Degarelix
Description
Degarelix is an anticancer medicine used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer in adult male patients.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Degarelix
- Back pain
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fever
- Blurred vision
- Sudden sweating
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Feeling of warmth or heat
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain or stiffness
- Bloody or cloudy urine
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Chills
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Irregular heartbeat
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
Uses of Degarelix
What is it prescribed for?
- Prostate cancer
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed within 3 days of administration of the dose.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in women.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in women.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to degarelix or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in women.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in women.
General warnings
Use in females children, and adolescents
This medicine is not recommended for use in females, children, and adolescents.
QT interval prolongation
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients who have or may develop prolongation of QT interval due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of the clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition.
Diabetes mellitus
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus due to the increased risk of insulin resistance. Close monitoring of the clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition.
Bone mineral density
Use of this medicine may decrease the bone density in some patients. Appropriate corrective measures, dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Driving or operating machinery
Use of this medicine may cause dizziness, tiredness, or fatigue in some patients. Hence, it is advised that you do not perform any activities that require high mental alertness such as driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery if you experience any of these symptoms during treatment with this medicine.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low. If you miss an appointment for a dose of Degarelix injection, contact your doctor immediately and schedule the dose as soon as possible.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very less. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Escitalopram
Ondansetron
Fluconazole
Haloperidol
Chloroquine
Amiodarone
Moxifloxacin
Disease interactions
Kidney impairment
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of kidney function, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Liver impairment
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of liver function, appropriate dose adjustments, or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by lowering the levels of a male hormone (testosterone) in the body, thereby stopping the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, Hormones/antineoplastics
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 21 December 2018]. Available from:
[Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2018 [cited 21 December 2018]. Available from:
DailyMed - Firmagon- degarelix [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2019 [cited 23 August 2019]. Available from:
Firmagon 120mg Injection - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (eMC) [Internet]. Medicines.org.uk. 2019 [cited 23 August 2019]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 23 Aug 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.