If you and your doctor decide on surgical treatment for your fibroids, he or she may also recommend using Lupron Depot® (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) with an iron supplement beforehand to prepare you for surgery. In this section, you'll learn about Lupron Depot, why it's used before fibroid surgery, and what you can expect during Lupron Depot therapy.
Lupron Depot: What it is and why it is used
Lupron Depot belongs to a class of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). Lupron Depot is a synthetic version of naturally occurring GnRH. In combination with iron, Lupron Depot is used before surgery to help improve anemia that results from excessive bleeding due to fibroids. The use of Lupron Depot may reduce or stop the bleeding by decreasing your body's production of estrogen.
Lupron Depot, when used in combination with iron, may help normalize your blood count if you develop anemia due to uterine fibroids. Your doctor may give you Lupron Depot and an iron supplement for up to 3 months before fibroid surgery.
Dosage and length of therapy
Lupron Depot is given in combination with iron therapy as a single injection lasting 3 months (-3 Month 11.25 mg), or single monthly injections (3.75 mg) for up to 3 months.
The length of therapy your doctor recommends may be based on several factors, including:
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body. Hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of red blood cells in a blood sample. Excessive blood loss such as bleeding related to fibroids can cause hemoglobin and hematocrit levels to fall below normal, a condition called anemia. Medical research has shown that Lupron Depot, when used in combination with iron, may raise hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.
Women may have different experiences while taking Lupron Depot. Find out what to expect during your therapy.
Lupron Depot clinical test results
Before a drug is made available for a specific use, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires extensive clinical testing to demonstrate the drug is safe and effective.
Clinical tests of Lupron Depot (-3 Month 11.25 mg) with iron for 3 months have shown the following results:
- 80% of patients had less excessive vaginal bleeding
- 60% showed a 25% or greater decrease in the size of the uterus
- 54% showed a 25% or greater decrease in the size of their fibroids
- Bloating and pelvic pain and pressure symptoms were relieved
Is Lupron Depot right for you?
There are a few reasons why a woman should not start or continue Lupron Depot therapy.
It should not be taken if you are:
- Pregnant
- Breast-feeding
- Experiencing undiagnosed, abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Allergic to any of the ingredients in Lupron Depot
For further information, please read the complete Lupron Depot Prescribing Information.
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