Histrelin (Implant)

his-TREL-in

Supprelin® LA treats early onset of puberty in children. Vantas® treats symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. Vantas® does not cure cancer.

Drug classes

Endocrine-Metabolic Agent (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Histrelin is a man-made version of a hormone that is similar to the one normally released from the hypothalamus gland in the brain. It works in the brain to reduce the blood levels of sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen. The histrelin implant is placed under the skin. The implant releases small amounts of histrelin in the body every day for 12 months.

Histrelin (Vantas®) is used to treat advanced prostate cancer in adults. It will reduce the level of testosterone, a male hormone, in the blood. Testosterone makes most prostate cancers grow. Histrelin is not a cure for prostate cancer, but it may help relieve the symptoms.

Histrelin (Supprelin® LA) is used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP) in children. CPP is a condition where puberty begins at an unusually early age. This usually means puberty occurs before 8 years of age in girls and before 9 years of age in boys. Histrelin works by reducing the amount of sex hormones (eg, estrogen and testosterone) in the blood.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Implant

A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

This medicine is an implant that is placed under the skin of the upper arm during a minor procedure. The cut will be closed with stitches or surgical strips. Leave the bandage on your arm for a few days until the area heals.

Do not remove the surgical strips. Let them fall off on their own (after several days). If you have stitches, either your doctor with remove them or they will dissolve on their own.

Keep the arm clean and dry and do not swim or bathe for 24 hours. Do not lift anything heavy or do strenuous exercise for the first 7 days.

You will have the implant for 1 year, and then your doctor will remove it. You may have a new one put in for another year.

Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Missed dose: If you miss your appointment to remove or insert the implant, call your doctor to make another appointment as soon as possible.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to histrelin or similar medicines. Supprelin® LA should not be given to women who are or may become pregnant. Vantas® should not be given to women or children.

Warnings

Both types of implants:

This medicine is not intended for use in women, especially during pregnancy. It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. . Tell any doctor or dentist who treats you that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect certain medical test results. Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. The cut in your arm should heal within 2 weeks.

Supprelin® LA implant:

This medicine can cause a brief increase in some hormones. You may notice more signs of puberty in your child for a short time. This includes light vaginal bleeding and breast enlargement in girls. If your child’s symptoms do not improve within 4 weeks, or if they get worse, call your doctor.

Vantas® implant:

Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, trouble urinating, diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm problems (such as long QT syndrome), spinal cord (back) problems, or a history of heart attack or stroke. This medicine may cause the following problems:

Increased testosterone levels during the first week of treatment Spinal cord problems Trouble urinating Changes in blood sugar level Increased risk of a heart attack or stroke Change in heart rhythm, such as QT prolongation If you need to have a CT scan or MRI, tell the doctor in charge that you have the implant. This medicine can cause a brief increase in hormones. Your symptoms may get worse for a few weeks at first. Call your doctor if the symptoms do not get better within 4 weeks or if they are severe.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Both types of implants:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing Implant comes out of the incision Skin bruises, bleeding, pain, redness, swelling, or soreness where the implant was inserted

Vantas® implant:

Back pain, weakness, numbness or tingling Bone pain Change in how much or how often you urinate, red or dark brown urine, trouble urinating Chest pain that may spread, trouble breathing, nausea, unusual sweating, fainting Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with vision, speech, or walking Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Both types of implants:

Breast pain or swelling Scarring Weight gain

Supprelin® LA implant:

Changes in monthly periods

Vantas® implant:

Decrease in the size of the testicles Feeling tired Hot flashes, night sweats

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Supprelin LA, Vantas

There may be other brand names for this medicine.