind are that hormone therapy is most often used as a salvage treatment when PSA doubling time is less than six months, indicating that the cancer is aggressive or may have already metastasized.

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What Is This Medication

LEUPROLIDE is a man-made hormone. It is used to treat the symptoms of prostate cancer. This medicine may also be used to treat children with early onset of puberty. It may be used for other hormonal conditions.

This medicine may be used for other purposes ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME: Lupron

How Does Hormone Therapy Work Against Prostate Cancer

What is the Best Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer?

Early in their development, prostate cancers need androgens to grow. Hormone therapies, which are treatments that decrease androgen levels or block androgen action, can inhibit the growth of such prostate cancers, which are therefore called castration sensitive, androgen dependent, or androgen sensitive.

Most prostate cancers eventually stop responding to hormone therapy and become castration resistant. That is, they continue to grow even when androgen levels in the body are extremely low or undetectable. In the past, these tumors were also called hormone resistant, androgen independent, or hormone refractory however, these terms are rarely used now because the tumors are not truly independent of androgens for their growth. In fact, some newer hormone therapies have become available that can be used to treat tumors that have become castration resistant.

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How Is Lupron Used

Lupron has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat certain types of prostate cancer for men, and breast cancer and endometriosis for women. It can also treat certain types of anemia and premature puberty in children. It is also used as hormone therapy for transgender females. Lupron can be prescribed alone or with other anti-cancer medications.

Available Formulations

Lupron is only available as a solution for intramuscular or subcutaneous injections into the muscle under the skin. It is available in several different dosage strengths, which are available as 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, or 6-month long injections.

Directions for Use

Lupron injections can be given every day, once a month, or once every several months, depending on the condition treated. Verify the correct dose and frequency with your provider. The dose should not be more or less than what is prescribed. Most of the time, it is administered by a health care provider but can be self-administered as well. Wash hands before and after injection.

General injection administration instructions:

Brand-specific injection information:

Missed Dose

This medicine must be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose, contact your physician for further instructions immediately.

Storage

Use And Important Safety Information You Should Know About Lupron Depotped

Use for LUPRON DEPOT-PED®

LUPRON DEPOTPED 7.5 mg, 11.25 mg, and 15 mg for 1month and 11.25 mg and 30 mg for 3month administration are prescribed for the treatment of children with central precocious puberty .

Doctors may diagnose children with CPP when signs of sexual maturity begin to develop in girls under the age of 8 or boys under the age of 9. Your doctor should perform tests to rule out possible causes of early puberty that would require different treatment .

It is not known if LUPRON DEPOTPED is safe and effective in children under 2 years of age.

Important Safety Information for LUPRON DEPOTPED

What is the most important information I should know about LUPRON DEPOTPED?

  • During the first 2 to 4 weeks of treatment, LUPRON DEPOTPED can cause an increase in some hormones. During this time, you may notice more signs of puberty in your child, including vaginal bleeding.
  • Some people taking gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonists like LUPRON DEPOTPED have had new or worsened mental problems. Mental problems may include emotional symptoms such as:
  • Acting aggressive
  • Some people taking GnRH agonists like LUPRON DEPOTPED have had seizures. The risk of seizures may be higher in people who:
  • Have a history of seizures
  • Have a history of epilepsy
  • Have a history of brain or brain vessel problems or tumors
  • Are taking a medicine that has been connected to seizures, such as bupropion or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
  • Injection site pain
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    Controversies In Hormone Therapy

    The use of hormone therapy requires as much art as science. Physicians do not always agree about when it is best to start treatment, whether it needs to be continuous or can be stopped and started up again periodically, and whether monotherapy or combination therapy is best. Here are the salient issues, what the studies say and what I believe and follow in my own practice.

    How Effective Is It For Treating Prostate Cancer

    LUPRON: Side effects, ratings, and patient comments

    Although Lupron for prostate cancer is not a novel idea, studies on this subject are scarce. Current evidence confirms administration of leuprolide acetate can, indeed, suppress the production of testosterone, i.e., it is effective for androgen deprivation.

    Not only is leuprolide effective in suppressing testosterone, but it is also well-tolerated.

    Not every patient with prostate cancer will need to take Lupron. Doctors recommend and prescribe leuprolide acetate to men with late-stage prostate cancer.

    Its highly unlikely for most doctors to start treating early-stage prostate cancer with hormonal therapies, including Lupron.

    Doctors may prescribe Lupron for cases when cancer comes back after surgery or radiation therapy.

    Hormone therapy such as Lupron may be recommended to patients whose cancers spread too much for radiation therapy and surgery to cure it.

    Patients who cant have surgery or radiation therapy could benefit from Lupron and other hormone therapy approaches to treat prostate cancer.

    Doctors may also recommend Lupron to shrink cancer before employing radiation therapy.

    Prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and having a high risk of cancer returning may also get a prescription for Lupron therapy.

    Now youre probably wondering why doctors cant start with hormonal therapy such as Lupron at early prostate cancer stages? Whats stopping them?

    However, cancer may become resistant to the medication and stop responding to the treatment.

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    Receiving Lupron Depot With Other Drugs

    If youre receiving Lupron Depot for endometriosis, your doctor may also prescribe norethindrone acetate.

    Norethindrone acetate comes as an oral tablet. Its a type of hormone replacement therapy called a progestin. It replaces progesterone, a hormone that your body stops making while youre using Lupron Depot treatment. Taking norethindrone acetate with Lupron Depot reduces your risk of certain side effects of Lupron Depot, such as loss of bone strength.

    Questions for your doctor

    You may have questions about Lupron Depot and your treatment plan. Its important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

    Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

    • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Lupron Depot affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you dont understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.
  • Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So dont be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

    Is The Cost Of Eligard Vs Lupron Depot The Same

    Both Eligard and Lupron Depot are expensive, and neither has a generic available. Even with a GoodRx coupon, an Eligard dose ranges from about $475 to $3,500, depending on the strength. Lupron Depot can cost $2,000 or more per dose without insurance.

    Its possible your insurance may prefer one brand over the other. Be sure to contact your insurance provider for details on this. The manufacturers of Eligard and Lupron Depot both have financial assistance resources on their website to help you afford the cost of your medication.

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    What Is Lupron Depot Used For

    Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped are a type of hormone therapy. This medication belongs to a group of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists.

    GnRH agonists work by activating the pituitary gland in your brain to release certain hormones. In turn, these hormones cause your reproductive system to release a surge of sex hormones.

    This surge signals your body to stop making the sex hormones. Ultimately, in males, Lupron Depot causes the testicles to stop making testosterone. And in females, the drug causes the ovaries to stop making estrogen and progesterone.

    Lupron Depot and Lupron Depot-Ped are used to treat certain conditions that may improve when the body stops making these hormones. These conditions are described below.

    * In this article, we use the terms male and female to refer to someones sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

    Evidence For Combining Hormone Therapy And Radiation Treatment

    Lupron backlash preview

    Bolla M, Collette L, Blank L, et al. Long-Term Results with Immediate Androgen Suppression and External Irradiation in Patients with Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer : A Phase III Randomised Trial. Lancet 2002 360:1036. PMID: 12126818.

    Bolla M, Gonzalez D, Warde P, et al. Improved Survival in Patients with Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy and Goserelin. New England Journal of Medicine 1997 337:295300. PMID: 9233866.

    DAmico AV, Schultz D, Loffredo M, et al. Biochemical Outcome Following External Beam Radiation Therapy With or Without Androgen Suppression Therapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer. Journal of the American Medical Association 2000 284:12803. PMID: 10979115.

    DAmico AV, Manola J, Loffredo M, et al. Six-Month Androgen Suppression Plus Radiation Therapy Versus Radiation Therapy Alone for Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2004 292:8217. PMID: 15315996.

    Denham JW, Steigler A, Lamb DS, et al. Short-Term Androgen Deprivation and Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer: Results from the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group 96.01 Randomised Controlled Trial. Lancet Oncology 2005 6:84150. PMID: 16257791.

    Nesslinger NJ, Sahota RA, Stone B, et al. Standard Treatments Induce Antigen-Specific Immune Responses in Prostate Cancer. Clinical Cancer Research 2007 13:1493502. PMID: 17332294.

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    What Are Some Side Effects That I Need To Call My Doctor About Right Away

    WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

    For all patients taking this drug:

    Females:

    • Still having a menstrual period.
    • Vaginal itching or discharge.
    • Vaginal irritation.

    What Should I Watch For While Using This Medication

    Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. During the first week, your symptoms may get worse, but then will improve as you continue your treatment. You may get hot flashes, increased bone pain, increased difficulty passing urine, or an aggravation of nerve symptoms. Discuss these effects with your doctor or health care professional, some of them may improve with continued use of this medicine.

    Female patients may experience a menstrual cycle or spotting during the first 2 months of therapy with this medicine. If this continues, contact your doctor or health care professional.

    This medicine may increase blood sugar. Ask your healthcare provider if changes in diet or medicines are needed if you have diabetes.

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    How Do Antineoplastic Gnrh Agonists Work

    Antineoplasticgonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists are a class of drugs used to treat advanced prostate cancer, central precocious puberty in children aged two years and above, endometriosis , and fibroids .

    GnRH hormone is produced by the hypothalamus that further stimulates the pituitary gland to produce LH and FSH. These hormones when released in the blood stimulate the production of testosterone by the testes in men and estrogen by the ovaries in women. The release of GnRH, LH, and FSH is governed by negative feedback, indicating that when too much testosterone or estrogen is produced, the body sends a signal to the pituitarygland to reduce the production of GnRH, which in turn reduces the production of LH and FSH. This results in reduced production of testosterone and estrogen.

    Testosterone promotes the growth of prostate cancer therefore, GnRH agonists are used to reduce the level of testosterone to slow down the growth of cancer cells. Estrogen promotes the growth of fibroids and areas of endometriosis therefore, GnRH agonists are used to reduce the production of estrogen, thus treating endometriosis and fibroids.

    GnRH agonists are administered as an extended-release suspension to be injected intramuscularly and subcutaneously once every month and as an implant inserted by a doctor on the inside of the upper arm.

    GnRH agonists work in the following ways:

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