Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate) is a brand-name drug prescribed for prostate cancer and certain other conditions. It comes as an intramuscular injection that’s given by a healthcare professional. The dosage can depend on certain factors.
Lupron Depot is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage symptoms of advanced prostate cancer.
In addition, certain dosages of Lupron Depot are approved to treat endometriosis. For this use, it’s typically prescribed in combination with norethindrone (a type of progestin). These dosages may also be prescribed to treat anemia caused by uterine fibroids.
Lupron Depot-Ped is approved to treat central precocious puberty (CPP) in children ages 1 year and older.
Lupron Depot belongs to a drug class called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. It’s not available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Lupron Depot, including its strengths and how to receive the medication. For a comprehensive look at Lupron Depot, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Lupron Depot provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Lupron Depot dosage that’s right for you.
Read below for 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.
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
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 table below 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 alone 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.
Children’s dosage
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 table below 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 above.
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 above.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
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 take Lupron Depot.
The Lupron Depot dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your age
- your child’s body weight (for CPP)
- how your or your child’s body 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.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Lupron Depot for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
If you have questions about the dosage of Lupron Depot that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Lupron Depot. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Lupron Depot: For information about other aspects of Lupron Depot, refer to this article.
- Details about your condition: For details about the conditions Lupron Depot is prescribed to treat, see our hubs for prostate cancer, endometriosis, and women’s health.
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.