Herbal Spotlight
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 Receiving degarelix
Dear Patient,
Your health care provider has prescribed degarelix for the treatment of your prostate cancer. The brand name for this medication has yet to be decided.
How you'll receive degarelix
You'll receive this drug once per month by subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss an appointment for an injection, contact your health care provider immediately to reschedule the appointment.
What to do about side effects
Notify your health care provider if you experience side effects to this medication.
Common: pain, swelling and redness at the injection site, weight gain.
Less common: back and joint pain, tiredness, high blood pressure, chills, urinary tract infection, dizziness, headache, fever, insomnia, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, night sweats, breast enlargement, testicular atrophy.
What you must know about other medications
Serious problems may occur if you combine this drug with other drugs. For example, you may experience heart rhythm problems if degarelix is combined with antiarrhythmic drugs, including:
- Class IA antiarrhythmics (quinidine, procainamide)
- Class III antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, sotalol).
Tell any health care provider who takes care of you that you're taking this drug.
Special directions
- Tell your health care provider if you have a history of heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or imbalances in body salts, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium.
- Tell your health care provider if you have a history of kidney or liver disease.
- Your health care provider will monitor your bone density, prostate-specific antigen level, and liver function tests.
Keep in mind
- Notify your health care provider if you experience weight gain, dizziness, chills, urinary tract infection, headache, fever, insomnia, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, erectile dysfunction, night sweats, breast enlargement, or testicular atrophy.
For institutions
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