Lupron
The main page for Lupron lists the conditions it treats. Autism is not included.Lupron Depot belongs to a class of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. It is used to decrease the body's production of specific hormones, natural chemicals that influence the behavior of certain cells. Because Lupron Depot can reduce the production of both male and female hormones, it is used to treat specific conditions in men, women, and children.
A good question, then, is why is this being used on autistic kids? A number of articles discussing how this proposed treatment came about can be found here. A single article describing the logic behind Lupron for autism is here. But, the short form is that it is another take on chelation. The idea is that chelation doesn't work well with autism because it doesn't remove the mercury from the brain. The reason for this is that mercury binds with testosterone forming crystalline "sheets". To support this idea, they cite a paper on the creation of mercury/testosterone crystals. The paper describes how placing testosterone and mercury chloride in hot benzene creates crystals. It's worth reading the discussion of that paper and it's non-relevence to autism here. But, if you aren't a chemist or materials person and want the short version: the human brain is absolutely nothing like a beaker of hot benzene. The idea that mercury and testosterone crystals or crystal fragments could be formed in the brain based on that paper is, to put it nicely, nonsense.
This doesn't even touch on the idea that there is no reason to suspect that if your body stopped producing testosterone that these supposed crystalline sheets would break up. Nor does it address the idea that if these proposed crystalline sheets were to break up, that might lead to significant damage as the mercury was released.
This "therapy" is based on an idea that a freshman chemist should be able to spot as poorly thought out.
Known Adverse Reactions to Lupron
Being an actual drug, not just an alternative medical treatment, Lupron was tested for safety and is monitored after licensure. As with most or all drugs, some adverse reactions were reported and are included with the package insert. Two reactions that were detected after licensure are particularly troubling, and so I will highlight them here.
Pituitary apoplexy: During post-marketing surveillance, rare cases of pituitary apoplexy (a clinical syndrome secondary to infarction of the pituitary gland) have been reported after the administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. In a majority of these cases, a pituitary adenoma was diagnosed, with a majority of pituitary apoplexy cases occurring within 2 weeks of the first dose, and some within the first hour. In these cases, pituitary apoplexy has presented as sudden headache, vomiting, visual changes, ophthalmoplegia, altered mental status, and sometimes cardiovascular collapse. Immediate medical attention has been required.
and
Symptoms consistent with an anaphylactoid or asthmatic process have been rarely reported. Rash, urticaria, and photosensitivity reactions have also been reported.
Lupron is rather potent medicine. Further, as described in the above section, the logic behind its use is shaky at best.
Lupron's approved use in children
As noted above, Lupron modifies a child's hormone balance. It will reduce testosterone production. It should come as no surprise that the approved use of Lupron is treating Central Precocious Puberty, or CPP. Or in more plain language, some kids start puberty too soon and Lupron can delay the onset of puberty.
A parent should ask him or herself honestly if this really describes his/her child. If so, seek out the assistance of a qualified endocrinologist, not an alternative-medical practitioner treating autism under the label of CPP. This is a serious issue and your child deserves the best expert in the real problem.