Drug reference
Advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer ▶BY SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION ▶Adult: Initially 240 mg, to be administered as 2 injections of 120 mg, then 80 mg every 28 days, dose to be administered into the abdominal region
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Diabetes. susceptibility to QT-interval prolongation Diabetes mellitus (antidiabetic requirements may be reduced). insulinoma (increased depth and duration of hypoglycaemia may occur—observe patients and monitor blood glucose levels when initiating treatment and changing doses). may cause growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumour expansion during treatment (causing serious complications)
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NICE decisions ▶Degarelix for treating advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer (August 2016) NICE TA404 Degarelix (Firmagon ®) is recommended as an option for treating advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer in patients with spinal metastases, only if at least the same discounted drug cost which was available to the NHS in June 2016 is achieved by the commissioner. Patients whose treatment was started within the NHS before this guidance was published should have the option to continue treatment, without change to their funding arrangements, until they and their NHS clinician consider it appropriate to stop. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta404
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▶Common or very common Anaemia. chills. diarrhoea. dizziness. fatigue. fever. gynaecomastia. headache. hot flush. influenza like illness. insomnia. musculoskeletal discomfort. musculoskeletal pain. nausea. sexual dysfunction. skin reactions. sweat changes. testicular disorders. weight changes ▶Uncommon Alopecia. appetite decreased. arrhythmias. bone disorders. breast pain. cognitive impairment. constipation. depression. diabetes mellitus. dry mouth. dyspnoea. gastrointestinal discomfort. genital discomfort . hyperglycaemia. hypertension. hypotension. joint disorders. malaise. muscle spasms. muscle weakness. numbness. palpitations. pelvic pain. peripheral oedema. QT interval prolongation. renal impairment. urinary disorders. vision blurred. vomiting ▶Rare or very rare Febrile neutropenia. heart failure. injection site necrosis. myocardial infarction ▶Common or very common Alopecia. appetite decreased. asthenia. cholecystitis. cholelithiasis (following long term use). cholestasis. constipation. diabetes mellitus. diarrhoea. dizziness. gastrointestinal discomfort. gastrointestinal disorders. glucose tolerance impaired (following long term use). headache. hyperglycaemia (long term use). hypoglycaemia. myalgia. nausea. pruritus. sinus bradycardia. vomiting
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Manufacturer advises caution (limited information available)—monitor liver function.
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Manufacturer advises caution in severe impairment—no information available.
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Monitor bone density. ▶Monitor for signs of tumour expansion (e.g. visual field defects). ▶Ultrasound examination of the gallbladder is recommended before treatment and at intervals of 6–12 months during treatment.
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There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Powder and solvent for solution for injection ▶Firmagon (Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd) Degarelix (as Degarelix acetate) 80 mg Firmagon 80mg powder and solvent for solution for injection vials | 1 vial P £129.37 DT = £129.37 Degarelix (as Degarelix acetate) 120 mg Firmagon 120mg powder and solvent for solution for injection vials | 2 vial P £260.00 DT = £260.00 PITUITARY AND HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES AND ANALOGUES › SOMATOSTATIN ANALOGUES Somatostatin analogues f
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Injection sites should be rotated. eiiii F above
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Initially 240 mg, to be administered as
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
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