Precautions and warnings

The safety of using leuprolide acetate or norethindrone acetate during pregnancy is not known. Before starting LUPRON DEPOT, it’s important to make sure the patient is not pregnant.

At the recommended monthly dose, LUPRON DEPOT usually stops ovulation and periods, but it does **not** act as a reliable birth control method. Patients should use non-hormonal birth control while taking this medicine.

If a patient thinks she might be pregnant, she should see her doctor right away. If pregnancy occurs during treatment, the medication should be stopped, and the patient needs to understand there may be risks to the baby.

At the beginning of treatment, hormone levels may temporarily go up due to how the drug works. Because of this, symptoms might get worse for a short time when therapy starts, but this usually improves as treatment continues.

Norethindrone acetate should be stopped if the patient suddenly has vision problems (partial or complete loss), eye bulging, double vision, or migraines. If an eye exam reveals swollen optic nerves or blood vessel problems in the eye, the medication should also be stopped.

Contraindications

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to GnRH, GnRH agonist analogs, or any of the other ingredients in the medicine.
Do not use it if you have unexplained abnormal vaginal bleeding.

This drug changes hormone levels, which can harm a fetus. If you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking this medication, you should be warned about the possible risks to the baby.

Do not use this medication if you are breastfeeding.

Norethindrone acetate should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:

- Blood clots, clotting disorders, stroke, or a history of these problems
- Severe liver problems or liver disease
- Known or suspected breast cancer

Mode of actions

Leuprorelin is a medicine that works like the natural hormone GnRH. At first, it increases the release of certain hormones from the pituitary gland. However, when Leuprorelin is given continuously, it causes the body to reduce the number of GnRH receptors, which then lowers the amount of these hormones (gonadotrophins) released. As a result, the levels of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen go down. In men, testosterone levels can drop to very low (castrate) levels within 2 to 4 weeks after starting treatment.

Dosage & Administration

Recommended Dose: 1 mg (0.2 mL) administered as a single daily SC injection. The injection sites should be varied periodically.
Lucrin Depot PDS: 1-Month (3.75 mg)/3-Month (11.25 mg): As with other drugs administered by injection, the injection site should be varied periodically.

1-Month (3.75 mg): Prostate Cancer, Endometriosis, Endometriosis with Add-back, Uterine Fibroids, Breast Cancer: Recommended Dose: 3.75 mg administered monthly as a single IM or SC injection.

Central Precocious Puberty (CPP): The dose must be individualized for each child. The dose is based on a mg/kg ratio of Lucrin Depot PDS to body weight. Younger children require higher doses on a mg/kg ratio.

Pregnancy & Lactation

This medicine must not be used during pregnancy. It can be absorbed through the skin and lungs caused can damage your unborn child’s organs and cause congenital disabilities. Strict two effective types of birth control starting one month before and during treatment and for three years after stopping this medicine. Discuss with your doctors if you are not sure which types of birth control are effective for you. You must need to take pregnancy tests regularly during your treatment with this medicine and for at least three years after taking this medicine. If it seems that you do become pregnant stop taking this medicine and call your doctor immediately. If you really become pregnant, miss a menstrual period, or have sex without using two forms of birth control. In some cases, your doctor can prescribe emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy. People on this medicine should not donate blood during the treatment and for three years afterward.

This medicine is also contraindicated breast milk. Breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medication and for three years afterward.

Pack Size & Price