Leuprolide Acetate, 3-Month Depot, 11.25 mg, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog

Generic and brand names: leuprolide acetate, 3-month depot, 11.25 mg, injection; Lupron 3-month Depot 11.25 mg; Lupron Depot-Gyn

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat endometriosis. It helps to relieve pain and to reduce the number of lesions (sores) or cysts.

This medicine is also given with iron to treat anemia caused by uterine fibroids.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine or hormone
• a stroke
• abnormal vaginal bleeding
• blood clots or a bleeding disorder such as anemia
• cancer in the spine
• depression
• heart disease
• osteoporosis
• problems with drug or alcohol abuse
• trouble urinating

Tell your provider if you smoke cigarettes.

Females of childbearing age: Do not receive this medicine during pregnancy because it may harm the baby. Do not become pregnant while you are receiving this medicine. Usually this medicine stops ovulation and monthly periods. However, this is not a reliable method of birth control. Birth control pills may not prevent pregnancy during this treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need birth control. Do not breast-feed during treatment with this medicine.

How do I use it?

These shots are given once a month by your healthcare provider. The medicine is in depot form, which means that it is released slowly during the month. The shots are given deep into a muscle.

Treatment for endometriosis lasts for 6 months. Treatment for uterine fibroids lasts up to 3 months. Continue receiving these shots for as long as your healthcare provider prescribes.

What should I watch out for?

If your periods continue during treatment, tell your healthcare provider. Your health care provider will monitor you regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

If you miss more than 1 dose of this medicine, you may have breakthrough bleeding or ovulation. Also, you may become pregnant.

Continued treatment with this medicine may affect bone density. Your healthcare provider may order tests to check if this medicine is affecting your bones.

Your symptoms may worsen during the first few days of this treatment. Usually they improve after you take this medicine for a while. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms continue or become bothersome.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Menstrual periods that continue during treatment.

Other: Hot flashes, sweating, headache, depression, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, general pain, inflammation of the vagina, weight gain or loss, acne, dizziness, breast tenderness, change in sexual ability or desire.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• birth control pills and estrogens such as conjugated estrogens (Premarin), estradiol (Estrace, Estraderm, Vivelle, Climara), and ethinyl estradiol (Estinyl)
• medicines to treat diabetes such as acarbose (Precose), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), metformin (Glucophage), miglitol (Glyset), nateglinide (Starlix), repaglinide (Prandin), pioglitazone (Actos), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• natural remedies such as topical progesterone, black cohosh, red clover, chasteberry, evening primrose oil, dong quai, ginseng, melatonin, soy isoflavones, St. John's wort, and wild yam

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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