Lutropin alfa, r-hLH injection

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What is Lutropin alfa, r-hLH injection?

LUTROPIN ALFA (Luveris®) is a hormone that is identical to luteinizing hormone (LH), a natural hormone produced in the body. LH helps to develop eggs in the ovaries. Lutropin is used to treat women who have not been able to become pregnant because of problems with ovulation. Generic lutropin injections are not available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding
• conditions affecting your adrenal gland or thyroid gland
• asthma
• brain tumor or certain other kinds of cancer
• enlarged ovaries or ovarian cyst
• failure of the ovaries to produce eggs
• an unusual reaction to lutropin alfa, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should this medicine be used?

Luveris® is for injection under the skin. It is usually given under the direct supervision of a prescriber or health care professional with experience in managing fertility disorders. It is usually given with other fertility drugs such as Gonal-f®. This medicine can be given at home. You should 1) understand the proper method of safely preparing the medicine, 2) wash your hands and use a clean work area to prepare your injection, 3) carefully follow your prescriber's instructions on how to give yourself an injection, including use of the needle and syringe, 4) do not inject more or less of the medicine than your prescriber ordered, 5) rotate the site of injection to different areas to prevent skin problems, and 6) safely throw away needles, syringes, bottles, and unused medicine after the injection.

Tell your prescriber or health care professional when you use the last dose of Luveris®. It is often required that another hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) be given after the last dose of therapy. Your prescriber or health care professional will give you this medicine or arrange for you to get this medicine at the right time.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

Try not to miss a dose. If you are unable to keep an appointment, call your prescriber or health care professional to reschedule. If you are injecting the drug yourself and you miss a dose, discuss with your prescriber or health care professional when you should give your next dose. Do not double doses.

What drug(s) may interact with Lutropin alfa?

• herbal or dietary supplements, like blue cohosh, black cohosh, or chasteberry

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking Lutropin alfa?

You must be closely monitored by your prescriber or health care professional. Contact your prescriber or health care professional at once if you think you are pregnant. After you no longer receive lutropin alfa, your progress still must be checked for at least 2 weeks.

If you are receiving lutropin to help you get pregnant, it is important to keep all records required by your prescriber or health care professional such as daily basal body temperature (BBTs) and sexual intercourse. It is important that sexual intercourse take place around the time when you are most fertile to give you the best chance of becoming pregnant.

If abdominal pain occurs while using lutropin, discontinue treatment and call your prescriber or health care professional immediately. Do not receive the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and avoid sexual intercourse.

What side effects may I notice from receiving Lutropin alfa?

Stop taking this medicine and call your prescriber or health care professional immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
• nausea or vomiting
• severe abdominal pain
• swelling and rapid weight gain

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
More common:
• abdominal bloating
• breast pain
• diarrhea
• gas

Less common:
• fast heartbeat
• itching of skin
• lightheadedness
• headache
• painful menstrual periods
• redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
• stomach discomfort
• vaginal bleeding (heavy) unrelated to menstrual periods

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust. How long this takes depends on the amount of medicine you were using and the length of time you used it. During this time, check with your prescriber or health care professional immediately if you notice any of the following side effects:
• nausea or vomiting
• severe abdominal pain
• swelling and rapid weight gain

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store unopened vials in a refrigerator, between 2—8 degrees C (36—46 degrees F), until the expiration date. Alternatively, store at room temperature, at approximately 25 degrees C (77 degrees F). Do not freeze. Protect from light. Use immediately after reconstitution. Discard any unused product.

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.