ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION

ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION belongs to the class of 'anticancer or anti-neoplastic agents', primarily used to treat prostate cancer in men, breast cancer and endometriosis in women and precocious puberty (early puberty) in children. Prostate cancer is the prostate gland's cancer (a small gland under the bladder secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm) found only in men. Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called oestrogen. Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue lining the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity. Precocious puberty occurs when a child's body changes into that of an adult or experiences puberty too soon.

ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION contains Leuprolide that belongs to the class of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. It is a synthetic hormone that acts similar to the GnRH, produced by the hypothalamus gland in the brain. It works by inhibiting the synthesis of the natural male hormone, testosterone in men and oestrogen in women. This process of lowering hormone levels can decrease cancer cell's growth in prostate cancer in men and shrinks endometriosis and breast cancer in women.

Take ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will decide the dosage depending on your medical condition. The common side effects of ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION include hot flashes, decreased sexual interest, shrinking of the testicles, breast tenderness or swelling, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, upset stomach and injection site pain reaction. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.

To treat your condition effectually continue taking ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Do not stop ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION midway.  Avoid taking ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because this ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using this ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may also affect fertility in men, hence discuss with your doctor if you have any plans to start a family in the future. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION is not recommended for children below two years of age. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may make you feel dizzy, hence drive when you are alert only.

ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION contains Leuprolide, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. It treats prostate cancer in men, endometriosis in women and precocious puberty (early puberty) in children. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION is a synthetic hormone that acts similar to the GnRH, produced by the hypothalamus gland in the brain. Being an anti-neoplastic or anticancer agent, ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION works by lowering testosterone levels in men that help stop the growth of cancer cells in prostate cancer. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION reduces oestrogen (a hormone required for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics) levels in women, thus helps in shrinking of endometriosis and breast cancer.

• Weight changes
• Hot flushes
• Muscle weakness
• Bone Pain
• Loss of interest in sexual intercourse
• Inability to have an erection
• Tiredness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Changes in breast size
• Mood swings
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting (feeling sick)
• Acne
• Vaginal Bleeding 
• Spotting
• Injection site reactions (skin hardening, redness, pain, abscesses, swelling, nodules, ulcers and skin damage)

If you are allergic to ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION can affect the unborn baby when used in pregnancy. Hence, ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION is not indicated for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding women. If you are using ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION , make sure to use reliable forms of contraception to prevent pregnancy during the course. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may also affect fertility in men, hence discuss with your doctor if you have any plans to start a family in the future. Use the ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION with caution in elderly patients and children. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION is not recommended for children younger than two years of age. Your symptoms may become temporarily worse when you first start taking ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION . Inform your doctor if this continues for longer than 2 months. If you have a seizure or unusual changes in mood or behaviour, inform your doctor immediately. Before starting ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION , let your doctor know if you have any medical history of liver or kidney diseases, heart diseases, recent heart attack, depression, brain tumours, electrolyte imbalance, diabetes, fits, weak bones and high cholesterol levels. ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may cause QT prolongation (heart muscle takes longer than normal to recharge between beats) and may affect heart rhythm, hence heart patients should be cautious while taking ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION . ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION can make you feel dizzy and affects your mental ability to drive. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are not mentally alert and focused.

Drug-Drug Interaction: ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may interact with heart rhythm problems treating drugs (quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol), steroids (dexamethasone, methylprednisolone) and prednisone antibiotics (moxifloxacin), opioid pain killers (methadone) and antipsychotics (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline).

Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions found/established.

Drug-Disease Interaction: ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION should be used with caution in cases of liver or kidney diseases, heart diseases, recent heart attack, depression, brain tumours, electrolyte imbalance, diabetes, fits, weak bones and high cholesterol levels.

• QUINIDINE
• PROCAINAMIDE
• DISOPYRAMIDE
• AMIODARONE
• DEXAMETHASONE
• METHYLPREDNISOLONE
• PREDNISOLONE
• MOXIFLOXACIN
• METHADONE
• CITALOPRAM
• ESCITALOPRAM
• FLUOXETINE
• FLUVOXAMINE
• PAROXETINE
• SERTRALINE

• Take the medication as directed by the doctor and at regular intervals. 
• Maintain a fibre-rich diet and include healthy carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Include fish, soy, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and oils containing omega-3 fatty acids such as olive oil as these foods may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
• Avoid grilled meat, red meat, saturated fat found in animal products, milk and dairy products.
• Exercise regularly to lose weight as obesity is also considered a risk factor for prostate cancer.
• Eat at regular intervals.
• Keep your weight under control with BMI 19.5-24.9.
• Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies and low-fat dairy products.

• Your doctor may advise liver function tests to monitor your liver health since ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may cause increased liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate and serum transaminases).
• ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION may cause increased serum glucose levels (hyperglycaemia), hence inform your doctor if you have diabetes before starting ELIGARD 22.5MG INJECTION .
• Your doctor may advise blood tests, electrolyte levels and regular examinations of the prostate.
• It is advised to get an electrocardiogram (ECG) done timely to monitor your heart health.

Prostate cancer: It is the cancer of the prostate gland (a small gland under the bladder secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm) found only in men. The symptoms include difficulty in urination, pain, numbness or sexual problems. It is the most common type of cancer in men.

Breast cancer: It is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called oestrogen. Breast cancer may form in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast. The tumour cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to lymph nodes, a primary pathway for the cancer cells to move to other parts of the body.

Endometriosis: It is a disorder in which tissue lining the uterus grows outside the uterine cavity. It commonly involves ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. Symptoms of endometriosis include pain and irregular periods.

Precocious puberty occurs when a child's body changes into that of an adult or experiences puberty too soon. If puberty begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys, it is considered precocious puberty. Symptoms in a girl include first period and breast development, whereas, in a boy, it causes enlarged testicles and penis, deepening voice and facial hair.