Follitropin beta (Subcutaneous)

Follitropin beta injection is used to help with infertility in both men and women. This medicine is a man-made hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is made in the body by the pituitary gland. FSH helps develop eggs in women's ovaries and sperm in men's testes. Follitropin beta takes the place of natural FSH in the body.

Follitropin beta injection is used as a fertility medicine to help women develop eggs when they have trouble getting pregnant due to ovulation problems. Many women trying to get pregnant will also use this medicine while participating in a fertility program called Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). ART includes procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) or embryo transfer (ET). Follitropin beta is used along with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in these procedures.

Follistim® AQ Cartridge is also used in women with healthy ovaries who are going through reproductive procedures like IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. This medicine is used together with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in these procedures.

Follitropin beta is also used as a fertility medicine to help men with low sperm counts make more sperm. Treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin should happen before starting treatment with follitropin beta.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is very important for your doctor to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine, to ensure that the medicine is working properly and to look for any unwanted effects. Blood and urine tests, semen testing, and ultrasound examinations are needed to check for any unwanted effects caused by this medicine.

Call your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine. You may have a higher risk of an ectopic pregnancy if you get pregnant while undergoing IVF or ICSI procedures. An ectopic pregnancy can be a serious and life-threatening condition. It can also cause issues that may make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future.

This medicine may increase your risk of having a blood clot, heart attack, or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease. Contact your doctor right away if you have chest pain or tightness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, unusual flushing or warmth of the skin, increased coughing, trouble with breathing, sudden difficulty with breathing at night, or abnormal swelling in your ankles or legs. These could be symptoms of serious heart problems or blood clots.

For women who are using this medicine:

• If your doctor has asked you to record your basal body temperature (BBT) each day, make sure that you understand how to do this. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions.
• This medicine may increase your risk of a problem with the ovaries called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which can be life-threatening. Check with your doctor right away if you have bloating, diarrhea, severe nausea, stomach pain, rapid weight gain, or vomiting.
• This medicine may cause more than one egg to be released from your ovary at the same time. This means you may become pregnant with more than one baby. Talk with your doctor about this possibility before you start using this medicine.
• This medicine may cause serious lung problems (e.g., atelectasis or acute respiratory distress syndrome). Check with your doctor right away if you have blue lips, fingernails, or skin, chest tightness, coughing, difficulty or fast breathing, fever, rapid heartbeat, or trouble breathing.
• This medicine may increase your risk of having ovarian cancer if you received it more than one time to get pregnant. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to think about the risks of taking it compared to the benefits it may provide. This is a choice you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Let your doctor know if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your healthcare professional about any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies have not been done to understand how age affects the use of follitropin beta injection in children. Safety and effectiveness have not been established.

Geriatric

Studies on how age affects the use of follitropin beta injection have not been conducted in older adults.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction could happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used around the time of eating food or specific types of food due to possible interactions. Drinking alcohol or using tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical issues may influence the use of this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Adrenal gland problems, uncontrolled or
• Allergy to certain antibiotics (e.g., neomycin, streptomycin), or history of or
• Cysts in the ovaries or enlarged ovaries or
• High levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or
• Pituitary gland problems, uncontrolled or
• Thyroid gland problems, uncontrolled or
• Tumor in the brain (hypothalamus area or pituitary gland) or
• Tumor in the breast or
• Tumor in the ovary or uterus or
• Tumor in the testis or
• Vaginal bleeding of unknown cause, heavy or irregular—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

• Blood clots (e.g., pulmonary embolism, venous thromboembolism), or history of or
• Blood vessel problems or
• Lung or breathing problems or
• Ovary problems, history of or
• Stroke, history of or
• Surgery, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor right away if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Bloating
• diarrhea
• severe nausea or vomiting
• severe stomach pain
• stomach or pelvic discomfort, aching, or heaviness
• rapid weight gain

Less common

• Heavy non-menstrual vaginal bleeding
• redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• Difficulty breathing
• pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves
• severe, sudden headache
• slurred speech
• sudden loss of coordination
• sudden, severe weakness or numbness in the arm or leg
• trouble breathing
• vision changes

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you how to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Blemishes on the skin
• headache
• pimples

Less common

• Body aches or pain
• chills
• difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
• dizziness
• dry skin
• fast or racing heart
• fever
• hair loss
• hives
• quick or shallow breathing
• rash
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males

Incidence not known

• Breast tenderness
• normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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

In the U.S.

• Follistim
• Follistim AQ
• Gonal-f RFF

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Combination

Pharmacologic Class: Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Find detailed information on biosimilars for this medication.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given as a shot under the skin (for men and women), usually in the stomach or thigh, or into a muscle (for women only).

Follitropin beta is used with another hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). At the proper time, your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine.

This medicine comes with patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

This medicine is available in two forms: a cartridge and a vial. Ask your doctor which dosage form is right for you.

You might be taught how to give your medicine at home. If you are using this medicine at home:

• Wash your hands with soap and water and use a clean work area to prepare your injection.
• Make sure you understand and carefully follow your doctor's instructions on how to give yourself an injection, including the proper use of a needle and syringe, or a cartridge and pen.
• Do not mix this medicine with other medicines in the same cartridge, vial, or syringe.
• Check the solution in the cartridge or vial. It should be clear and colorless. If it is cloudy, discolored, or contains large flecks (particles), do not use it.
• Do not inject more or less of the medicine than your doctor ordered.
• You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will prevent skin problems. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, bruised, or hard.
• Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.
• It is very important that you keep track of each dose you inject. Your doctor or nurse will help you with this.

If you are using the Follistim® AQ cartridge:

• This medicine should only be used with the Follistim® pen.
• Do not use this medicine if you are blind or have vision problems, unless another person with good vision who is trained in the proper use of the cartridge injects your medicine.
• Do not re-use the BD Micro-Fine™ pen needle.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For injection dosage form (solution): For the treatment of infertility in men: Adults—450 international units (IU) per week injected under the skin, divided and given as either 225 IU two times per week or 150 IU three times per week. Children—Use is not recommended. For the treatment of infertility in women: Adults— Follistim® AQ injection: At first, 75 international units (IU) once a day injected under the skin or into a muscle. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 300 IU per day. Follistim® AQ cartridge: At first, 50 IU once a day injected under the skin for at least the first 7 days. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 250 IU per day. Children—Use is not recommended. For use with assisted reproductive technology procedures: Follistim® AQ injection: Adults—150 to 225 international units (IU) once a day injected under the skin or into a muscle. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 IU per day. Children—Use is not recommended. For women with healthy ovaries undergoing reproductive procedures (such as IVF or ICSI): Follistim® AQ cartridge: Adults—At first, 200 international units (IU) once a day injected under the skin for at least the first 7 days of treatment. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 500 IU per day. Children—Use is not recommended.

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

You may store Follistim® AQ cartridge or injection in a refrigerator or at room temperature for 3 months or until expiration date. If the Follistim® AQ cartridge has been pierced by a needle, you may store it up to 28 days. Keep the cartridge away from light.

Throw away used needles and syringes in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or nurse about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine, glass containers (vials), cartridges, and other supplies. You should not use any leftover medicine in the glass container (vial) or cartridge.