Lucrin® (leuprorelin acetate)
Information in this fact sheet is meant to assist you in making decisions about your treatment. Always make medication decisions in consultation with your healthcare team.
What is Lucrin® used for?
Lucrin® is used to treat prostate cancer in men, and precocious (unusually early) puberty in children.
Lucrin® is a hormone agonist.
What does Lucrin® look like?
Lucrin® is available in prefilled dual chamber syringes containing white powder in the front chamber and liquid in the rear chamber. Before injecting, the liquid is pushed into the front chamber to be mixed with the powder. Lucrin® then becomes a clear injectable fluid.
Lucrin® should only be given by a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor will tell you which formulation of Lucrin® will be given and for how long. This may differ from the information given below.
How is Lucrin® given?
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription for injection by a doctor or nurse.
Lucrin® Injection: Recommended dose is 1 mg (0.2 mL) injected daily under the skin (subcutaneous).
Lucrin® Depot 7.5mg, 22.5 mg, 30 mg and 45 mg PDS injection should be mixed with the diluent before use according to the manufacturer's instructions provided.
- Lucrin® Depot 7.5 mg PDS is injected into a muscle once a month.
- Lucrin® Depot 22.5 mg PDS is injected into a muscle once every 3 months.
- Lucrin® Depot 30 mg PDS is injected into a muscle once every 4 months.
- Lucrin® De[pt 45 mg PDF is injected into a muscle once every 6 months.
The site of injection should be varied from time to time.
What are the common side effects?
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist straight away if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- pain, swelling or redness at the injection site
- cough
- unusual tiredness or weakness, feeling drowsy
- tiredness, sleepiness or drowsiness
- difficulty sleeping
- mild muscle, back or joint pain
- changes in testicular size
- change in your sexual drive or an inability to get or maintain an erection
- sweating and body odour
- hot flushes
- general pain
- nausea/vomiting
- ringing in the ear
- rash, itching, hives, dry skin or acne
- headache
- dizziness or light-headedness
- diarrhoea
- constipation
The above list includes the more common side effects of Lucrin®. They are usually mild and short-lived.
What are the less common side effects?
The above list includes the more common side effects of Lucrin®. They are usually mild and short-lived.
- swelling in limbs
- problems with your eyesight
- difficulty breathing
- numbness or tingling of hands or feet
- blood in your urine
- difficulty or pain when passing urine
- changes in breast size.
The above list includes serious side effects that may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately, call an ambulance or go to an Emergency Department at your nearest hospital:
- swelling of the face, lips, mouth, throat or neck which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing or sudden collapse
- unsteadiness when walking.
The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. These side effects are rare. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist straight away if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.
References
Disclaimer
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia develops materials based on best available evidence and takes advice from recognised experts in the field in developing such resource; however it cannot guarantee and assumes no legal responsibility for the currency or completeness of the information.
