Frequently Asked Questions
When should I take my injection?Your healthcare professional will advise you of the best time of day to inject yourself. Try to take your injection at the same time every day. Please note that injecting a cold drug is likely to cause discomfort. If you are storing it in the refrigerator, allow the drug to reach room temperature before taking the injection. The needle should not be attached until just before the injection. How do I avoid contaminating the BD Micro-Fine™ Pen Needle?To avoid contaminating the needle after opening, do not place it on any surface or touch exposed parts. When should I dial the dose?You should dial the correct dose after you have attached the needle on the FOLLISTIM Pen and before the needle is in your skin. Never dial your dose or correct a dialing mistake when the needle is in your skin, as this may result in you receiving an incorrect dose. What happens if I've gone past my prescribed dosage on the dial and turn the Dosage Knob backwards?If you turn the Dosage Knob backwards to correct a mistake, it will not damage the Pen, but you will lose some medication from the FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge (follitropin beta injection). If, by mistake, you dial past the correct number, do not try to turn the Dosage Knob backward to fix the mistake. Continue to turn the Dosage Knob in the same direction past the 450IU mark, as far as it will turn. The Dosage Scale must move freely. Push the Injection Button in all the way. Start to dial again, starting from "0" upwards. By following those directions, you will not lose any medication from the FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge. Why do I check the drug flow?If you do not check drug flow, you may receive less drug than the dose that you dialed. Do I need to remove the needle before storing the FOLLISTIM Pen?Yes. Always remove the needle from the FOLLISTIM Pen after you complete your injection. If you leave the needle attached, the drug could leak out. There is also the risk of contamination. Dispose of the used needle (in its outer needle shield) in a properly secured container as instructed by your healthcare professional. Can I use the BD Micro-Fine Pen Needle for more than one injection?No. Use a new, sterile BD Micro-Fine Pen Needle for each injection. Also, only use the BD™ 0.33 mm x 12.7 mm (29G) Pen needles supplied with the FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge. How do I store the FOLLISTIM Pen?FOLLISTIM Pen with the FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge may be stored by the patient at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) until the expiration date, or at 25°C (77°F) for 3 months or until expiration date, whichever occurs first. Do not freeze. Once the rubber inlay of the FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge has been pierced by a needle, the product can only be stored for a maximum of 28 days at 2°C or 25°C (36°F or 77°F). FOLLISTIM Pen with a FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge should be protected from light. Do not use past the indicated expiration date on the FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge. Keep the FOLLISTIM Pen, FOLLISTIM AQ Cartridge and any other components out of the reach and sight of children. After your treatment is finished, store the FOLLISTIM Pen device as instructed by your healthcare provider. How do I clean the FOLLISTIM Pen?Clean all exposed surfaces of the FOLLISTIM Pen with a clean, damp cloth. Never wash it in water, detergent or strong medical cleaners. Keep the FOLLISTIM Pen away from dust and dirt. FOLLISTIM AQ (follitropin beta injection) is approved for women to help healthy ovaries to develop and release mature eggs. FOLLISTIM AQ is also for women participating in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program to help the ovaries produce more mature eggs. FOLLISTIM AQ is also approved for men to help bring about the production and development of sperm. Important Safety Information About FOLLISTIM AQ: • Do not use FOLLISTIM AQ if you are allergic to recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) products; have a high level of FSH in your blood indicating that your ovaries (women only) or testes (men only) may be permanently damaged and do not work at all; have uncontrolled thyroid, pituitary or adrenal gland problems; are allergic to streptomycin or neomycin (types of antibiotics); have a tumor of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, breast, uterus (women only) or ovary (women only), or testis (men only); are a women who is pregnant or think you may be pregnant; have heavy or irregular vaginal bleeding and the cause is not known; have ovarian cysts or enlarged ovaries not due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). • Be sure that you read, understand, and follow the "Patient Instructions for Use" that come with FOLLISTIM AQ. Use FOLLISTIM AQ exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much FOLLISTIM AQ to use, how to inject it, and how often it should be injected. Do not inject FOLLISTIM AQ at home until your healthcare provider has taught you the right way. Do not mix FOLLISTIM AQ with any other medicines in the same vial or in the same syringe. Do not change your dose of FOLLISTIM AQ unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you use too much FOLLISTIM AQ. If you miss or forget to take a dose, do not double your next dose. Ask your healthcare provider for instructions. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see accompanying important patient information for Follistim AQ Vial. Please see accompanying important patient information for Follistim AQ Cartridge. PREGNYL is approved to induce ovulation and pregnancy in women who have problems with ovulation and who have been appropriately pretreated with human menopausal gonadotropins (medications containing follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]). PREGNYL will not help women whose ovaries do not work at all (primary ovarian failure). Important Safety Information About PREGNYL: • Do not use PREGNYL if you are allergic to human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). • PREGNYL should be used in conjunction with human menopausal gonadotropins. • PREGNYL should only be prescribed by physicians experienced in infertility treatments. • Anaphylaxis has been reported with urinary-derived HCG products. • PREGNYL may cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is a serious medical problem that can happen when the ovaries are overstimulated. In rare cases, it has caused death. OHSS causes fluid to build up suddenly in the stomach and chest areas. OHSS may occur after treatment with PREGNYL. Call your healthcare professional right away if you get any of the following symptoms: severe pelvic pain (lower stomach area), nausea, vomiting, sudden weight gain, diarrhea, reduced urine output, or trouble breathing. • PREGNYL may also cause rupture of ovarian cysts resulting in internal bleeding (hemoperitoneum), multiple births, and artery blockage by a blood clot (arterial thromboembolism). • Other side effects with PREGNYL include headache, irritability, restlessness, depression, fatigue, edema, and pain at the site of injection. • Hypersensitivity reactions, both localized and systemic in nature, have been reported. • If you get any side effects that concern you, call your healthcare professional. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see accompanying important Product Information and discuss it with your doctor. Ganirelix Acetate Injection is approved for the inhibition of premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surges in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Important Safety Information About Ganirelix: • Do not use Ganirelix Acetate Injection if you are allergic to Ganirelix Acetate or any of its components, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) or any other GnRH analog (including GnRH agonists and antagonists), or if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. If you get any side effects that concern you, call your healthcare professional. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see accompanying important patient information for Ganirelix Acetate Injection. |
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