Leuprorelin (Prostap)

Leuprorelin is pronounced loop-row-rel-in. It is also called Prostap. It is a type of hormone therapy drug called a luteinising hormone (LH) blocker. It is a prostate cancer treatment.

Prostate cancer depends on testosterone to grow. Leuprorelin stops the pituitary gland from making luteinising hormone (LH). Luteinising hormone triggers the testicles to make testosterone. When there is no LH the testicles don’t produce testosterone. So leuprorelin can shrink the cancer or slow its growth.

You have leuprorelin as an injection just under the skin (subcutaneously) into fatty tissue in your abdomen, arm, or leg. The injection is called a depot injection, which means that you slowly absorb the drug into your body over a period of time. You may have the injection every 4 weeks or every 12 weeks.

It is important to make sure you have the injection on time. A few days won’t make a big difference but the aim is to stop you producing testosterone. The injections are made to last for either 4 or 12 weeks. If you are late having the injection your body may start making testosterone again.

We have general information about hormone therapies in the cancer treatment section.

We've listed the side effects associated with leuprorelin below. You can use the links to find out more about each side effect and how to manage it.

More than 10 in every 100 people have one or more of these.

• Problems getting an erection (impotence) may occur because you are not producing testosterone – this usually gets better within 3 and 12 months after the treatment ends
• Decreased interest in having sex (low libido)
• Skin rashes are usually mild – let your doctor know if you have skin problems
• Painful joints
• Hot flushes and sweats occur in half of men (50%) – these are caused by low testosterone levels and may last as long as treatment continues. If they are difficult to cope with tell your doctor or nurse.
• Breast tenderness and swelling – this can be distressing so your doctor may suggest a small dose of radiotherapy before treatment to try to prevent it
• Tumour flare causing increased pain for the first few weeks of treatment – your doctor may give you another hormone drug to start with, to try to prevent this
• Tiredness or fatigue during treatment
• Swelling of ankles and legs due to a build up of fluid (oedema), which is usually mild
• Changes in your heart rhythm and blood pressure – your nurse or doctor will check your blood pressure and you will have ECGs regularly. Most men can continue taking leuprorelin and these effects usually go back to normal during or after treatment.
• Leuprorelin may have a harmful effect on a developing baby so you should not father a child while having treatment – discuss contraception with your doctor before you start your treatment if this is a possibility

Between 1 and 10 in every 100 men have one or more of these.

• Bruising of the skin where you have the injection
• Headaches
• Feeling or being sick – this is usually mild and can be controlled by anti sickness medicines
• Weight gain – you may find that you put on weight easily. You may be able to control this with diet and exercise, but it is often difficult to keep weight down when you are having hormone treatment
• Taste changes

Fewer than 1 in 100 people have these.

• Bone thinning may occur with long term treatment
• You may find that the levels of sugar in your blood can change – you will have regular blood tests. If you are diabetic, you will need to take extra care when checking your blood sugar
• Your cholesterol levels may go up after several months of treatment – you will have blood tests to check the levels
• If you are depressed, leuprorelin can make it worse – tell your doctor if you suffer from depression

You won’t get all these side effects. Any that you have may be mild. A side effect may get worse through your course of treatment. Or you may have more side effects as the course goes on. This depends on

• How many times you've had a drug before
• Your general health
• How much of the drug you have (the dose)
• Other drugs you are having

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about all your side effects so they can help you manage them. Your nurse will give you a contact number. You can ring them if you have any questions or problems. They can give you advice or reassure you. If in doubt, call them.

Tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbal supplements and other over the counter remedies – some drugs can react together.