Eligard®: Advantages for Optimal Testosterone Control

ObjectivesIn this review article, bilateral orchiectomy is compared with conventional luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists in terms of efficacy, safety, patients’ perception of health, and testosterone suppression. The efficacy and safety of a new LHRH depot formulation, Eligard®, is compared with conventional LHRH agonists.MethodsA Medline search was performed in the beginning of 2006. Only fully published studies and review articles in English were included.ResultsConventional LHRH agonists are not equivalent to bilateral orchiectomy in terms of testosterone suppression. They also cause a higher incidence of hot flashes as compared to bilateral orchiectomy. Patients treated with LHRH agonists seem to worry more about their disease than patients who underwent bilateral orchiectomy. Studies have shown that Eligard, a new extended-release leuprolide formulation, achieves and maintains testosterone suppression equivalent to bilateral orchiectomy. Eligard 1- and 3-mo formulations have a similar side-effect profile as other conventional LHRH agonists and induce few severe hot flashes.ConclusionsEligard is able to achieve and maintain testosterone suppression levels equal to bilateral orchiectomy.