Leuprolide Acetate 3.75mg Injection

Leuprolide 3.75 mg is used to treat endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and central precocious puberty. It is also used in IVF long protocols and in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It works by suppressing oestrogen production, reducing symptoms and disease progression driven by female hormones.

Yes. Leuprolide Acetate 3.75 mg is the generic equivalent of Lupron Depot 3.75 mg by AbbVie (USA). In the UK, the closest equivalent is Prostap SR by Takeda. In India, Lupride Depot by Sun Pharma and Luprodex by Bharat Serums and Vaccines are the most commonly prescribed branded versions.

Once every 28 days (monthly). It is given as an intramuscular depot injection by a healthcare professional. Treatment for endometriosis is typically six months; for fibroids, three months is the usual preoperative course. Duration is adjusted based on clinical response and bone density considerations.

Both treat the same conditions — endometriosis, fibroids, and central precocious puberty. The 3.75 mg dose is given monthly; the 11.25 mg dose is given every three months. The three-month formulation offers fewer injections per year, while the monthly formulation allows closer clinical monitoring and easier dose adjustment if needed.

Yes. In the IVF long protocol, Leuprolide 3.75 mg is used to suppress natural hormonal activity before controlled ovarian stimulation. It prevents premature ovulation and allows the fertility specialist to control the timing of egg retrieval more precisely. The dose and protocol vary between fertility clinics.

Yes. Monthly Leuprolide 3.75 mg reduces uterine and fibroid volume by lowering oestrogen levels. It is typically prescribed for three months before fibroid surgery to reduce bleeding risk, correct anaemia, and make the procedure technically easier. It is not a permanent treatment for fibroids — they may regrow after the injection is stopped.

Prostap SR by Takeda (UK) contains leuprorelin acetate — the INN for leuprolide acetate — at the same monthly dose and for the same indications. It is the most widely prescribed equivalent in the UK for endometriosis and fibroid management. Prostap SR DCS is the prefilled syringe version available through NHS prescribing.

Common side effects include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, reduced libido, mood changes, and headaches. Bone density loss can occur with prolonged use — for this reason, treatment is generally limited to six months unless add-back therapy with norethindrone acetate is prescribed alongside it. Most side effects resolve within a few months of stopping the injection.

Add-back therapy involves taking a low dose of a progestogen — usually norethindrone acetate 5 mg daily — alongside Leuprolide to reduce the bone density loss and menopausal symptoms caused by oestrogen suppression. It is recommended when treatment extends beyond six months or when side effects significantly affect quality of life, and does not reduce the effectiveness of the leuprolide.

Both are GnRH agonists with comparable clinical outcomes for endometriosis. Goserelin (Zoladex 3.6 mg) is given monthly as a subcutaneous implant; Leuprolide 3.75 mg is given as an intramuscular depot injection. Efficacy in pain reduction and lesion size is similar. Choice depends on prescriber preference, patient tolerance, and local formulary.