Instruct patients that they will likely experience an increase in serum testosterone levels following their initial injection. This may cause a worsening of their symptoms of prostate cancer during the first weeks of treatment. These symptoms may include bone pain, spinal cord injury, hematuria, and urethral or bladder outlet obstruction. This increase in serum testosterone levels and associated symptoms should decline 3 to 4 weeks following their injection. Use of drugs appropriate for alleviating the risk associated with the increase should be discussed with patients prior to administration of the products. Patients should also be informed about the increased risk of developing diabetes, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death and stroke in men in association with use of GnRH agonists.

Advise patients that allergic reactions, including serious allergic reactions, could occur and that serious reactions require immediate treatment. Patients should report any previous hypersensitivity reactions to triptorelin, or other GnRH agonists, or GnRH.

Last reviewed on RxList: 6/30/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.