Suprefact Injection/Nasal Spray

When and how do I take it?

• Suprefact comes as an injection and a nasal spray.
• Follow your doctor’s advice about when and how to use your medicine and look at the label and leaflet.
• Your pharmacist may also help if you are not sure.
• To keep hormone levels lowered, it is very important to have all your Suprefact doses regularly every day.
• It is therefore very important to administer Suprefact at equal intervals.

What’s the dose?

• The usual dose needed to reduce hormone production in men is 0.5 ml injected three times a day for seven days.
• Treatment will be changed to a nasal spray after this time.
• In women one injection (0.5 ml) a day is used and treatment will be continued until ovulation induction treatment is started, usually for 2 weeks.
• If you are getting Suprefact Depot injection you will receive it every two months.

Could it interact with other tablets?

Tell your doctor if you are taking any anti-diabetic tablets as the affect of these may be altered.

Herbal supplements should be used with caution and only after informing your doctor first.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

Any medicine can have side-effects. You may notice redness, pain, swelling or itching at the place of injection. The most likely side-effects to Suprefact result from its effects on sex hormones.

• Men may notice hot flushes, a decreased interest in sex, or swelling of the breasts, lower legs or ankles.
• Women may notice hot flushes, increased sweating, a decreased interest in sex, dryness of the vagina or may find intercourse painful. These symptoms may not appear until several weeks after starting treatment. If they are very bad, tell your doctor.
• Women may have some vaginal bleeding in the first few weeks or even later on during treatment. In addition women may get stomach ache, breast tenderness, changes in size of the breasts, splitting nails, spots, dry skin, vaginal discharge or swelling of the face, arms or legs.

If you wear contact lenses you may notice eye irritation due to dryness of the eyes. Cysts (swellings) can sometimes occur in the ovaries, but do not interfere with treatment. At the beginning of treatment the amount of sex hormones that your body produces may increase and you may notice a temporary worsening of symptoms if you are being treated for cancer of the prostate. You will probably be given another medicine to stop this happening.

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

• There are no known interactions between alcohol and Buserelin acetate.
• Always ask your doctor/pharmacist however as this may depend on what other tablets you are taking.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

Suprefact should nor be used while pregnant or breast feeding.

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/cancer/a8213/suprefact-buserelin/

http://www.medbroadcast.com/Drug/GetDrug/Suprefact

http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/12387/SPC/Suprefact+Injection

http://xpil.medicines.org.uk/ViewPil.aspx?DocID=12383