Leuprolide acetate Side Effects

Serious side effects

• mental or mood changes as anxiety, delusions, depression, and nervousness
• severe allergic reactions such as rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue
• new or worsening bone pain
• burning, numbness, tingling, or weakness
• paralysis
• blood in the urine
• shortness of breath
• symptoms of heart attack like chest, jaw or left arm pain, numbness of an arm or leg, sudden, severe headache or vomiting, vision changes
• fast slow or irregular heartbeat
• fainting
• severe headache
• symptoms of high blood sugar like drowsiness, fast breathing, flushing, fruit-like breath odor, increased thirst, hunger, or urination
• seizures
• severe drowsiness
• trouble urinating or inability to urinate
• swelling of hands, ankles, or feet
• vision changes
• symptoms of a stroke like confusion, one sided weakness, slurred speech, and vision changes
• severe dizziness or light headedness
• loss of bowel or bladder control
• pain or unusual sensations in your back
• muscle weakness or loss of use
• numbness, weakness, or tingly feeling in your legs or feet
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice,(yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects

• mild burning, pain, stinging, redness and bruising at the injection site
• skin redness, itching, or scaling
• increased sweating
• night sweats
• hot flashes, night sweats, chills, clammy skin
• headache
• upset stomach
• breast changes
• acne, increased growth of facial hair
• joint, muscle aches
• testicle pains
• trouble sleeping, depression, memory problems
• breakthrough bleeding in a female child during the first 2 months of leuprolide treatment
• reduced sexual interest, impotence
• nausea, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain
• vaginal discomfort, dryness
• vaginal bleeding
• swelling of the ankles, feet
• increased urination at night
• breast swelling or tenderness
• vaginal itching or discharge
• dizziness, weakness, tired feeling

Warnings & Recalls for Leuprolide acetate

Drugs that may interact with Leuprolide acetate

Family planning

Leuprolide acetate Treatment and Use

What is Leuprolide acetate?

Leuprolide acetate is used to treat advanced prostate cancer, control ovarian stimulation in In Vitro Fertilization, to treat breast cancer, estrogen-dependent conditions like endometriosis, and for the treatment of children with central precocious puberty. It’s a syntetic polypeptide analog of naturally occurring gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

How does Leuprolide acetate work?

It acts as an agonist at pituitary GnRH receptors. When it interrupts normal pulsatile stimulation and the desensitization of the GnRH receptors. Indirectly it down regulates the secretion of gonadotropins luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) leading to hypogonadism. Thus having a dramatic reduction in estradiol and testosterone levels in both sexes.

Dosage information

Be sure to take as directed by your doctor, no more or less. 1 mg is the recommended single dose that is administered by injection once a month for 3 to 6 months. The injection site shouldn’t be the same every single time.

Other Names for Leuprolide acetate

Brand name

Lawsuits & Legal Information for Leuprolide acetate