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

Quick overview

Firmagon Injection contains degarelix, a GnRH receptor antagonist, and is used to treat advanced prostate cancer. It works by lowering testosterone levels in the body, which helps slow or stop the growth of prostate cancer cells. It is given as an injection under the skin by a doctor or nurse, starting with two injections followed by monthly maintenance doses.

What is Firmagon Injection

Firmagon is a prescription injection medicine used to treat advanced prostate cancer. It contains degarelix, a man-made hormone that lowers testosterone levels in the body.

Firmagon Injection uses

• Treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Benefits of Firmagon Injection

• May slow or stop the growth of prostate cancer by lowering testosterone, the hormone that prostate cancer cells need to grow

How Firmagon Injection works

Firmagon blocks certain hormone receptors in a gland in the brain called the pituitary gland. This stops the signals that lead to testosterone production. Since prostate cancer cells usually need testosterone to grow, lowering testosterone helps control the cancer.

Firmagon Injection dosage

This medicine is given to you by a doctor or nurse as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously) in your belly area. The injection site will be changed each time within the belly area so the same spot isn't used twice in a row. The first dose is given as two separate injections, one after the other, each in a different spot. After the starting dose, follow-up (maintenance) injections are given about once a month.

Make sure your clothing, belt, or waistband does not press on the injection site, especially right after your injection. Do not rub or scratch the injection site, as this might change how the medicine is released from the small lump that forms under the skin.

Keep all your scheduled appointments so you receive your doses on time and your doctor can check your progress. If you think you missed an appointment for your injection, contact your doctor or nurse as soon as possible to arrange your next dose.

Available forms and strengths

• Powder for injection (to be mixed into a liquid before use), given as a subcutaneous injection, available in 80 mg and 120 mg vials

Side effects of Firmagon Injection

Common

• Injection site pain, redness, and swelling (especially after the first dose)
• Hot flashes
• Weight gain (or sometimes weight loss)
• Increases in certain liver enzyme levels
• Trouble sleeping
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Fever
• Weakness or tiredness
• Back and joint pain
• Decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction
• Urinary tract infection
• High blood pressure

Serious

• Serious allergic reactions (trouble breathing or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue, severe itching or hives on the skin)
• Heart rhythm changes, including QT interval prolongation, which may cause fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in the chest, sudden dizziness, fainting, or seizures
• Gynecomastia (swollen or tender breasts, nipple discharge)
• Testicular atrophy (low sex drive, infertility, reduced muscle mass)
• Injection site infections, including abscess

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to degarelix or similar GnRH blocker medicines, or to any ingredient in this product.
• This medicine is not for use in women or children.
• If you have heart problems, such as irregular heartbeats or long QT syndrome, tell your doctor, since this medicine may raise the risk of serious heart rhythm problems, especially if you take certain other heart medicines.
• Serious allergic reactions, including severe whole-body reactions, hives, and swelling, have been reported with this medicine.
• Do not stop using this medicine because of side effects without first talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine must not be used by women who are or may become pregnant, as it can harm an unborn baby and cause loss of pregnancy.
• It isn't known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk with your doctor about whether to use this medicine or breastfeed, since both should not be done together.
• No dose change is needed for mild or moderate kidney problems, but this medicine should be used carefully in people with more severe kidney impairment, since this hasn't been studied.
• No dose change is needed for mild or moderate liver problems, but caution is advised for people with severe liver impairment since this hasn't been studied.
• It isn't known whether drinking alcohol affects this medicine, but tell your doctor about your alcohol use before starting treatment.
• There are no known effects on your ability to drive or use machines. However, if you feel dizzy or light-headed, which can be a sign of low blood pressure, be careful when standing up from sitting or lying down, and be cautious before driving or using machinery.

Storage

• Store it in a cool dry place, where the temperature stays below 25°C, away from heat or sunlight.
• Do not store it in the bathroom or near a sink, or in the car or on window sills.
• Keep FIRMAGON in the original container until it is time to use it.
• If you take your medicine out of the original container, it will not keep well.
• Keep it where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
• After reconstitution the product should be injected immediately.
• FIRMAGON should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.
• If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date located on the vials and outer packaging.

When to see a doctor

• Get urgent medical help if you have shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other body parts, or rash, itching, or hives, as these can be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
• Call your doctor right away if you have fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, sudden dizziness like you might pass out, severe headache, blurred vision, or pounding in your neck or ears, as these may be signs of a heart rhythm problem.
• If you think you have used too much of this medicine or have side effects after receiving it, seek urgent medical attention right away, even if you don't feel unwell.

Alternatives

• Eligard
• Lupron
• Zoladex