Diagnosis and Treatment for Your Child

Your doctor will perform tests to determine if there are physical reasons that may be causing your child’s central precocious puberty (CPP).

Knowing as much as possible about diagnosis and treatment of CPP can help you prepare your child for what to expect during a visit to the doctor. Below are some tests your pediatrician or pediatric endocrinologist may perform to diagnose CPP.

Please click here for Important Safety Information you should know about LUPRON DEPOT‑PED and discuss it with your doctor.

Diagnosing CPP

Doctors may begin to suspect your child could have CPP when signs of sexual maturity begin to develop in girls under the age of 8 and in boys under the age of 9.

Generally, your doctor begins the diagnosis of CPP with a detailed physical examination of your child, usually followed by a series of tests, including some or all of the following:

  • An x-ray of the hand and wrist
    Bone age can help your doctor decide whether your child has central precocious puberty or not.
  • A blood test
    Helps the doctor determine the level of hormones in your child’s bloodstream.
  • A GnRH stimulation test
    Helps the doctor identify the type of precocious puberty your child may have.
  • A pelvic and adrenal ultrasound
    Can show current state of development of the ovaries, adrenal glands, and testicles.
  • A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan
    Can show abnormalities in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus in the brain.

Once tests are complete, the doctor will look at the results and make a diagnosis.

Therapy with Lupron Depot‑PED

Lupron Depot‑PED is used to treat children with central precocious puberty. It works by stopping your child’s body from making too much of certain hormones that cause sexual maturity. Lupron Depot‑PED suppresses hormones to delay puberty until a more appropriate time in your child’s life.

Lupron Depot‑PED is administered as an injection every 4 weeks. It is recommended that Lupron Depot‑PED therapy should be discontinued before age 11 for girls and age 12 for boys. Discuss what is best for your child with his/her doctor, when considering a time to stop your child’s Lupron Depot‑PED therapy. Studies in children have not been completed to see if suppressed fertility is fully reversed.

It is important that you keep your child’s doctor appointments. If your child misses a shot or is a week late, your child’s pubertal symptoms could begin again.

boy holding scooter

All photos are of models and not of users of Lupron Depot‑PED or persons suffering symptoms described.


Use and Important Safety Information You Should Know About Lupron Depot‑PED® (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension)

Use

LUPRON DEPOT‑PED® (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) 7.5 mg, 11.25 mg and 15 mg are prescribed for the treatment of children with central precocious puberty (CPP). Doctors may diagnose children with CPP when signs of sexual maturity begin to develop in girls under the age of 8 or boys under the age of 9. Doctors will also perform tests to rule out possible causes of CPP that would require different treatment (e.g., tumors).

Important Safety Information

Your child should not receive LUPRON DEPOT‑PED if he/she has experienced any type of allergic reaction to LUPRON DEPOT, or similar drugs.

Females who may be pregnant, are breast-feeding, or have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding should not receive LUPRON DEPOT‑PED.

After starting LUPRON DEPOT‑PED therapy, your child may experience increased signs and symptoms of CPP during the first few weeks of treatment.

You should notify the doctor if your child has menstrual bleeding that continues beyond the second month of treatment, has irritation at the injection site, develops mood swings or behavioral changes, or has any other unusual signs or symptoms.

It is important that you keep your child’s doctor appointments. If your child misses a shot or is a week late, your child’s pubertal development could begin again.

Response to LUPRON DEPOT‑PED should be monitored 1-2 months after the start of therapy to determine if your child’s current dose is at the right level. You should know that your doctor should also be measuring your child’s bone age every 6-12 months.

Studies have not been completed in children to determine the full reversibility of fertility suppression.

The most common side effects of LUPRON DEPOT‑PED include injection site reactions including abscess, general pain, acne, rash and vaginitis/vaginal bleeding or discharge.

LUPRON DEPOT‑PED must be administered under the supervision of a physician.

This is the most important information to know about LUPRON DEPOT‑PED. For more information, talk with your child’s health care provider.

Reference: LUPRON DEPOT‑PED [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: Abbott Laboratories.

Please see the full Prescribing Information for Lupron Depot‑PED.

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