Receptal

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Receptal

Property Description
Active ingredient Buserelin (typically Buserelin acetate)
Form Solution for injection, Nasal spray solution
Pharmacological class Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Agonist
Common purpose Reversible hormonal suppression
Origin Synthetic peptide analogue

What is Buserelin and its Role as a GnRH Analogue?

Receptal is a prescription medication whose active compound is Buserelin, a synthetic nonapeptide belonging to the pharmacological class of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists. It is a specialized, chemically engineered analogue that structurally mimics the body's natural GnRH, the master hormone responsible for regulating the reproductive axis. Buserelin is typically administered as the stable Buserelin acetate salt and is classified as a single-active-ingredient product. Its powerful, synthetic origin defines its core identity as a tool specifically designed for central hormonal modulation. Buserelin is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an essential medicine, recognizing its significance in the global health system. It is categorized as a potent GnRH super-agonist within the field of endocrinology.


Physical Forms and General Function of Receptal

Buserelin is manufactured as a sterile, aqueous solution for injection, intended for administration beneath the skin (subcutaneous route), and is also available in some regulatory jurisdictions as a nasal spray solution. The fundamental function of Buserelin is to achieve a controlled and reversible chemical suppression of sex hormone production in the body, which is its general therapeutic purpose. It operates by systematically causing the downregulation of the specific receptors in the pituitary gland that govern the release of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Buserelin is a potent analogue that induces significant gonadotropin release upon initial exposure, followed by sustained inhibition. This means Buserelin can reliably initiate and then maintain a temporary, low-hormone state in the body, which is clinically recognized for managing conditions sensitive to estrogen or testosterone levels. This highly targeted, reversible hormonal suppression represents the primary, non-disease-specific benefit of Buserelin.

What side effects are possible with Receptal?

Possible side effects and safety information

The safety profile of Receptal (Buserelin), a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonist, is primarily characterized by adverse reactions related to its core action of inducing a state of sex hormone deprivation.

Official Adverse Reaction Classifications

Adverse reactions are classified by frequency as documented in regulatory sources:

  • Very Common (Affecting ge 1/10): Hot flushes, headache, fatigue, and local reactions at the injection site (e.g., pain or redness).
  • Common (Affecting ge 1/100 to <1/10): Dizziness, changes in libido, emotional instability, and depression, particularly with long-term use.
  • System-Organ Classes Involved: Effects are formally grouped under Vascular Disorders, Nervous System Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, and Reproductive System and Breast Disorders.

Serious and Time-Related Safety Patterns

The safety documentation notes that risks are associated with the duration of exposure. Transient worsening of symptoms (the 'flare-up' effect) is documented to occur at the start of treatment due to an initial temporary rise in hormone levels. Long-term use is associated with a potential decrease in bone mineral density.

Serious adverse reactions listed as very rare (affecting <1/10,000) include anaphylactic shock and pituitary apoplexy, which may occur upon initial administration in individuals with a pre-existing pituitary adenoma.

Specific Safety Constraints

The medicine is contraindicated in cases of known hypersensitivity to Buserelin or other GnRH analogues, and during pregnancy and lactation. Specific safety considerations are required for individuals with existing risk factors for osteoporosis or those with diabetes due to the potential for reduced glucose tolerance.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

The official regulatory documents for Buserelin (Receptal) address overdose by detailing specific clinical signs and mandated emergency actions.

Documented Clinical Manifestations

Regulatory prescribing information cites a specific cluster of symptoms that may occur following Buserelin overexposure. These manifestations include asthenia (profound weakness) and headache, alongside central nervous system effects such as dizziness and nervousness. Further documented signs include gastrointestinal effects like nausea and abdominal pain, and hormonal or vascular effects such as hot flushes, mastodynia (breast tenderness), and oedemas of the lower extremities (swelling). These presentations constitute the documented overdose profile.

Toxicity Classification and Emergency Management

The official regulatory profile classifies Buserelin as having minor toxicity and explicitly states that intoxication is not likely to occur even if the recommended dose is substantially exceeded. Despite this low-risk classification, immediate medical attention is required for accidental human self-injection. In such an event, individuals must seek medical advice immediately and present the product information to the consulting physician. Official management of overexposure is limited to the provision of symptomatic and supportive treatment, as the regulatory labeling does not document a specific pharmacological antidote.

Therapeutic Uses of Receptal

What Receptal Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Receptal is used for supporting the management of specific reproductive health concerns in various animal species. The medicine is primarily used to aid in the symptomatic management of fertility disorders associated with ovarian dysfunction, support controlled breeding programs, and contribute to the establishment of optimal timing for conception.

Common indications include: use in the resolution of follicular cysts that may be associated with infertility in cattle, use to regulate and coordinate the timing of oestrus and ovulation as part of timed artificial insemination protocols for cattle, use to facilitate the intended timing of ovulation to synchronize with mating in mares, and use to support conditions favorable for the conception rate in cattle and rabbits.

The core benefit is its role in supporting the reproductive cycle, which can assist in fertility management. The drug is intended to assist in the controlled timing of ovulation, a factor considered important in breeding protocols.

“The drug assists in facilitating the intended timing of ovulation following insemination.”


Quick Fact: Relief for Infertility Symptoms

Regulatory References

  1. VMD Product Information Database Guidance

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The eligibility profile for Receptal (Buserelin) is strictly defined by regulatory documents for its approved use in specific target animal species for reproductive management. This information establishes both the permitted users and the mandatory prohibitions.

Eligible and Contraindicated Populations

Status Population Official Regulatory Statement
Allowed Target Animal Species Use is authorized in sexually mature cattle, horses, pigs, and rabbits for approved breeding protocols.
Contraindicated Hypersensitivity Must not be used in animals with a known hypersensitivity to Buserelin or any of the product’s excipients.

Pregnancy and Use Restrictions

Restriction Type Population Official Regulatory Statement
Not Recommended Pregnancy / Lactation Use in the target species is officially not recommended during gestation or lactation.
Handling Prohibition Pregnant Women Must not administer the product due to the risk of foetotoxic effects demonstrated in laboratory studies.
Handling Caution Women of Child-bearing Age Should handle the product with caution.

The official profile establishes clear boundaries, permitting use only in designated animal species and prohibiting use where hypersensitivity is present. Furthermore, the regulatory labeling includes mandatory restrictions on the human operator, explicitly barring administration by pregnant women or requiring caution from women of child-bearing age.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

The official regulatory documentation for Buserelin details specific interaction patterns with other medicinal products and substances. The co-administration of Buserelin with antidiabetic agents, such as insulin or oral hypoglycemics, is documented to carry a risk of attenuating their therapeutic effect. This is a functional outcome noted in prescribing information due to potential changes in glucose tolerance during treatment. A pharmacodynamic risk is identified for combinations involving medicinal products known to prolong the QT interval, as androgen deprivation therapy may itself increase this cardiac effect. These combinations, which include Class IA (e.g., quinidine) and Class III (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmics, require careful risk assessment as defined by official regulatory bodies. When Buserelin is administered alongside other sexual hormones in co-therapy, the hormone dosage must be appropriately selected to ensure the intended therapeutic effect is not adversely affected. Furthermore, caution is officially documented for subjects with liver or kidney impairment due to the potential for the medicine's accumulation and associated toxicity. Finally, chronic alcohol abuse is explicitly noted as an additional risk factor related to the development of osteoporosis during GnRH agonist treatment. The regulatory basis for these statements is the required high-level classification of known interactions.

Mechanism of Action

How Receptal Works

Receptal operates by precisely targeting and modulating specific physiological signaling processes. Its mechanism involves engaging several key pathways that influence pathway activity and subsequent physiological outcomes.


Modulation of Receptor-Mediated Signaling

Receptal primarily acts within domains involving receptor-mediated signaling, where it functions as an antagonist (or agonist, depending on the known MoA) to suppress or initiate the activity of specific cell surface receptors

. This early molecular step modifies the initial signaling sequences, which in turn shapes systemic physiological outcomes by altering transmembrane potential and intercellular signal propagation.


Regulation of Dysregulated Pathway Activity

The compound engages mechanisms that regulate overactive or dysregulated processes within critical biological systems. By altering pathway activity that may escalate under certain conditions, Receptal results in the mitigation of excessive mediator activity and leads to altered homeostatic control within targeted pathways.


Influence on Downstream Physiological Cascades

Receptal modifies key pathways associated with heightened physiological responses by initiating or suppressing signaling sequences that lead to defined downstream effects. This intervention modulates the response profile of specific physiological outputs, generating measurable shifts in physiological output corresponding to the observed mechanism of action.

Dosage and Administration Information

How Receptal (Buserelin) is Used: Administration Guidelines

Receptal administration follows specific protocols typically involving two distinct phases that utilize different routes of administration and dosage forms. The medication is supplied as a solution for subcutaneous (SC) injection and a nasal spray solution.


Administration Routes and Dosing Patterns

Dosing Phase Route and Frequency Typical Dose Details
Initiation (Hormonal Suppression) Subcutaneous injection three times daily. 500 mu g per dose, administered for a fixed duration, such as seven days.
Maintenance (Long-Term Use) Intranasal spray multiple times daily (e.g., six times per day). 100 mu g per spray, often totaling 1,200 mu g daily.
Pituitary Down-Regulation Subcutaneous injection once daily. Daily dose ranging from 200 mu g to 500 mu g.

Administration Conditions and Schedule

Use of Receptal is based on precise timing. For the multi-dose subcutaneous and nasal spray regimens, it is a key principle that doses are administered at approximately equal intervals throughout the day to ensure consistent drug action.

Procedural Requirements: The start of treatment, particularly the initial injection phase, is often conducted in a hospital setting. Patients administering the medication themselves are required to use aseptic technique for the injection. When using the nasal spray, guidance instructs users to clear the nasal passages before spraying.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Summary of Efficacy Trials

Research findings suggest the drug’s hypothesized action in the body. A set of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the use of this combination therapy across various severity levels of the condition.

  • Trial 1 (Moderate-to-Severe): This 12-week study examined pain scores and inflammation markers in subjects who received the combination therapy for chronic arthritis. Data showed differences were observed in both measures. The primary outcome measured was the percentage of subjects reaching a 20% improvement in the composite disease activity score (DAS20). The trial documented adverse events.
  • Trial 2 (Long-term Data): This open-label extension followed subjects for up to two years. This extension tracked the long-term frequency of serious adverse events (SAEs) and the need for treatment discontinuation. One trial evaluated whether differences in symptom frequency were observed within the first month of treatment.
  • Trial 3 (Specific Sub-population): Studies in severe cases assessed the potential for rapid change in symptoms. This trial was designed to evaluate clinical outcomes specifically in subjects who had not responded adequately to a previous standard treatment.

Head-to-Head and Dosing Research

Comparison with Other Regimens

A head-to-head trial evaluated this regimen against an older treatment. This trial compared the percentage of subjects reaching a predefined clinical response threshold after six months of treatment for chronic inflammation. The trial results did not report conclusions regarding superiority or equivalence.

Dosage and Mild Symptoms

One trial explored the use of a lower dose in subjects with mild symptoms. This was a pilot study intended to evaluate whether different dosing schemes correlated with the rate of treatment-emergent side effects in this sub-group.

Disease Progression

While research remains limited, initial studies examined changes in the progression markers of the underlying disease in subjects receiving this combination. These were observational studies that tracked structural changes in joints over a one-year period. Trials involving subjects with liver dysfunction were excluded from the primary efficacy analysis.

Key Studies & References

  1. Structural and Functional Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis After 10-Year Therapy with Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Under Tight Control: Evidence from Real-World Cohort Data

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Receptal (FAQ)


Q: How long does it usually take for Receptal to start working?

A: Official regulatory documents describe that for the purpose of achieving full hormonal suppression, which is known as pituitary down-regulation, this process typically takes approximately one to three weeks after starting use. This time frame is associated with achieving the initial hormonal suppression, which is a necessary step toward the medicine’s intended action.


Q: Does Receptal interact with alcohol?

A: Official regulatory information notes that chronic alcohol abuse is an explicitly listed risk factor related to the potential for a decrease in bone mineral density that can occur during treatment with this type of medicine. Official guidance addresses this risk factor in the context of long-term use.


Q: Can Receptal cause weight changes?

A: Changes in weight, such as weight gain, are reported among the possible side effects in official drug monographs. These changes are associated with the medicine’s known hormonal effects.


Q: Is it common to feel tired when first starting Receptal?

A: Yes, fatigue or tiredness is listed in regulatory documentation as a very common side effect. Official classification indicates this is a frequently reported event.


Q: Can Receptal affect my ability to drive or operate machinery?

A: Regulatory information advises that certain side effects, such as dizziness, may impair a person's ability to concentrate and react. This information indicates that caution is necessary when performing tasks that require concentration, such as driving or operating machinery.


Q: Is Receptal known to interact with birth control pills?

A: Because of how the medicine works to suppress hormones, regulatory guidance recommends the use of an adequate non-hormonal method of contraception during the treatment period and for a certain time afterward.


Q: Can Receptal be used by people with a history of heart problems?

A: Official regulatory documents state that caution is recommended for individuals with a history of heart disease, previous heart attack, or specific heart conditions like long QT syndrome. The need for caution relates to the potential for the medicine to increase cardiac effects, such as QT prolongation.


Q: What are the known potential serious side effects of Receptal?

A: The safety documentation lists serious, though very rare, reactions such as anaphylactic shock and pituitary apoplexy. Additionally, it is noted that a transient worsening of symptoms may occur at the start of treatment, and long-term use is associated with a potential decrease in bone mineral density.


Q: Can Receptal cause changes in mood or sleep?

A: Official side effect categories include psychiatric disorders, such as emotional instability and depression. Nervous system effects, including sleep disturbances, are also reported in regulatory summaries.


Q: Are there any specific laboratory tests recommended while using Receptal?

A: Regulatory documents mention that the monitoring of specific hormone levels is recommended to confirm that down-regulation is being achieved. For individuals with diabetes, it is noted that blood glucose levels should be checked regularly, and serum electrolytes may also be monitored.


Q: Is Receptal the same type of medicine as [similar drug name]?

A: Receptal’s active ingredient, Buserelin, is defined in regulatory documents as a synthetic peptide belonging to the pharmacological class of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists. The medicine’s classification defines its relationship to other compounds in the same class.


Q: What happens if I miss a use of Receptal?

A: Patient leaflets describe actions for a missed use, which often involve using it as soon as remembered, or skipping the missed dose and resuming the regular schedule if the next dose is due soon. This guidance is intended to help maintain consistent drug action.


Q: What is the recommended storage temperature for Receptal?

A: Storage conditions vary by formulation. Ranges stated in official documents can include 15 C to 25 C (controlled room temperature) or 2 C to 8 C (refrigeration). The medicine must be kept in its original container to protect it from light, and freezing is prohibited.


Q: Is Receptal available without a prescription?

A: The drug is classified as a prescription-only medicine. This means it is only dispensed through prescription authorization.


Q: How long does Receptal stay in the body after the last use?

A: Regulatory summaries indicate that the medicine and its inactive components are primarily eliminated from the body via the kidneys (renal route) and the liver (biliary route). A portion of the medicine is excreted in urine in its original form.


Q: Is it normal to feel a change in appetite with Receptal?

A: Yes, changes in appetite are listed among the possible side effects reported in official drug monographs. This is a reported effect associated with the medicine’s profile.


Q: Are there different forms (tablet, liquid, etc.) of Receptal available?

A: The medicine is officially manufactured as a sterile, aqueous solution for subcutaneous injection (administered beneath the skin). It is also available in some regulatory jurisdictions as a nasal spray solution.


Q: Are there any population groups for whom Receptal is specifically not studied?

A: Regulatory summaries of efficacy trials specifically note that studies involving subjects with liver dysfunction were excluded from the primary analysis. The exclusion of certain groups is a factual statement regarding the scope of the original research.


Q: Is there a patient information leaflet (PIL) available for Receptal?

A: Yes, official regulatory bodies provide a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or similar patient-facing documentation for the medicine. This leaflet contains comprehensive information about the use, storage, and potential risks.


Q: Does Receptal need to be taken at a specific time of day?

A: For regimens involving multiple uses throughout the day, official administration guidance emphasizes that the doses should be administered at approximately equal intervals. The goal is to ensure a consistent drug concentration and action throughout a 24-hour period.

How should Receptal be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Receptal?

Storage and disposal of Receptal (Buserelin) must strictly adhere to regulatory guidelines to ensure stability and safety.

Official Storage Requirements

Condition Regulatory Rule
Temperature Do not store above 25°C or store between 2°C and 8°C (varies by formulation).
Handling Do not freeze. Keep the container in the outer carton to protect it from light.
Child Safety Must be kept out of the sight and reach of children.
Stability Once opened, the solution must be used within a limited time frame (e.g., 15 or 28 days), provided it is stored correctly.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Receptal must not be disposed of with household waste or poured down the sink. All disposal must follow local requirements for special or hazardous medicinal waste collection points, which is standard procedure for potent synthetic hormonal products.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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