Degarelix Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Degarelix Injection is a man-made protein that lowers testosterone and other hormone levels in the body. It belongs to the GnRH receptor antagonist drug class and is given as an injection under the skin to treat advanced prostate cancer. By reducing testosterone, it helps slow the growth of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cells.

What is Degarelix Injection

Degarelix is a man-made protein that lowers certain hormone levels in the body, including testosterone. It is given as an injection under the skin to treat advanced prostate cancer.

Degarelix Injection uses

• Treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Benefits of Degarelix Injection

• Lowers testosterone levels
• Treats advanced prostate cancer
• Produces rapid testosterone suppression
• Avoids the initial testosterone surge associated with some GnRH agonists
• Helps control hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

How Degarelix Injection works

Degarelix blocks GnRH receptors in the pituitary gland, which reduces the release of hormones that signal the body to make testosterone. Since prostate cancer cells often need testosterone to grow, lowering testosterone can slow or stop the cancer's growth.

Degarelix Injection dosage

This medicine is given by a doctor or nurse as an injection under the skin of the stomach area, not into a vein. The injection site is always in the abdominal area but changes location with each new dose. The first treatment is given as two separate injections on the same visit; later doses are given as a single injection. Injections are usually given once every 28 days.

Make sure the injection site is not under pressure from a belt, waistband, or tight clothing. Keep all scheduled appointments for your injections. If you miss or think you missed a monthly injection appointment, call your doctor right away for instructions. This medicine is intended only for use in adult men and is not meant for use in children or women. You will need regular blood tests to check how your body is responding to treatment.

Available forms and strengths

• Powder for injection, 120 mg per vial
• Powder for injection, 80 mg per vial

Side effects of Degarelix Injection

Common

• Hot flashes
• Injection site pain, redness, swelling, hardness, or itching
• Weight gain
• Increases in liver enzyme levels (transaminases and GGT)
• Tiredness/fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Back and joint pain
• Chills
• Urinary tract infection
• Decreased sex drive and trouble with erectile function
• Excessive sweating or night sweats
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Enlargement of the breasts

Serious

• Signs of allergic reaction: hives, rash, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, hoarseness
• Fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat or fluttering feeling in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden dizziness like you might pass out, or fainting
• Severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in the neck or ears
• Painful, frequent, or difficult urination; fever; or chills
• Decreased bone density, which can make bones weaker and more likely to break

Warnings and precautions

• Long-term hormone therapy like this medicine can affect the heart's electrical rhythm (prolong the QT interval). Your doctor should weigh the risks and benefits, especially if you have heart rhythm problems, electrolyte imbalances, or heart failure, or take certain heart rhythm medicines.
• This medicine can lower bone density over time, which may make bones weaker and more likely to break.
• This medicine is not for use in women, especially those who are or may become pregnant.
• This medicine may reduce fertility in both men and women.
• This medicine should not be given to women who are or may become pregnant, as it can harm an unborn baby.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide whether you will take this medicine or breastfeed, not both, without discussing it with your provider.
• This medicine should be used with caution in people with reduced kidney function, since data in patients with moderate or severe kidney impairment is limited.
• No dose change is needed for mild or moderate liver impairment, but caution is needed in people with severe liver problems, since they have not been studied.
• No major direct interaction is established, but excessive alcohol may worsen fatigue and bone-loss risk.
• Fatigue or dizziness may affect driving.

Storage

• Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F).
• As with all prescription drugs, this medicine should be kept out of the reach of children.
• Caution should be exercised in handling and preparing the solution; always wear impervious gloves when handling this medicine.
• If the solution contacts the skin, immediately wash the skin thoroughly with soap and water. If it contacts mucous membranes, flush immediately and thoroughly with water.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you notice signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a fast or pounding heartbeat, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, sudden dizziness like you might pass out, or a severe headache with blurred vision or pounding in the neck or ears.
• Seek emergency medical help if an overdose is suspected, including calling your local poison control center for guidance.
• If the person has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be woken up, call emergency services right away.

Alternatives

• Leuprolide
• Goserelin
• Triptorelin