What is this medicine?
HISTRELIN (his TREL in) is used to treat the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. The implant contains a drug that is like a natural hormone in the body called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). It is placed under the skin and releases the drug over 12 months.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- blood in your urine
- changes in vision
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- new or worse bone pain
- pain at the insertion site
- severe headache
- trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
- vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- breast enlargement
- change in sex drive or performance
- constipation
- hot flashes (sudden feelings of warmth or sweating)
- redness or irritation at the insertion site
- testicles become smaller
- trouble sleeping
- weight gain
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is placed under the skin of your arm by a health care professional in a clinic or office. After the implant is placed, keep the insertion site clean and dry for 24 hours. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for 7 days after implant insertion. The surgical strips over the site should be allowed to fall off on their own over several days. The implant must be removed after 12 months. At this time, a new implant may be inserted to continue therapy.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. This medicine is not approved for use in children.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply. After 1 year, the implant will have to be removed. If you need to continue this medicine, the implant will be replaced at that time.
What may interact with this medicine?- female hormones, like estrogens or progestins and birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections
- herbal or dietary supplements, like black cohosh or DHEA
- male hormones, like testosterone
- medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
- prasterone
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
Who should NOT use this medication?
- Women or pediatric patients. May cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
- Known hypersensitivity to histrelin or any ingredient in the formulation, other GnRH agonists, or GnRH.
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. During the first week, your symptoms may get worse but then will start to get better as you continue your treatment. You may get hot flashes, increased bone pain, increased difficulty passing urine, or an aggravation of nerve symptoms. Discuss these effects with your doctor or health care professional. Some of these may get better with continued use of this medicine.
Rarely, the implant can be expelled from the body through the original incision site. It is possible that you may see the implant being expelled, or rarely, the implant may be expelled without you noticing it. If you believe the implant has been expelled from your body, call your doctor.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- female (this implant is not for use in women)
- pain or trouble passing urine
- spinal cord metastasis
- an unusual or allergic reaction to histrelin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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