Lupron 3.75mg IM Administration Frequency
Lupron (leuprolide acetate) 3.75mg IM is typically administered once monthly as a depot injection.
Administration Schedule Details
The 3.75mg depot formulation of leuprolide acetate is designed specifically for monthly administration, with the sustained-release microencapsulated formulation providing therapeutic drug levels for approximately 28-30 days.
Evidence Supporting Monthly Administration:
- Clinical studies demonstrate that the 3.75mg depot formulation maintains plasma concentrations between 0.4 and 1.4 μg/L over a 28-day period following a single injection 1
- The pharmacokinetic profile shows sustained release of leuprolide throughout the month, with AUC values remaining consistent across monthly dosing intervals 2
- Clinical trials confirm that monthly intramuscular injections of 3.75mg depot leuprolide effectively suppress hormone levels for the full 28-day period 2
Administration Technique:
- The injection should be administered intramuscularly
- No dose adjustment is typically needed between monthly administrations
- The sustained-release depot formulation ensures continuous drug delivery throughout the month
Clinical Applications
Leuprolide 3.75mg depot is used in various clinical scenarios, with the same monthly administration schedule across indications:
- For endometriosis: Monthly IM administration of 3.75mg depot for up to 6 months 3
- For preoperative endometrial suppression: A single 3.75mg dose typically provides adequate suppression for 4-6 weeks 4
- For central precocious puberty: Monthly subcutaneous or IM injections of 3.75mg 5
- For prostate cancer: Monthly IM injections of 3.75mg 2
Important Considerations
- Higher-dose formulations (7.5mg, 11.25mg, 15mg) are available for different dosing intervals, but the 3.75mg formulation is specifically designed for monthly use
- Missing a scheduled dose may compromise hormone suppression
- Patients should be advised to maintain a consistent 28-day interval between injections for optimal therapeutic effect
Monitoring
- Hormone levels typically reach suppression targets by day 28 after the initial injection, with 96.8% of patients achieving target suppression by this timepoint 2
- Subsequent monthly injections maintain this suppression, with studies showing 100% maintenance of suppression with continued monthly administration 2
The monthly administration schedule of Lupron 3.75mg IM is supported by robust pharmacokinetic and clinical data demonstrating effective hormone suppression throughout the 28-day dosing interval.