histrelin Impl

Irritation at the implant site (such as bruising, pain, redness), mood swings, or headache may occur. In men using this medication for prostate cancer, hot flashes (flushing), increased sweating, night sweats, tiredness, swelling of the ankles/feet, or constipation may occur. In girls using this medication for early puberty, breast tenderness or abnormal vaginal bleeding may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Infrequently, breast tenderness/swelling may occur in men and boys as a result of lowered testosterone levels. Shrinking of the testicles and reduced sexual interest/ability may also occur in men. Talk to your doctor if these effects occur.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
If you are a man using this medication for prostate cancer, tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: new/worsening bone pain, easily broken bones, increased thirst/urination.
Get medical help right away if any of these rare but serious side effects occur: chest/jaw/left arm pain, irregular heartbeat, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech.
Rarely, a very serious problem with the pituitary gland (pituitary apoplexy) has been reported with similar drugs, usually in the first 2 weeks after starting treatment. Seek immediate medical attention if any of these very serious side effects occur: sudden severe headache, sudden severe mental/mood changes (e.g., severe confusion, difficulty concentrating), vision changes, severe vomiting, fainting.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using histrelin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to similar drugs (e.g., leuprolide); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: diabetes, heart disease (such as heart attack), stroke, high cholesterol, family history of sudden cardiac death.
If you are a man using this medication for prostate cancer, histrelin may weaken your bones and increase your risk for bone loss (osteoporosis) if used for a long time. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have osteoporosis or if you have any of the following risk factors for osteoporosis: long-term alcohol use, smoking, family history of osteoporosis and broken bones, use of certain medications (e.g., corticosteroids such as prednisone, certain anti-seizure drugs such as phenytoin).
This product is not approved for use in women. Histrelin must not be used during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for details.

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use.
Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

NOTES:
Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood testosterone level, PSA blood test if using for prostate cancer, blood testosterone/estradiol level, height, bone age if using for early puberty, blood glucose) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress. Consult your doctor for more details.
If you have radiology tests (X-rays, MRI), the histrelin implant will not be affected or affect the results of these tests. This implant does not show up on X-ray examination. However, make sure radiology personnel and all your doctors know you use this product.

MISSED DOSE:
Infrequently, the implant can come out of the upper arm. If this occurs or you suspect that this has occurred, call your doctor. Keep all appointments so your doctor can make sure the implant is in place and working.
To help prevent a missed dose, mark your calendar to keep track of when to schedule the placement of your next implant.

STORAGE:
Before implantation, the product should be refrigerated between 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Protect from light and do not freeze.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
Information last revised September 2011. Copyright(c) 2011 First Databank, Inc.