Leuprolide

FDA-approved (prescription) Evidence grade A — regulator-approved with pivotal randomised trials Updated 2026-10-20

This page describes published research and public regulatory records. It is not medical advice. SoluneFit does not sell, supply, or recommend any compound. The SoluneFit app includes a private, on-device tracker for people who want a record of what they and their clinician have already decided — the app neither suggests compounds nor doses.

Also known as: Leuprorelin, Lupron Depot, Lupron, Eligard, leuprolide acetate.

Regulatory status

FDA-approved (Lupron Depot, AbbVie): advanced prostate cancer (initial approval 1989) [1]; endometriosis and preoperative fibroid anaemia (initial approval 1985) [2]. Prescription only.

What it is

GnRH (LHRH) receptor agonist; synthetic nonapeptide.

A long-acting injected analogue of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone that, after a brief surge, shuts down testosterone and oestrogen production. Approved for advanced prostate cancer and, as Lupron Depot 3.75 mg / 11.25 mg, for endometriosis and fibroid-related anaemia before surgery.

What the published research shows

Long-established regulator approval backed by controlled trials in prostate cancer, endometriosis and fibroids.

Published human studies and reports (these describe trial populations, not SoluneFit claims):

Advanced prostate cancer (Lupron Depot label): IM: 7.5 mg every 4 weeks, 22.5 mg every 12 weeks, 30 mg every 16 weeks or 45 mg every 24 weeks; strengths are not additive or interchangeable.
Endometriosis (Lupron Depot 3.75 mg label): 3.75 mg IM monthly for 1-6 months; retreatment only with norethindrone add-back after a bone-density assessment; total with add-back no more than 12 months.
Uterine fibroids with anaemia, before surgery (Lupron Depot 3.75 mg label): 3.75 mg IM monthly for up to 3 months, given with iron.

Mechanism, as reported

Continuous stimulation of pituitary GnRH receptors first raises LH, FSH and sex hormones (testosterone up to about 50 % above baseline early on), then desensitises them so sex-hormone levels fall to castrate or postmenopausal range; the effect is reversible on stopping.

Practical record

Elimination half-life: 3.0 h (confidence: high). Label: terminal half-life about 3 h after an IV bolus in healthy men. Depot formulations release drug over 1-6 months, so the effective duration is set by the formulation, not this half-life. For that reason the app draws no decay curve for leuprolide trackers; enter a half-life only if you know the formulation's release profile.
Studied routes: intramuscular.
Typical supply: Rx: Lupron Depot lyophilised microspheres in prefilled dual-chamber syringes (3.75, 7.5, 11.25, 22.5, 30, 45 mg).
Reconstitution: Mixed with the supplied diluent in the dual-chamber syringe immediately before IM injection, per label.
Storage: Label: 20-25 °C.

Safety signals on record

Reported adverse events: Hot flushes (about 47-59 % in prostate cancer), injection-site reactions (about 8-14 %); in women hot flashes, headache, vaginitis and mood changes; loss of bone mineral density with longer use.
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to GnRH agonists or excipients; for the gynaecological label also pregnancy and undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding.
Interactions: Label warns of QT/QTc prolongation, so caution with other QT-prolonging drugs; no other major interactions noted in the sections read.
Notes: Early 'flare' can worsen prostate-cancer symptoms (bone pain, urinary obstruction, spinal-cord compression). Warnings for hyperglycaemia/diabetes, heart attack, sudden cardiac death and stroke, convulsions, depression, embryo-fetal toxicity and severe skin reactions.

Sources

General wellness education, not medical advice. Unapproved compounds have no established dosing, purity standard, or safety profile.

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