Products
Leuprorelin is commercially available as an injectable and implant. It has been approved in many countries since 2004.
Structure and properties
Leuprorelin is present in drugs as leuprorelin acetate. The nonapeptide is a synthetic analog of the natural gonadotropin-releasing hormone GnRH.
- GnRH: Pyr-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly.
- Leuprorelin: 5-oxo-Pro-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-D-Leu-Arg-N-ethyl-L-prolinamide
Effects
Leuprorelin (ATC L02AE02) inhibits the secretion of LH and FSH from the pituitary gland and reduces testosterone concentrations when administered over a longer period of time. This inhibits hormone-dependent tumor growth.
Indications
For symptomatic palliative treatment of advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer.
Dosage
According to the SmPC.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity
- Orchiectomized patients
- As the only treatment for patients with prostate cancer with spinal cord compression or evidence of metastasis to the spinal cord
- Women and children
Full precautions can be found in the drug label.
Interactions
No information on drug-drug interactions is available.
Adverse effects
The most common possible adverse effects include skin rashes, injection site reactions, flushing, and fatigue.
