Cetrotide

Cetrotide is a prescription medication used during certain fertility treatments in women called ovarian stimulation to help ensure that women's eggs can develop properly. Cetrotide belongs to a group of drugs called GnRH agonists. These work to promote pregnancy by competing with natural hormones in the body to help ensure that egg development can take place properly.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly under the skin (subcutaneously) and is typically given once daily until your physician determines it is time to stop treatment.

Common side effects of Cetrotide include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, headache, and nausea.

Cetrotide is a prescription medication used during certain fertility treatments in women called ovarian stimulation to help ensure that women's eggs can develop properly and pregnancy can be achieved.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• EMD Serono, Inc.

Serious side effects have been reported with Cetrotide. See the “Cetrotide Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Cetrotide include the following:

• ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
• pain and/or bruising at the site of injection
• headache
• nausea

This is not a complete list of Cetrotide side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Cetrotide including the following:

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Discontinue using Cetrotide and get medical attention immediately if you experience severe pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, and/or weight gain.
• Hyperstimulation and/or enlargement of the ovaries. Discontinue using Cetrotide and get medical attention immediately if you experience abnormal severe abdominal pain.
• Life-threatening allergic reactions. Discontinue using Cetrotide and get medical attention immediately if you experience facial, lip, tongue, throat swelling and/or difficulty breathing.

Do not take Cetrotide if you:

• Are allergic to Cetrotide or to any of its ingredients or mannitol
• Have severe kidney disease
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Cetrotide, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Cetrotide, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Cetrotide or to any of its ingredients or mannitol
• have severe kidney disease
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Cetrotide falls into category X. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. Cetrotide can cause harm to the unborn baby and can even result in loss of the baby. There are no situations where the benefits of the medication for the mother outweigh the risks of harm to the baby. These medicines should never be used by pregnant women.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Cetrotide crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Cetrotide.

Use Cetrotide exactly as prescribed.

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly under the skin once daily until your physician determines it is time to stop treatment.

Cetrotide may be self-administered if recommended by your physician. Your physician will instruct you on how to properly inject Cetrotide. Follow the directions below for additional information on how to self-inject Cetrotide:

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Flip off the plastic cover of the vial and wipe the aluminum ring and the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.
3. Twist the injection needle with the yellow mark (20 gauge) on the pre-filled syringe.
4. Push the needle through the center of the rubber stopper of the vial and slowly inject the solvent into the vial.
5. Leaving the syringe in the vial, gently swirl the vial until the solution is clear and without residues. Avoid forming bubbles.
6. Draw the total contents of the vial into the syringe. If necessary, invert the vial and pull back the needle as far as needed to withdraw the entire contents of the vial.
7. Replace the needle with the yellow mark by the injection needle with the grey mark (27 gauge).
8. Invert the syringe and push the plunger until all air bubbles have been expelled.
9. Choose an injection site in the lower abdominal area, preferably around, but staying at least one inch away from the navel. Choose a different injection site each day to minimize local irritation. Use the second alcohol swab to clean the skin at the injection site and allow alcohol to dry. Gently pinch up the skin surrounding the site of injection.
10. Inject the prescribed dose as directed by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
11. Use the syringe and needles only once. Dispose of the syringe and needles properly after use. If available, use a medical waste container for disposal.

If you miss a dose, make an appointment to receive the missed dose or administer the missed dose as soon as you remember. 

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your age

The recommended dose of Cetrotide to help ensure that eggs can develop properly is 0.25 mg given daily until your physician determines it is time to stop treatment.

If you take too much Cetrotide, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Cetrotide is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Cetrotide at 2-8°C (36-46°F).
• Store the packaged tray in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.