Drug Detail:Degarelix (Degarelix [ deg-a-rel-ix ])
Drug Class: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists Hormones / antineoplastics
Usual Adult Dose for Prostate Cancer
- Initial Dose: 240 mg administered as 2 subcutaneous injections of 120 mg each at a concentration of 40 mg/mL.
- Maintenance Dose: 80 mg administered as 1 subcutaneous injection at a concentration of 20 mg/mL every 28 days.
Comments: Administer the first maintenance dose 28 days after the initial dose.
Use: Treatment of advanced prostate cancer
Renal Dose Adjustments
- Mild Renal Impairment (CrCl 50 to 80 mL/min): No adjustment recommended.
- Moderate to Severe Renal Impairment (CrCl less than 50 mL/min): Use with caution.
Liver Dose Adjustments
- Mild to Moderate Hepatic Impairment (Child-Pugh A and B): No adjustment recommended.
- Severe Hepatic Impairment (Child-Pugh C): Data not available; use with caution.
Precautions
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available.
Other Comments
Administration Advice:
- Administer this drug in the abdominal region only.
- Vary the injection site periodically to minimize patient discomfort, and administer in abdomen areas not exposed to pressure (e.g., not close to waistband or belt, not close to the ribs).
- Perform a slow, deep subcutaneous injection over 30 seconds.
- This drug is for subcutaneous injection only; do not administer intravenously or intramuscularly.
- Use this drug only as a first-line androgen deprivation therapy; there is no data available on use of this drug in patients who have failed treatment with GnRH agonists (e.g., leuprorelin, goserelin).
- Confirm serum testosterone levels are remaining sufficiently suppressed if a patient's clinical response appears to be sub-optimal.
Reconstitution/Preparation Techniques:
- Consult the manufacturer product information.
General:
- This drug has shown to be effective in achieving and maintaining testosterone suppression below the medical castration level of 0.5 ng/mL.
- There is no clinical experience with the effects of an acute overdose.
Monitoring:
- PSA serum concentrations; testosterone serum concentrations of testosterone (if PSA increases)
- ECG and electrolytes
Patient Advice:
- Do not rub, massage, or scratch the injection site.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Firmagon (degarelix) the same as Lupron?
- How long does it take for Degarelix to work?
