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Leuprolide is a medication used in the management and treatment of prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, precocious puberty, and other sex hormone-related conditions. It is in the GnRH agonist class of medications. This activity reviews the indications, mechanism of action, contraindications, monitoring protocols, and other vital factors pertinent for members of an interprofessional team managing the care of patients with prostate cancer and other sex hormone-related disorders. Objectives: Describe the mechanism of leuprolide. Identify the most common adverse reactions associated with leuprolide therapy. Summarize management considerations for patients on leuprolide therapy. Explain the importance of collaboration and communication amongst the interprofessional team to ensure the appropriate selection of candidates for leuprolide therapy. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Leuprolide might cause fetal harm when given to a pregnant woman. In clinical trials, there has not been any reported overdose with leuprolide. Studies of increased doses of leuprolide show that patients tolerate the drug well.[12][17] However, practitioners should avoid using dosage forms of leuprolide that contain benzyl alcohol in neonates. "Gasping syndrome" is fatal toxicity that can occur in neonates, and it has correlated with large amounts of benzyl alcohol. This gasping syndrome includes CNS dysfunction, respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis, and hypotension.[18]

Sex-hormone related disorders present with more than just the physiological findings to treat. For instance, precocious puberty not only shows as physical changes but also has mental effects on a child and how they are perceived in the world. Therefore, an interprofessional team of healthcare providers is necessary to treat these patients. These interprofessional teams should include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and others. The same applies to an interprofessional team that will treat patients with advanced prostate cancer. When the clinician or specialist initiates leuprolide therapy, a pharmacist should perform drug interaction checking and verify the dosage. Nursing can counsel the patient regarding dosing and administration, as well as potential adverse events that will require them to contact the prescriber's office. Pharmacists and nurses need to notify the clinicians if they have any concerns about the patient's therapy, as this type of interprofessional interaction will improve patient outcomes. [Level 5] There will be many different specialties that need to communicate effectively and bring about better results for the patient. With the many different uses of leuprolide, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists must have a good understanding of the clinical applications and side effects of the drug. Also, a team of interprofessional researchers found that leuprolide is helpful in IVF treatments. The study gave one group leuprolide and gonadotropins and compared it to a control group that only received gonadotropins. It found that pregnancy rates increased in the experimental group.[19] [Level 3] With increased interprofessional knowledge and communication about leuprolide, research may uncover more therapeutic uses for the drug.