How FIRMAGON® Is Given
FIRMAGON® is given as a series of subcutaneous (just below the skin) injections in your abdomen. The injected medicine forms a small mass, called a depot, which supplies your body with a continuous release of FIRMAGON® over 28 days.
First you will be given a starting dose of 2 injections (120 mg each), which will start to suppress testosterone fast. Then you will be given a maintenance dose of 1 injection per month (80 mg) until the end of your treatment.
The location of the injection in your abdomen will be changed slightly each time. The injection will be given by your doctor or nurse at the doctor's office, a hospital, or a clinic.
For 3 to 5 days after each of the first 2 injections, you might experience temporary redness, local swelling, and slight pain. If you have these symptoms after your first 2 treatments, taking a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. These reactions are less likely with the monthly injections that follow.
If you miss an injection
You should receive your injection every month so FIRMAGON® can effectively keep your testosterone and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels low. If you cannot keep your appointment to receive the injection, be sure to call your health care provider to reschedule another injection date as soon as possible.
This is the best way to ensure control of prostate cancer. After each injection, always set up an appointment for your next injection.
Length of treatment
At certain times over the course of your treatment, your doctor will measure the level of PSA in your blood. The results of these tests will tell your doctor how well your treatment is working. Based on your test results, your doctor will decide on the length of your treatment.
WHAT IS FIRMAGON?
FIRMAGON® is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
FIRMAGON® should not be given to people who are allergic to any of the ingredients in FIRMAGON®. It should not be given to women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. FIRMAGON® can harm an unborn baby when given to a pregnant woman.
Before receiving FIRMAGON®, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have any heart problems, problems with balance of your body salts or electrolytes (such as, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), or have kidney or liver problems.
The common side effects of FIRMAGON® include: hot flashes, injection site pain, redness and swelling (especially with the first dose), weight gain, increase in some liver enzymes, tiredness, hypertension, back and joint pain, chills, urinary tract infection, and decrease sex drive and trouble with erectile function (impotence).
The information on this Web site is provided for educational purposes only. While there may be information on this Web site related to certain medical conditions and their treatment, should a medical condition exist, promptly see your own physician or health care provider as the information on this Web site is not intended to take the place of advice from a physician or health care professional. Ferring does not offer personalized medical diagnosis or patient-specific treatment advice. The statements made by doctors on this Web site represent their own individual experiences and opinions and is not intended to be medical advice. Indeed, only your doctor or other health care professional, as a learned intermediary, can determine if a product described in this Web site is appropriate for you.
This Web site is intended for US residents only.
* With continued use, FIRMAGON has been shown to maintain testosterone at medically acceptable levels for up to 1 year.1
** In secondary endpoints of a 1-year, pivotal, phase 3 noninferiority-designed study; FIRMAGON: n=207; leuprolide: n=201.1
References:
1. Klotz L, Boccon-Gibod L, Shore ND, et al. The efficacy and safety of degarelix: a 12-month, comparative, randomized, open-label, parallel-group phase III study in patients with prostate cancer. BJU Int. 2008;102(11):1531-1538. 2. Van Poppel H, Nilsson S. Testosterone surge: rationale for gonadotropin-releasing hormone blockers? Urology. 2008;71(6):1001-1006. 3. Lupron Depot® [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: Abbott Laboratories; 2008. 4. Weckermann D, Harzmann R. Hormone therapy in prostate cancer: LHRH antagonists versus LHRH analogues. Eur Urol. 2004;46(3):279-284.