What is a Depot Injection?

Leuroprelin & Zoladex Injections

Leuprorelin (a.k.a Prostap / Staladex) and Zoladex are hormone injections used mainly in the treatment of prostate cancer and endometriosis. They work by altering the level of specific hormones in the body.

For more information, please see relevant NICE guidelines → Zoladex | Drugs | BNF | NICE & Leuprorelin acetate | Drugs | BNF | NICE

The Appointment Process

1️⃣ Receiving an Injection Request

Secondary care are responsible for initiating Leuprorelin / Zoladex. If they’d like us to provide the patient with additional injections, they’ll send us a discharge letter / communication document. We will also receive a care plan.

Clinical Admin should assign the discharge letter / communication and care plan to a GP or Pharmacist.

2️⃣ Actioning the Letter & Ordering Injection

1. Check the discharge letter / communication from secondary care.
2. Attach the care plan to the patients EMIS profile.
3. Order the injection at the patients’ local pharmacy.
4. Task the reception team to book the patient an appointment with a Practice Nurse or Nursing Associate.

Attach a note explaining that reception must tell the patient to collect the injection from the pharmacy and bring it to their appointment.

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Always check if the patient requires an interpreter, and if they do, book them a double appointment.

3️⃣ The Appointment

1. Open the clinical template ‘Injections Template (v18.2) (Ardens)’ on EMIS.
• For Leuprorelin → select pg. 7 (’GnRH: Leuprorelin’)
• For Zoladex → select pg. 8 (’GnRH: Zoladex/Decapeptyl’)
2. Consider contraindications / cautions of the injection, as per the template. Advise on side effects, using these resources:
• Leuprorelin side effects NICE
• Zoladex side effects NICE
3. Administer the injection using the technique detailed here.
4. Provide the patient with a copy of their care plan (from secondary care, as above).
5. Ensure you fill in the Follow-up section of the template detailing when the patient’s next injection is due (this will create a diary entry).
6. Send the patient an Accurx text using the template ‘Leuprorelin / Zoladex injection reminder’ notifying them when their next injection is due.
• Click on the + in the bottom-left corner to add another message
• Change the date (in the bottom-right corner) to ‘Custom date and time’ and select the date two weeks before their next injection is due
• Copy and paste the message:

As discussed in your last appointment, this is a reminder to book your 12 week repeat [Leuprorelin / Zoladex] injection if you have not already done so.

Thanks, [your name]