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Zytec
Cetirizine Hydrochloride
Zytec
Indications
Urticaria
Indication detailsView
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
Pharmacokinetics: Cetirizine 10 mg achieves peak plasma concentrations of 257 mcg/L within one hour of administration (980 mcg/L in children). Food does not affect the extent of absorption, but it may slightly reduce the rate. Peak blood levels 0.3 micrograms/ml are reached between thirty & sixty minutes after administration of 10 mg dose of Cetirizine. Its plasma half-life is approximately 11 hours. Absorption is very consistent from one subject to the next. Its renal clearance is 30 ml/minute and the excretion half-life is approximately nine hours.
DosageView
Children 2-6 years: 1 teaspoonful once daily or 1/2 teaspoonful twice daily.
Children 6 months to 2 years : 1/2 teaspoonful once daily. The dose in children 12-23 months of age can be increased to a maximum dose as 1/2 teaspoonful every 12 hours.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
InteractionsView
Pregnancy & lactationView
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Zytiga
Abiraterone Acetate
Zytiga
Indications
Metastatic prostate cancer
Indication detailsView
- Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
- Metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC).
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
Metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: Abiraterone 1,000 mg orally once daily with prednisone 5 mg orally once daily.
Patients receiving Abiraterone should also receive a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog concurrently or should have had bilateral orchiectomy. Abiraterone must be taken on an empty stomach with water at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Do not crush or chew tablets.
Dose Modification:
- For patients with baseline moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B), reduce the Abiraterone starting dose to 250 mg once daily.
- For patients who develop hepatotoxicity during treatment, hold Abiraterone until recovery. Retreatment may be initiated at a reduced dose. Abiraterone should be discontinued if patients develop severe hepatotoxicity.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
Adrenocortical insufficiency: Monitor for symptoms and signs of adrenocortical insufficiency. Increased dosage of corticosteroids may be indicated before, during and after stressful situations.
Hepatotoxicity: Can be severe and fatal. Monitor liver function and modify, interrupt, or discontinue Abiraterone dosing as recommended.
Increased fractures and mortality in combination with radium Ra 223 dichloride: Use of Abiraterone plus prednisone/prednisolone in combination with radium Ra 223 dichloride is not recommended.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Abiraterone can cause fetal harm. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception.
InteractionsView
CYP2D6 Substrates: Avoid co-administration of Abiraterone with CYP2D6 substrates that have a narrow therapeutic index. If an alternative treatment cannot be used, exercise caution and consider a dose reduction of the concomitant CYP2D6 substrate.
Pregnancy & lactationView
Overdose effectsView
StorageView
Zytix
Abiraterone Acetate
Zytix
Indications
Metastatic prostate cancer
Indication detailsView
- Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
- Metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC).
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
Metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer: Abiraterone 1,000 mg orally once daily with prednisone 5 mg orally once daily.
Patients receiving Abiraterone should also receive a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog concurrently or should have had bilateral orchiectomy. Abiraterone must be taken on an empty stomach with water at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Do not crush or chew tablets.
Dose Modification:
- For patients with baseline moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B), reduce the Abiraterone starting dose to 250 mg once daily.
- For patients who develop hepatotoxicity during treatment, hold Abiraterone until recovery. Retreatment may be initiated at a reduced dose. Abiraterone should be discontinued if patients develop severe hepatotoxicity.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
Adrenocortical insufficiency: Monitor for symptoms and signs of adrenocortical insufficiency. Increased dosage of corticosteroids may be indicated before, during and after stressful situations.
Hepatotoxicity: Can be severe and fatal. Monitor liver function and modify, interrupt, or discontinue Abiraterone dosing as recommended.
Increased fractures and mortality in combination with radium Ra 223 dichloride: Use of Abiraterone plus prednisone/prednisolone in combination with radium Ra 223 dichloride is not recommended.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Abiraterone can cause fetal harm. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception.
InteractionsView
CYP2D6 Substrates: Avoid co-administration of Abiraterone with CYP2D6 substrates that have a narrow therapeutic index. If an alternative treatment cannot be used, exercise caution and consider a dose reduction of the concomitant CYP2D6 substrate.
Pregnancy & lactationView
Overdose effectsView
StorageView
iMAX
Esomeprazole
iMAX
Indication detailsView
- To relieve from chronic heartburn symptoms and other symptoms associated with GERD
- For the healing of erosive esophagitis
- For maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis
- In combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer disease.
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
- Acid related Dyspepsia
- Duodenal & Gastric ulcer
PharmacologyView
Absorption: Esomeprazole capsules contain an enteric-coated pellet formulation of esomeprazole magnesium. After oral administration peak plasma levels (Cmax) occur at approximately 1.5 hours (Tmax). The Cmax increases proportionally when the dose is increased, and there is a three-fold increase in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from 20 to 40 mg. At repeated once daily dosing, the systemic bioavailability is approximately 90% compared to 64% after a single dose. The AUC after administration of a single dose of esomeprazole is decreased by 33-53% after food intake compared to fasting conditions. Esomeprazole should be taken at least one hour before meals.
Distribution: Esomeprazole is 97% bound to plasma proteins. Plasma protein binding is constant over the concentration range of 2 20 mmol/L. The apparent volume of distribution at steady state in healthy volunteers is approximately 16 L.
Metabolism: Esomeprazole is extensively metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system. The metabolites of esomeprazole lack anti-secretory activity. The major part of esomeprazole’s metabolism is dependent upon the CYP2C19 isoenzyme, which forms the hydroxy and desmethyl metabolites. The remaining amount is dependent on CYP3A4 which forms the sulphone metabolite.
Excretion: The plasma elimination half-life of esomeprazole is approximately 1–1.5 hours. Less than 1% of parent drug is excreted in the urine. Approximately 80% of an oral dose of esomeprazole is excreted as inactive metabolites in the urine, and the remainder is found as inactive metabolites in the faeces.
Combination Therapy with Antimicrobials: Esomeprazole magnesium 40 mg once daily is given in combination with clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 7 days. The mean steady state AUC and Cmax of Esomeprazole increased by 70% and 18%, respectively, during triple combination therapy compared to treatment with Esomeprazole alone. The pharmacokinetic parameters for clarithromycin and amoxicillin are similar during triple combination therapy and administration of each drug alone. However, the mean AUC and Cmax for 14-hydroxyclarithromycin are increased by 19% and 22%, respectively, during triple combination therapy compared to treatment with clarithromycin alone. This increase in exposure to 14-hydroxyclarithromycin is not considered to be clinically significant.
DosageView
Healing of Erosive Esophagitis: 20 mg or 40 mg Once Daily for 4-8 Weeks. The majority of patients are healed within 4 to 8 weeks. For patients who don't heal after 4-8 weeks, an additional 4-8 weeks of treatment may be considered. Maintenance of Healing of Erosive
Esophagitis: 20 mg Once Daily (Clinical studies did not extend 6 months).
Symptomatic GERD: 20 mg Once Daily for 4 Weeks. If symptoms do not resolve completely after 4 weeks, an additional 4 weeks of treatment may be considered.
Helicobacter Pylori eradication: Triple Therapy to reduce the risk of Duodenal Ulcer recurrence-Esomeprazole 40 mg Once Daily for 10 days, Amoxicillin 1000 mg Twice Daily for 10 days, Clarithromycin 500 mg Twice Daily for 10 days.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: The dose is 20-80 mg once daily. The dosage should be adjusted individually and treatment continued as long as clinically indicated.
Acid-related Dyspepsia: 20-40 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks according to the response.
Duodenal ulcer: 20 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks. Gastric ulcer: 20-40 mg once daily for 4-8 weeks.
Injection: The recommended adult dose is 40 mg Esomeprazole given once daily by intravenous injection (not less than 3 minutes) or intravenous infusion (10 to 30 minutes). Esomeprazole IV injection should not be administered concomitantly with any other medications through the same intravenous site. Treatment with Esomeprazole IV injection should be discontinued as soon as the patient is able to resume treatment with Esomeprazole delayed-release capsules. Safety and effectiveness in paediatric patients have not been established.
AdministrationView
Direction for use of Delayed-Release Oral Suspension: Whole contents of the packet should be taken into a small glass containing 15 ml. of water. The mixer should be stirred well and leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Stir again and drink within 30 minutes. If any medicine remains after drinking, add more water, stir, and drink immediately. If the suspension is to be administered through a nasogastric or gastric tube, the volume of water in the syringe should be 15 ml. & immediately shake the syringe and leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Shake the syringe and inject it through the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach within 30 minutes. An appropriately sized syringe should be used. Shake and flush any remaining contents from the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach.
Esomeprazole IV Injection: Esomeprazole IV should be given as a slow intravenous injection. The solution for IV injection is obtained by adding to the vial 5 ml of the solvent (WFI) provided. After reconstitution, the injection should be given slowly over a period of at least 3 minutes. The solution should be used within 12 hours of reconstitution when stored at room temperature up to 30°C. No refrigeration is required. The reconstituted solution should not be used if it contains visible particulate.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
Information for patients: Esomeprazole capsules should be taken at least one hour before meals. For patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules, one tablespoon of applesauce can be added to an empty bowl and the Esomeprazole capsules can be opened, and the pellets inside the capsule carefully emptied onto the applesauce. The pellets should be mixed with the applesauce and then swallowed immediately. The applesauce used should not be hot and should be soft enough to be swallowed without chewing. The pellets should not be chewed or crushed. The pellet/applesauce mixture should not be stored for future use. Antacids may be used while taking esomeprazole.
InteractionsView
Esomeprazole may potentially interfere with CYP2C19, the major Esomeprazole metabolizing enzyme. Co-administration of Esomeprazole 30 mg and diazepam, a CYP2C19 substrate has resulted in a 45% decrease in clearance of diazepam. Increased plasma levels of diazepam have been observed 12 hours after dosing and onwards. Esomeprazole inhibits gastric acid secretion. Therefore, Esomeprazole may interfere with the absorption of drugs where gastric pH is an important determinant of bioavailability (e.g., ketoconazole, iron salts and digoxin).
Co-administration of oral contraceptives, diazepam, phenytoin, or quinidine do not seem to change the pharmacokinetic profile of Esomeprazole.
Combination Therapy with Clarithromycin: Co-administration of esomeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin has resulted in increases in the plasma levels of esomeprazole and 14-hydroxyclarithromycin.
Pregnancy & lactationView
Pediatric usageView
Geriatric Use: No overall differences in safety and efficacy have been observed between the elderly and younger individuals, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out
Hepatic Insufficiency: No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency. However, in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency, a dose of 20 mg once daily should not be exceeded.
Renal Insufficiency: The Pharmacokinetics of Esomeprazole in patients with renal impairment are not expected to be altered relative to healthy volunteers as less than 1% of Esomeprazole is excreted unchanged in the urine.
Overdose effectsView
ReconstitutionView
StorageView
iMAX
Esomeprazole
iMAX
Indication detailsView
- To relieve from chronic heartburn symptoms and other symptoms associated with GERD
- For the healing of erosive esophagitis
- For maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis
- In combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer disease.
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
- Acid related Dyspepsia
- Duodenal & Gastric ulcer
PharmacologyView
Absorption: Esomeprazole capsules contain an enteric-coated pellet formulation of esomeprazole magnesium. After oral administration peak plasma levels (Cmax) occur at approximately 1.5 hours (Tmax). The Cmax increases proportionally when the dose is increased, and there is a three-fold increase in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from 20 to 40 mg. At repeated once daily dosing, the systemic bioavailability is approximately 90% compared to 64% after a single dose. The AUC after administration of a single dose of esomeprazole is decreased by 33-53% after food intake compared to fasting conditions. Esomeprazole should be taken at least one hour before meals.
Distribution: Esomeprazole is 97% bound to plasma proteins. Plasma protein binding is constant over the concentration range of 2 20 mmol/L. The apparent volume of distribution at steady state in healthy volunteers is approximately 16 L.
Metabolism: Esomeprazole is extensively metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system. The metabolites of esomeprazole lack anti-secretory activity. The major part of esomeprazole’s metabolism is dependent upon the CYP2C19 isoenzyme, which forms the hydroxy and desmethyl metabolites. The remaining amount is dependent on CYP3A4 which forms the sulphone metabolite.
Excretion: The plasma elimination half-life of esomeprazole is approximately 1–1.5 hours. Less than 1% of parent drug is excreted in the urine. Approximately 80% of an oral dose of esomeprazole is excreted as inactive metabolites in the urine, and the remainder is found as inactive metabolites in the faeces.
Combination Therapy with Antimicrobials: Esomeprazole magnesium 40 mg once daily is given in combination with clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 7 days. The mean steady state AUC and Cmax of Esomeprazole increased by 70% and 18%, respectively, during triple combination therapy compared to treatment with Esomeprazole alone. The pharmacokinetic parameters for clarithromycin and amoxicillin are similar during triple combination therapy and administration of each drug alone. However, the mean AUC and Cmax for 14-hydroxyclarithromycin are increased by 19% and 22%, respectively, during triple combination therapy compared to treatment with clarithromycin alone. This increase in exposure to 14-hydroxyclarithromycin is not considered to be clinically significant.
DosageView
Healing of Erosive Esophagitis: 20 mg or 40 mg Once Daily for 4-8 Weeks. The majority of patients are healed within 4 to 8 weeks. For patients who don't heal after 4-8 weeks, an additional 4-8 weeks of treatment may be considered. Maintenance of Healing of Erosive
Esophagitis: 20 mg Once Daily (Clinical studies did not extend 6 months).
Symptomatic GERD: 20 mg Once Daily for 4 Weeks. If symptoms do not resolve completely after 4 weeks, an additional 4 weeks of treatment may be considered.
Helicobacter Pylori eradication: Triple Therapy to reduce the risk of Duodenal Ulcer recurrence-Esomeprazole 40 mg Once Daily for 10 days, Amoxicillin 1000 mg Twice Daily for 10 days, Clarithromycin 500 mg Twice Daily for 10 days.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: The dose is 20-80 mg once daily. The dosage should be adjusted individually and treatment continued as long as clinically indicated.
Acid-related Dyspepsia: 20-40 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks according to the response.
Duodenal ulcer: 20 mg once daily for 2-4 weeks. Gastric ulcer: 20-40 mg once daily for 4-8 weeks.
Injection: The recommended adult dose is 40 mg Esomeprazole given once daily by intravenous injection (not less than 3 minutes) or intravenous infusion (10 to 30 minutes). Esomeprazole IV injection should not be administered concomitantly with any other medications through the same intravenous site. Treatment with Esomeprazole IV injection should be discontinued as soon as the patient is able to resume treatment with Esomeprazole delayed-release capsules. Safety and effectiveness in paediatric patients have not been established.
AdministrationView
Direction for use of Delayed-Release Oral Suspension: Whole contents of the packet should be taken into a small glass containing 15 ml. of water. The mixer should be stirred well and leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Stir again and drink within 30 minutes. If any medicine remains after drinking, add more water, stir, and drink immediately. If the suspension is to be administered through a nasogastric or gastric tube, the volume of water in the syringe should be 15 ml. & immediately shake the syringe and leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Shake the syringe and inject it through the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach within 30 minutes. An appropriately sized syringe should be used. Shake and flush any remaining contents from the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach.
Esomeprazole IV Injection: Esomeprazole IV should be given as a slow intravenous injection. The solution for IV injection is obtained by adding to the vial 5 ml of the solvent (WFI) provided. After reconstitution, the injection should be given slowly over a period of at least 3 minutes. The solution should be used within 12 hours of reconstitution when stored at room temperature up to 30°C. No refrigeration is required. The reconstituted solution should not be used if it contains visible particulate.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
Information for patients: Esomeprazole capsules should be taken at least one hour before meals. For patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules, one tablespoon of applesauce can be added to an empty bowl and the Esomeprazole capsules can be opened, and the pellets inside the capsule carefully emptied onto the applesauce. The pellets should be mixed with the applesauce and then swallowed immediately. The applesauce used should not be hot and should be soft enough to be swallowed without chewing. The pellets should not be chewed or crushed. The pellet/applesauce mixture should not be stored for future use. Antacids may be used while taking esomeprazole.
InteractionsView
Esomeprazole may potentially interfere with CYP2C19, the major Esomeprazole metabolizing enzyme. Co-administration of Esomeprazole 30 mg and diazepam, a CYP2C19 substrate has resulted in a 45% decrease in clearance of diazepam. Increased plasma levels of diazepam have been observed 12 hours after dosing and onwards. Esomeprazole inhibits gastric acid secretion. Therefore, Esomeprazole may interfere with the absorption of drugs where gastric pH is an important determinant of bioavailability (e.g., ketoconazole, iron salts and digoxin).
Co-administration of oral contraceptives, diazepam, phenytoin, or quinidine do not seem to change the pharmacokinetic profile of Esomeprazole.
Combination Therapy with Clarithromycin: Co-administration of esomeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin has resulted in increases in the plasma levels of esomeprazole and 14-hydroxyclarithromycin.
Pregnancy & lactationView
Pediatric usageView
Geriatric Use: No overall differences in safety and efficacy have been observed between the elderly and younger individuals, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out
Hepatic Insufficiency: No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with mild to moderate hepatic insufficiency. However, in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency, a dose of 20 mg once daily should not be exceeded.
Renal Insufficiency: The Pharmacokinetics of Esomeprazole in patients with renal impairment are not expected to be altered relative to healthy volunteers as less than 1% of Esomeprazole is excreted unchanged in the urine.
Overdose effectsView
ReconstitutionView
StorageView
kTx
Tadalafil
kTx
Indications
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Indication detailsView
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Both Erectile Dysfunction and signs and symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
Erectile Dysfunction: For most patients the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. The dose may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on requirement. The maximum dosing frequency is once daily. Tadalafil is effective for up to 36 hours.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dose is 5 mg taken at the same time every day.
Combined Erectile Dysfunction and Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dose is 5 mg at the same time every day.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
- Use of Nitrates (for example, Nitroglycerine, Isosorbide): may increase hypotensive effects of Nitrates
- Hypersensitivity reactions to Tadalafil
PrecautionsView
InteractionsView
Pregnancy & lactationView
StorageView
kTx
Tadalafil
kTx
Indications
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Indication detailsView
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Both Erectile Dysfunction and signs and symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
Erectile Dysfunction: For most patients the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. The dose may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on requirement. The maximum dosing frequency is once daily. Tadalafil is effective for up to 36 hours.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dose is 5 mg taken at the same time every day.
Combined Erectile Dysfunction and Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dose is 5 mg at the same time every day.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
- Use of Nitrates (for example, Nitroglycerine, Isosorbide): may increase hypotensive effects of Nitrates
- Hypersensitivity reactions to Tadalafil
PrecautionsView
InteractionsView
Pregnancy & lactationView
StorageView
kTx
Tadalafil
kTx
Indications
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Indication detailsView
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Both Erectile Dysfunction and signs and symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
Erectile Dysfunction: For most patients the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. The dose may be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on requirement. The maximum dosing frequency is once daily. Tadalafil is effective for up to 36 hours.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dose is 5 mg taken at the same time every day.
Combined Erectile Dysfunction and Benign prostatic hyperplasia: The recommended dose is 5 mg at the same time every day.
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
- Use of Nitrates (for example, Nitroglycerine, Isosorbide): may increase hypotensive effects of Nitrates
- Hypersensitivity reactions to Tadalafil
PrecautionsView
InteractionsView
Pregnancy & lactationView
StorageView
kX-100
Sildenafil Citrate
kX-100
Indications
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Indication detailsView
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
AdministrationView
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
InteractionsView
Pregnancy & lactationView
StorageView
kX-50
Sildenafil Citrate
kX-50
Indications
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Indication detailsView
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
AdministrationView
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
PrecautionsView
InteractionsView
Pregnancy & lactationView
StorageView
rFSH
Recombinant Follicle Stimulating Hormone (rFSH)
rFSH
Indications
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Indication detailsView
- Ovulation Induction: rFSH administered SC with HCG in a sequential manner, which is indicated for ovulation induction in patients who have previously received pituitary suppression.
- Multi-follicular Development: During ART: rFSH administered SC in conjunction with HCG is indicated for multiple follicular developments (controlled ovarian stimulation) during ART cycles in patients who have previously received pituitary suppression.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Used to treat Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) related infertility
Therapeutic classView
PharmacologyView
DosageView
Dosage in Female: There are great inter and intra-individual variations in the response of the ovaries to exogenous gonadotrophins. This makes it impossible to set an uniform dosage scheme. The dosage should, therefore, be adjusted individually depending on the ovarian response. This requires ultrasonography and monitoring of estradiol levels. There should be consideration to minimize the risk of unwanted ovarian hyperstimulation. rFSH can be given either alone, or in combination with a GnRH analogue to prevent premature luteinisation. In the latter case, especially when using a GnRH agonist, a higher total treatment dose of rFSH may be required to achieve an adequate follicular response. Clinical experience with rFSH is based on up to three treatment cycles in both indications. Overall experience with IVF indicates that in general the treatment success rate remains stable during the first four attempts and gradually declines thereafter.
Ovulation Induction in Women: Starting daily dose of 75 international units (IU) of rFSH is administered subcutaneously or subcutaneous for at least the first 7 days. The dose is increased by 25 or 75 international units (IU) at weekly intervals until follicular growth and/or serum estradiol levels indicate an adequate response. When an acceptable pre-ovulatory state is achieved, final oocyte maturation is achieved with 5000 to 10,000 international units (IU) of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The woman and her partner should have intercourse daily, beginning on the day prior to the administration of HCG and until ovulation becomes apparent.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): In Women, Starting dose of 150 to 300 international units (IU) of rFSH is administered subcutaneous for at least the first 4 days of treatment. Subsequent doses are adjusted based upon ovarian response as determined by ultrasound evaluation of follicular growth and serum estradiol levels. Final oocyte maturation is induced with a dose of 5000-10000 international units of HCG Oocyte (egg) retrieval is performed 34 to 36 hours later.
PCOS: rFSH injections are therefore given each morning as a subcutaneous injection. It is best to start with the lowest dose of rFSH per day (using 75 IU per day). These doses are used for 4 to 6 days at a time. The ovarian response is determined by measuring estrogen levels in the blood. When the estrogen begins to rise, the rFSH is successfully growing an egg or eggs. If there is no response to a dose of rFSH in 5-6 days of injections the dose will be increased. The normal dose increments are 75 units, 100 units, 150 units and 300 units per day. Most patients respond with 75 IU to 150 IU per day. However it is very important that increments are only made cautiously.
Dosage in Male: Induction of Spermatogenesis in Men: Pre-treatment with HCG alone (2500 international units twice weekly) is required. If serum testosterone levels have not normalized after 8 weeks of HCG treatment, the dose may be increased to 5000 international units (IU) twice a week. After normalization of serum testosterone levels, administer 300 international units (IU) per week (300 international units twice weekly or 100 international units three times weekly) of rFSH subcutaneously with the same pre-treatment HCG dose used to normalize testosterone level.
AdministrationView
Side effectsView
ContraindicationsView
- Tumors of the ovary, breast, uterus, pituitary or hypothalamus
- Pregnancy or lactation
- Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients
- Primary ovarian failure
- Fibroid tumors of the uterus incompatible with pregnancy
- Primary testicular failure.
PrecautionsView
- The presence of uncontrolled non gonodal endocrinopathies (e.g. thyroid, adrenal or pituitary disorders) should be excluded.
- In pregnancies occurring after induction of ovulation with gonadotrophin preparations, there is an increased risk of multiple gestations (Multiple birth).
- There has been no reports of hypersensitivity to Recombinant FSH, but there remains the possibility of anaphylactic responses.
- The first injection of Recombinant FSH should be performed under direct medical supervision.
- Since infertile women undergoing assisted reproduction and particularly IVF, often have tubal abnormalities the incidence of ectopic pregnancies might be increased. Early ultrasound confirmation that a pregnancy is intrauterine is therefore important.
- Rates of pregnancy loss in women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques are higher than in the normal population.
- Unwanted ovarian hyperstimulation in the treatment of female patients, ultrasonographic assessment of follicular development, and determination of oestradiol levels should be performed prior to treatment and at regular intervals during treatment. Apart from the development of a high number of follicles, oestradiol levels may rise very rapidly, e.g. more than a daily doubling for two or three consecutive days, and possibly reaching excessively high values. The diagnosis of ovarian hyperstimulation may be confirmed by ultrasound examination. If this unwanted ovarian hyperstimulation occurs (i.e. not as part of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in medically assisted reproduction programs), the administration of Recombinant FSH should be discontinued. In that case pregnancy should be avoided and HCG must be withheld, because it may induce in addition to multiple ovulation, the Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
- In men, semen analysis is recommended 4 to 6 months after the beginning of treatment in assessing the response.