Leuprolide - loo-PROE-lide may be using for a number of various medical problems. These include treat of:
Leuprolide is similar to a hormone normally released from the hypothalamus gland.
When given regularly to men and boys, leuprolide decreases testosterone levels. Reducing the amount of testosterone in the body is one way of treating cancer of the prostate.
When given regularly to women and girls, leuprolide decreases estrogen levels. Reducing the amount of estrogen in the body is one way of treating endometriosis. By shrinking tumors in the uterus, leuprolide helps stop anemia by decreasing the vaginal bleeding from these tumors. Iron supplements must be using to help treat the anemia.
When given to boys and girls experiencing early puberty, leuprolide slows down the development of the genital areas in both sexes and breast development in girls. This drug delays puberty in a child only as long as the child continues to receive it.
Suppressing estrogen can cause thinning of the bones or slowing of their growth. This is a problem for adult women whose bones are no longer growing like the bones of children. Slowing the growth of bones is a positive effect in girls and boys whose bones grow too fast when puberty begins too early. Boys and girls may benefit by adding inches to their adult height when leuprolide helps their bones grow at the proper and expected rate for children.
Leuprolide is available only with your family doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
Some commonly using brand names are:
In the USA
In Canada
Another commonly using name is leuprorelin .