If You've Been Told Your Lupron Injection Is Unavailable, You're Not Alone

You show up for your scheduled Lupron Depot injection and your doctor's office tells you they can't get it. Or your specialty pharmacy says it's backordered. If this sounds familiar, you're one of thousands of patients dealing with this frustrating reality in 2026.

Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate) is a critical medication for people with advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and central precocious puberty in children. Missing a dose isn't just inconvenient — it can mean a return of painful symptoms or a setback in cancer treatment.

So why is Lupron so hard to find? Let's break it down.

What Is Lupron and Why Do So Many People Need It?

Lupron Depot is a GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) agonist made by AbbVie. It works by shutting down the body's production of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Doctors prescribe it as an intramuscular injection given every 1, 3, 4, or 6 months depending on the condition and dose strength.

It comes in several formulations:

• Lupron Depot 3.75 mg (1-month) — for endometriosis and uterine fibroids
• Lupron Depot 7.5 mg (1-month) — for prostate cancer
• Lupron Depot 11.25 mg (3-month) — for endometriosis and fibroids
• Lupron Depot 22.5 mg (3-month) — for prostate cancer
• Lupron Depot 30 mg (4-month) and 45 mg (6-month) — for prostate cancer
• Lupron Depot-PED — for central precocious puberty in children

Because Lupron treats such a wide range of serious conditions, demand is consistently high. And when supply can't keep up, patients feel it.

Why Is Lupron So Hard to Find? 4 Key Reasons

1. Recurring Manufacturing and Supply Chain Issues

Lupron Depot has experienced recurring shortages since 2020. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) tracked active shortages of Leuprolide Acetate long-acting suspension from July 2020 through May 2022. While supply has partially stabilized, certain strengths continue to face intermittent availability problems in 2026.

Lupron Depot is a complex injectable product — it's a specialized depot suspension that requires precise manufacturing conditions. Any disruption at the manufacturing facility can ripple through the supply chain for months.

2. Limited Manufacturers

AbbVie is the sole manufacturer of Lupron Depot. There is no true generic equivalent for the depot formulation. While other Leuprolide products exist (like Eligard, which is a subcutaneous depot), they aren't interchangeable with Lupron Depot without a new prescription. This single-source dependency means if AbbVie has a production issue, there's no backup.

3. Specialty Drug Distribution

Unlike medications you pick up at your local pharmacy, Lupron Depot is typically a "buy-and-bill" medication — meaning your doctor's office purchases it from a specialty distributor and administers it to you directly. This adds another layer of complexity. When distributors run low, individual practices may not be able to order the strength they need, even if supply exists elsewhere in the country.

4. High and Growing Demand

Lupron is prescribed across multiple specialties — urology, oncology, gynecology, pediatric endocrinology, and reproductive medicine. As the population ages and prostate cancer diagnoses remain common, demand for Lupron continues to grow. Expanded off-label uses, including gender-affirming care, have also increased the patient population relying on this drug.

What You Can Do If You Can't Find Lupron

If your provider tells you Lupron is unavailable, don't panic. Here are steps you can take:

• Use Medfinder to check real-time availability. Medfinder helps you and your provider find Lupron Depot in stock at pharmacies and provider offices near you.
• Ask your doctor about alternatives. Depending on your condition, medications like Eligard, Zoladex, Trelstar, or Orgovyx may be appropriate substitutes.
• Contact AbbVie directly. AbbVie's medical information line (1-800-633-9110) can sometimes help locate available supply or provide samples. Healthcare providers can request 1-month samples by calling 833-999-1779.
• Check specialty pharmacies. Larger specialty pharmacies and hospital outpatient pharmacies may have access to stock that smaller practices don't.
• Plan ahead. If you're on a recurring Lupron schedule, ask your provider to order your next dose well in advance — ideally 2-4 weeks before your injection date.

For more tips, read our guide on how to find Lupron in stock near you.

Final Thoughts

Lupron Depot is a critical medication, and the difficulty in finding it is a real problem for patients across the country. The combination of a single manufacturer, complex production process, recurring shortages, and high demand makes it one of the harder specialty drugs to reliably access.

The good news is that tools like Medfinder exist specifically to help patients and providers navigate these challenges. If you're struggling to find Lupron, you're not stuck — there are resources and alternatives available.

Stay informed by reading our Lupron shortage update for 2026.