HWN Suggests

What is Lupron?

Lupron is a LHRH agonist. This means it is a gonadotropin hormone releasing hormone agonist. An agonist is something that turns a process on. In this instance, the Lupron is actually turning on the testosterone production pathway. Now, if you were paying attention above I told you that we give Lupron to lower testosterone but now I’m telling you its function is to raise testosterone. What the heck, this is so confusing. I know, I know. Imagine how I felt in medical school trying to learn this. So even though this turns on the testosterone production pathway, it disrupts the normal process that the body has for this. So over time, by messing up the process, it shuts the system down.

read full article

Articles of Interest

Comparing Leuprolide Formulations in Advanced Prostate Cancer

As far as administering either of the leuprolides, they all sort of have their own nuances. For instance,leuprolide acetate comes in a powder. It has to be reconstituted with sterile water and is an IM injection. IM injections obviously have a little bit more risk involved. They're more painful for the patients. The other formulation of leuprolide acetate is a subcutaneous injection. However, not only does it have to be reconstituted, but it has to be agitated. It is a pretty large needle that's subcutaneous. It does form a small capsule underneath the subcutaneous skin, which patients, if they don't have a lot of subcutaneous tissue, they often are bothered by the little nodule underneath the skin

Eligard vs. Lupron Depot for Prostate Cancer: What Are the Differences?

Eligard and Lupron Depot both contain the same active ingredient — leuprolide. They both lower testosterone levels and are used for advanced prostate cancer. Eligard is given as an injection under the skin. Lupron Depot is given as an injection in a muscle.

Real Men Get Prostate Cancer

Lupron is a testosterone suppressant, designed to starve hormone-dependent cancer cells of the fuel (testosterone) that they crave in order to grow. My doctors believe, and studies indicate, that using hormonal therapy to complement my radiation treatments, which are scheduled to start next month, will give me a better chance of being cured, of survival.

The Use of Zytiga After Lupron to Control Prostate Cancer

Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) is based on the discovery that resistance to Lupron (defined as cancer growth despite zero testosterone in the blood) is not a result of the cancer cells having learned to grow without testosterone. Rather, Lupron resistance is a result of prostate cancer cells having learned how to manufacture their own testosterone internally.

Resources

10 Pharmacist Tips for Taking Lupron Injections for Prostate Cancer

Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) is an injectable hormone therapy used to treat advanced prostate cancer. It’s casually referred to as Lupron. Lupron works by lowering testosterone levels in your body. This can help slow prostate cancer cell growth. It can cause side effects like hot flashes and injection site reactions.

Lupron (Leuprolide)

So for the purpose of this post, I’m gonna talk about Lupron in the context of prostate cancer. Now, I’m picking Lupron (leuprolide acetate) because that is what Dr. Jafri’s office has but there are many cousins of Lupron and your urologist may prescribe a different shot. These are all in the class of LHRH agonists.

StatPearls

Leuprolide is a medication used in the management and treatment of prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, precocious puberty, and other sex hormone-related conditions. It is in the GnRH agonist class of medications.