buserelin acetate at a glance
Medicine class
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, also called a GnRH or LHRH agonist.
Licensed roles
Hormone suppression in advanced prostate cancer and pituitary desensitisation before fertility treatment.
Administration
The selected products are subcutaneous injections; self-injection requires training from the clinical team.
Important early effect
Sex-hormone levels can rise briefly before suppression develops, potentially causing an initial prostate-cancer flare.
What is buserelin acetate used for?
The selected UK products have different licensed indications and should be used under the relevant specialist team.
Suprefact injection: advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer where testosterone suppression is indicated; it is not appropriate after both testicles have been removed or for hormone-insensitive disease.
Suprecur/Buserelin injection: pituitary desensitisation before ovulation-induction regimens using gonadotrophins.
Some UK fertility centres use buserelin injection as an ovulation trigger in selected IVF protocols. This is not the licensed indication of the selected Suprecur injection document.
How does buserelin acetate work?
Buserelin initially stimulates pituitary GnRH receptors, briefly increasing gonadotrophin and sex-hormone release. Continued exposure reduces receptor responsiveness, lowering testosterone production in prostate cancer or temporarily suppressing ovarian hormone activity so a fertility cycle can be controlled.
buserelin acetate preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 1 mg/mL
How to take buserelin acetate
Use buserelin only according to the written plan supplied by the specialist team. Food does not affect a subcutaneous injection.
Inject under the skin only; do not use another injection route.
Do not self-inject until a doctor or nurse has demonstrated the technique.
Use clean, aseptic handling and place used needles immediately in the supplied sharps container.
Do not use solution that is cloudy or discoloured.
Fertility-treatment timing can be important; clarify uncertainty with the clinic rather than changing the plan yourself.
buserelin acetate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Hot flushes, sweating and other effects of lowered sex hormones
- Headache, dizziness, tiredness or sleep disturbance
- Nervousness, mood changes or emotional instability
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
- Weight or appetite changes
- Dry skin, acne or changes in hair growth
- Muscle, joint or bone discomfort
- Pain or another local injection-site reaction
- Reduced libido or sexual function during prostate-cancer treatment
- Vaginal dryness, bleeding, discharge or breast tenderness during fertility treatment
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including breathing difficulty, widespread hives, swelling or shock
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, including marked abdominal swelling or pain, vomiting, reduced urine or breathlessness
- Blood clot or pulmonary embolism
- Early prostate-cancer flare causing severe bone pain, urinary obstruction, leg weakness or spinal-cord compression
- Severe depression or significant worsening of existing depression
- Clinically important heart-rhythm disturbance, particularly with QT-risk factors
buserelin acetate in pregnancy
Buserelin is contraindicated during pregnancy. Pregnancy should be excluded before fertility treatment begins; anyone who becomes or may be pregnant while using it should contact the specialist team immediately.
buserelin acetate while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment. Small amounts pass into breast milk, and the selected products are contraindicated during lactation.
buserelin acetate interactions
Review all prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary products before treatment.
Antidiabetic medicines
Buserelin can weaken glucose-lowering effects, so diabetic control may deteriorate and require closer monitoring.
QT-prolonging medicines
Antiarrhythmics such as quinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone or sotalol, and medicines such as methadone, moxifloxacin or some antipsychotics, may add to the risk of serious rhythm disturbance.
Common questions about buserelin acetate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is buserelin acetate the same as Suprefact or Suprecur?
Buserelin acetate is the active ingredient. Suprefact and Suprecur are product names with different licensed roles in the selected UK documents.
Why can buserelin acetate initially worsen prostate-cancer symptoms?
It briefly stimulates testosterone production before pituitary suppression develops. This temporary tumour flare can worsen pain or cause neurological or urinary complications.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.