INFERTILITY MEDICATIONS

Clomid^®, Serophene^®
Generic name: clomiphene citrate Dosage form: Tablet How it works: Stimulates ovulation and increases the amount of hormones in the body that support the growth and release of a mature egg. Storage and handling: Store tablets at controlled room temperature (59°F to 86°F). Protect from heat, light, and excessive humidity, and store in closed containers. Common side effects: Hot flashes, abdominal discomfort, blurred vision, insomnia, nervousness, breast tenderness, symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), ovarian cysts, and ovarian enlargement.

Luveris^®
Generic name: lutropin alfa Dosage form: Subcutaneous injection How it works: Used in combination with FSH medication to stimulate follicles in the ovaries of women with LH deficiency. Storage and handling: Store refrigerated or at room temperature (36°F to 77°F). Protect from light and store in original package. Use immediately after reconstitution. Discard unused material. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, headache, nausea, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. Other side effects may include breast pain, abdominal pain, ovarian cysts, flatulence, and mild to moderate uncomplicated ovarian enlargement. There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, which can include difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest.

Follistim^® AQ
Generic name: follitropin beta Dosage form: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection How it works: Provides the hormone that helps stimulate healthy ovaries to produce eggs. Storage and handling: Store at 36°F to 46°F until the expiration date, or at or below 77°F for up to three months or until the expiration date, whichever occurs first. Protect from light, keep container in carton. Do not freeze. Once opened, discard unused medication after 30 days. Common side effects: Discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, nausea, breast pain, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, including difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest.

Gonal-f^®, Gonal-f^® RFF
Generic name: follitropin alfa Dosage form: Subcutaneous injection How it works: In women, this medication provides the hormone that helps stimulate healthy ovaries to produce eggs. In men, this medication helps stimulate the production of sperm. Storage and handling: Gonal-f 450 IU and 1050 IU Multi-Dose: Store refrigerated or at room temperature (36°F to 77°F). Following reconstitution, store refrigerated or at room temperature (36°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Discard unused reconstituted solution after 28 days. Gonal-f RFF 75 IU vial: Store refrigerated or at room temperature (36°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Use immediately after reconstitution. Discard unused material. Gonal-f RFF Pen 300 IU, 450 IU, and 900 IU: Store refrigerated (36°F to 46°F) until the expiration date, or at room temperature (68°F to 77°F) for up to three months or until the expiration date, whichever occurs first. Protect from light. Do not freeze. Discard 30 days after opening. Common side effects: In women, common side effects include local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, headache, ovarian cysts, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, abdominal pain, breast pain, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, including difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest. In men, common side effects include local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, acne, breast growth and pain, and tiredness.

Bravelle^®
Generic name: urofollitropin Dosage form: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection How it works: Provides the hormone that helps stimulate healthy ovaries to produce eggs. Storage and handling: Store refrigerated or at room temperature (37°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Use immediately after reconstitution. Discard unused material. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Other side effects include ovarian enlargement, vaginal hemorrhage, headache, pain, hot flashes, and nausea. There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, which include difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest.

Menopur^®
Generic name: menotropins Dosage form: Subcutaneous injection How it works: Provides hormones that help stimulate healthy ovaries to make eggs. Storage and handling: Store refrigerated or at room temperature (37°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Use immediately after reconstitution. Discard unused material. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, mild to moderate ovarian enlargement, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. Other side effects may include headache, nausea, and vomiting. There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, which can include difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest.

Repronex^®
Generic name: menotropins Dosage form: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection How it works: Provides hormones that help stimulate healthy ovaries to make eggs. Storage and handling: Store refrigerated or at room temperature (37°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Use immediately after reconstitution. Discard unused material. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, mild to moderate ovarian enlargement, headache, nausea, vomiting, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, which can include difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest.

Novarel^®, Pregnyl^® (chorionic gonadotropin)
Generic name: chorionic gonadotropin Dosage form: Intramuscular injection How it works: In women, taken once mature follicular size is achieved as a result of taking another medication (follitropins or menotropins) in order to cause ovulation. Storage and handling: Novarel: Store dry product at controlled room temperature (59°F to 86°F). After reconstitution, refrigerate at 36°F to 46°F and use within 30 days. Pregnyl: Store at 59°F to 86°F. Reconstituted solution is stable for 60 days when refrigerated. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. Other side effects include ovarian enlargement, headache, irritability, restlessness, depression, fatigue, edema (swelling), precocious puberty in females, and gynecomastia in males. There is a risk of serious blood vessel problems, which can include blood clots.

Ovidrel^®
Generic name: choriogonadotropin alfa Dosage form: Subcutaneous injection How it works: Taken once mature follicular size is achieved as a result of taking another medication (follitropins or menotropins) in order to cause ovulation. Storage and handling: Store refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F for use until the expiration date. May be stored for no more than 30 days at room temperature (up to 77°F) but must be used within those 30 days. Protect from light. Store in original package. Discard unused material. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising and soreness at the injection site, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. Other side effects may include ovarian cysts, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, breast pain, flatulence, abdominal enlargement, and itching. There is a risk of serious blood vessel problems, which can include blood clots.

Lupron^®
Generic name: leuprolide acetate Dosage form: Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection How it works: Leuprolide acetate is used to decrease the body’s production of specific hormones, and is prescribed for a number of conditions, including prostate cancer, fibroids, endometriosis, and precocious puberty. For the purposes of ART, Lupron is given in conjunction with FSH to help increase the number of follicles produced in a given menstrual cycle and to prevent a premature LH surge. Storage and handling: Store below 77°F. Do not freeze. Protect from light, store vial in carton until use. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. Other side effects may include vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, breast tenderness, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, constipation, headache, weakness, and dizziness. There is a risk of serious lung and blood vessel problems, which can include difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest.

Cetrotide^®
Generic name: cetrorelix acetate Dosage form: Subcutaneous injection How it works: Helps suppress the production of FSH and LH, which helps delay ovulation and increases the chance of producing fertile eggs. Storage and handling: Cetrotide 3 mg: Store at 77°F; excursions permitted to 59°F to 86°F. Store the packaged tray in the outer carton. Cetrotide 0.25 mg: Store refrigerated (36°F to 46°F). Store the packaged tray in the outer carton. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), nausea, and headache may occur. Treatment is not advised in women with severe allergic conditions.

Ganirelix
Generic name: ganirelix acetate Dosage form: Subcutaneous injection How it works: Helps suppress the production of FSH and LH, which helps delay ovulation and increases the chance of producing fertile eggs. Storage and handling: Store at 77°F; excursions permitted to 59°F to 86°F. Protect from light. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, and symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) may occur. Other side effects include abdominal pain, headache, vaginal bleeding, and nausea. Manufacturer states that packaging contains natural rubber latex, which may cause allergic reactions in some people.

Progesterone
Generic name: progesterone Dosage form: Intramuscular injection, vaginal suppository or capsule, oral capsule How it works: Helps prepare the lining of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg and maintain pregnancy in women who do not produce enough progesterone. Storage and handling: Store injection medication and capsules at room temperature. Protect from light. Do not refrigerate injectable medication or capsules. Refrigerate suppositories between 36°F and 46°F. Discard injection medication 30 days after opening. Capsules and suppositories can be kept until the expiration date. Common side effects: Local discomfort, bruising, and soreness at the injection site, breakthrough bleeding, weight changes, changes in cervical secretions, breast tenderness, secretion of breast milk, acne, skin sensitivity reactions, hair loss, fever, insomnia, nausea, dizziness, fluid retention, depression, bloating, abdominal pain, headache, drowsiness, mood swings, and irritability.

Crinone^®
Generic name: progesterone gel Dosage form: Vaginal gel How it works: Helps prepare the lining of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg and maintain pregnancy in women who do not produce enough progesterone. Storage and handling: Store at 77°F, excursions permitted to 59°F to 86°F. Do not use after the expiration date. Common side effects: Breakthrough bleeding, weight changes, changes in cervical secretions, breast tenderness, secretion of breast milk, acne, skin reactions, hair loss, fever, insomnia, nausea, dizziness, fluid retention, depression, dizziness, bloating, abdominal pain, headache, drowsiness, mood swings, irritability, and vaginal discomfort.

Endometrin^®
Generic name: progesterone vaginal insert Dosage form: Vaginal insert How it works: Helps prepare the lining of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg and maintain pregnancy in women who do not produce enough progesterone. Storage and handling: Store at 77°F; excursions permitted between 59°F to 86°F. Common side effects: Breakthrough bleeding, weight changes, changes in cervical secretions, breast tenderness, secretion of breast milk, acne, skin reactions, hair loss, fever, insomnia, nausea, dizziness, fluid retention, depression, bloating, abdominal pain, headache, drowsiness, mood swings, irritability, or vaginal discomfort.