The prescribed dosage for Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate) may vary depending on certain factors, including the condition you’re using the drug to treat and how your body responds to the drug.
Lupron Depot is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions:
- advanced prostate cancer in adults
- endometriosis in adults and certain children
- anemia caused by uterine fibroids in adults and certain children
- central precocious puberty (CPP) in certain children
Lupron Depot is given as an intramuscular injection by a doctor or other healthcare professional.
The active ingredient in Lupron Depot is leuprolide acetate. Lupron Depot belongs to a drug class called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. It’s a brand-name drug that’s not available in a generic version.
This article describes the dosages of Lupron Depot, as well as its strengths and how it’s given.
This section provides details about Lupron Depot’s dosages for its approved uses.
Lupron Depot form
Lupron Depot comes as a prefilled syringe with two chambers. One chamber contains the powder form of leuprolide acetate (the active drug in Lupron Depot). The other chamber contains a liquid that mixes with the powder just before the intramuscular injection is given.
Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you your injection at their office.
Lupron Depot strengths
Lupron Depot comes in six strengths: 3.75 milligrams (mg), 7.5 mg, 11.25 mg, 22.5 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg.
Lupron Depot-Ped comes in five strengths: 7.5 mg, 11.25 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg.
Lupron Depot is approved to treat the following conditions in adults:
- advanced prostate cancer
- endometriosis
- anemia caused by uterine fibroids
The prescribed dosage of Lupron Depot may vary depending on the condition it’s being used to treat. Always follow your prescribing doctor’s instructions. Notify them if you experience any side effects that may prevent you from taking your medication.
Dosage for advanced prostate cancer
Doctors may prescribe Lupron Depot to treat advanced prostate cancer. For this use, the strength your doctor prescribes will determine how often you receive the drug.
The following table shows the strengths and dosage schedules for Lupron Depot. Your doctor will choose a dosage that suits your needs.
| Lupron Depot dose | 7.5 mg | 22.5 mg | 30 mg | 45 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended dosing schedule | once per month (4 weeks) | once every 3 months (12 weeks) | once every 4 months (16 weeks) | once every 6 months (24 weeks) |
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for endometriosis
Doctors may prescribe Lupron Depot at different dosages to treat endometriosis. Only the 3.75-mg and 11.25-mg strengths are approved for this use. The strength your doctor prescribes will determine how often you’ll receive the drug.
If your doctor prescribes the 3.5-mg strength, you’ll receive your dose once per month.
If you’re prescribed the 11.25-mg strength, you’ll receive your dose once every 3 months.
In addition, your doctor may prescribe Lupron Depot along with norethindrone. Norethindrone is used to reduce certain side effects of Lupron Depot for endometriosis. Lupron and norethindrone should not be used together for more than 12 months.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for uterine fibroids
Certain dosages of Lupron Depot are approved to treat anemia associated with uterine fibroids. For this use, it can only be prescribed in addition to ongoing iron therapy.
As with endometriosis, only the 3.75-mg and 11.25-mg strengths are approved for this use. The strength your doctor prescribes will determine how often you receive the drug.
If your doctor prescribes Lupron Depot 3.5 mg, you’ll receive your dose once per month.
If your doctor prescribes Lupron Depot 11.25 mg, you’ll receive your dose once every 3 months.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended for children.Your child’s doctor will determine the best dosage to fit their needs.
Dosage for CPP
Doctors may prescribe Lupron Depot-Ped to treat CPP in children ages 1 year and older. For this use, Lupron Depot-Ped may be given at 1-, 3-, or 6-month intervals.
If your child receives this drug monthly, their dosage will be based on their body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb).
The following table lists the typical dosing schedule for Lupron Depot-Ped when given once per month.
| Body weight | Monthly dosage |
|---|---|
| 25 kg or less | 7.5 mg |
| more than 25 kg up to 37.5 kg | 11.25 mg |
| more than 37.5 kg | 15 mg |
If your child receives Lupron Depot-Ped every 3 months, their dose will be 11.25 mg or 30 mg. Their doctor will determine the best dose for them based on their weight.
If they receive Lupron Depot-Ped every 6 months, their dose will likely be 45 mg. This dosage is not based on weight.
For more information about your child’s specific dosage, talk with their doctor.
Dosage for endometriosis in children
Lupron Depot 3.25 mg and 11.25 mg may be prescribed to treat endometriosis in females of reproductive age. The dosages for this condition in children are the same as the dosages for adults.
For more information, see the “Dosage for endometriosis” section.
Note: The use of binary terms such as “female” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Dosage for uterine fibroids in children
Doctors may prescribe Lupron Depot for anemia associated with uterine fibroids in certain children. Similar to endometriosis, only the 3.25-mg and 11.25-mg strengths are approved for this use. The typical dosages for children are the same as the dosages for adults.
To learn more, see the “Dosage for uterine fibroids” section.
Long-term treatment
How long you or your child will receive treatment with Lupron Depot depends on the condition being treated. Your doctor will determine the length of treatment needed with Lupron Depot.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long you can expect to receive Lupron Depot.
The Lupron Depot dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your age
- body weight (for children prescribed the drug for CPP)
- how your responds to Lupron Depot
- the type and severity of the condition Lupron Depot is prescribed to treat
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Lupron Depot dosage.
Dosage adjustments
For CPP, your child’s doctor may need to adjust the dosage if your child’s weight changes. For all uses, the doctor may also need to adjust the dosage based on certain factors they’ll test for during treatment.
Be sure to tell the doctor about all medications you or your child may be taking. It’s also important to discuss with them any health conditions you or your child may have.
Lupron Depot comes in a prefilled syringe with two chambers. One chamber contains the powder form of leuprolide acetate (the active drug in Lupron Depot). The other chamber contains a liquid that gets mixed with the powder just before the intramuscular injection is given.
You’ll go to your doctor’s office to receive your Lupron Depot injection. With an intramuscular injection, your doctor or another healthcare professional will inject the medication into your upper arm, buttocks, or the outside of your thigh.
Lupron Depot syringes are stored at room temperature.
If you have questions about what to expect when receiving Lupron Depot, talk with your doctor. The drug’s manufacturer also provides more information about receiving Lupron Depot or Lupron Depot-Ped on its website.
If you miss an appointment for a Lupron Depot injection, call the doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They’ll adjust the dosing schedule as needed.
If you need help remembering appointments, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Lupron Depot.
Is the dosage of Lupron Depot similar to the dosage of Eligard?
It depends. Lupron Depot and Eligard contain the same active drug, leuprolide acetate. Additionally, both drugs come in similar strengths.
Doctors may prescribe either drug to treat advanced prostate cancer. For this use, you’d likely receive the same dosage for either drug. You’ll typically receive one Lupron Depot intramuscular injection or one Eligard subcutaneous injection on the following schedule:
- once every month
- once every 3 months
- once every 4 months
- once every 6 months
However, Eligard is not approved to treat endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or CPP. There’s no recommended Eligard dosage for these conditions. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor. They’ll prescribe the right drug and dosage for you.
How long does it take for Lupron Depot to start working?
Lupron Depot starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. It may take up to 4 weeks to see the full effect of the medication. Your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Lupron Depot treatment.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.