One of the most effective drugs designed to combat the most severe pathologies of the female and male reproductive systems is the Diferelin medication. Instructions, the price of this drug are often discussed by patients in specialized forums. As usual, this medicine also has its adherents and opponents. In this article we will consider the mechanism of action of this drug and its pharmacological features.
Pharmacological group
The drug "Diferelin" is a drug with an antigonadotropic effect. In fact, it is an anti-hormone, as it has the ability to suppress the production of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones in women and testosterone in men. Therefore, the medicine "Diferelin" is actively used to treat uterine fibroids, endometriosis, prostate cancer, premature maturation in adolescents and other diseases.
Composition and form of release
The drug "Differin" is currently available in only one dosage form - lyophilisate to create solutions. In this case, three varieties of the agent are produced, which differ in the concentration of the active substance and have different purposes:
- "Diferelin" 11.25 mg and 3.75 mg for intramuscular administration;
- "Diferelin" 0.1 mg - for subcutaneous injection.
In everyday life, doctors and patients briefly name the aforementioned varieties of the drug, adding to its name numbers indicating the content of the main substance in it.
Triptorelin pamoate acts as an active component in the medicine "Diferelin", reviews of which are mostly positive. It is he who has a pronounced therapeutic and pharmacological effect on the patient's body.
Diferelin medication is sold in cardboard packages containing vials with lyophilisate and a syringe with two needles. In addition, ampoules with a solvent are placed in them. It may be different. If mannitol is mainly used for "Diferelin" lyophilizers 3.75 and 11.25, then saline is most often used for drugs at a concentration of 0.1 mg .
Therapeutic effect "Diferelin"
From a biochemical point of view, this drug is an analogue of the hormone GnRH synthesized by the hypothalamus. It affects the pituitary gland, which is responsible for the production of sex hormones and thereby regulates the functioning of the organs of the female and male reproductive systems: prostate, ovaries, uterus, testicles. It turns out that the drug "Diferelin" regulates the level of production of sex hormones.
Reviews of its use indicate that it has a pronounced antitumor and antigonadotropic effect and is effective in the treatment of certain pathologies. For example, with infertility, this medicine suppresses the production of luteinizing hormone, which negatively affects ovulation, thereby increasing the likelihood of pregnancy. And with prostate cancer, this medication reduces the level of testosterone to the zero mark characteristic of castrates, and increases the patient's chances of getting rid of a malignant neoplasm.
Effective magic "Diferelin" and with endometriosis. By its effect on the production of sex hormones, he gradually introduces a woman into an artificially created state of menopause and thereby provokes atrophy of endometriotic foci.
Indications for use
Depending on the concentration, the Diferelin medicine has a different effect on the body. The use of this drug in medicine depends on the content of the main active substance in it. For example, “Diferelin 0.1 mg” injections are indicated for infertility, to activate the ovaries and stimulate ovulation in IVF.
The use of this medication at a concentration of 3.75 mg is advisable in the fight against prostate cancer, uterine fibroids, premature maturation, genital and extragenital endometriosis, IVF protocols.
In the most serious cases, with prostate cancer with metastases and chronic endometriosis, the administration of Diferelin 11.25 mg is prescribed. Its use can significantly increase the patient's chances of recovery.
Instructions for use
The medicine “Diferelin 0.1 mg” is used in short and long IVF protocols under the strict supervision of a physician. It begins to be administered daily in one ampoule, starting from the second day of menstruation. The duration of such therapy is determined by the individual characteristics of the female body.
But the medicine "Diferelin 11.25 mg" is administered to patients every three months. Moreover, men can make this injection at any time, and women - only in the first five days of the menstrual cycle. The duration of treatment with this drug lasts from three to six months, since it is not recommended to use it for more than six months.
The widest range of uses for the drug is Diferelin 3.75. Patient reviews indicate the extreme effectiveness of this drug. In addition, it is very convenient to use, since it does not require daily administration over a long period of time. Injections of Diferelin 3.75 mg are usually given once a month. This is enough to ensure that the active substance enters the bloodstream in therapeutic dosages. Let us consider in more detail the scheme for the use of this medication in relation to various diseases.
Prostate cancer
For men with prostate cancer, the drug Diferelin is prescribed. Injections are given to the patient once every twenty-eight days so that the interval between injections of the drug is four weeks. A single dose of the drug is one vial of 3.75 mg. The duration of medication is determined by the speed of healing of the patient.
Endometriosis
Injections of the drug "Diferelin" for endometriosis are given to women in the first five days of the next menstruation. Subsequent medication is taken after four weeks, and the course of therapy lasts a total of 3 to 6 months. It should be remembered that this medicine can not be combined with the use of oral contraceptives.
In the process of treating endometriosis, an artificial climax (amenorrhea) called Diferelin is caused. Patient reviews, however, indicate that after discontinuation of treatment, the menstrual cycle is restored within a few months, sometimes a whole year. Repeated therapy with this medicine for relapses of endometriosis, as a rule, is not prescribed - for this, other, no less effective medicines are used.
Premature puberty
Children with relief of premature puberty, the drug "Diferelin" is prescribed once every 28 days. In this case, a single dose of its use is calculated taking into account the patient’s body weight. A whole bottle (3.75 mg) is administered to children weighing more than 20 kilograms, and half of the ampoule (1.875 mg) is administered to children with lower rates. The duration of therapy is determined by the attending physician depending on the rate of normalization of the patient's condition.
Uterine Fibromyoma
In the treatment of this disease, the medicine “Diferelin” is administered once a month in one bottle. Moreover, its intake should be carried out during the first five days of the patient's menstrual cycle. Subsequent injections of the drug occur every four weeks. The duration of therapy usually does not exceed three months.
Overdose
At present, not a single case of overdose with Diferelin has been identified. Patient reviews also indicate its relative safety. In addition, this drug does not affect the concentration of attention and the ability to control moving mechanisms. Therefore, during the course of therapy with this medicine, you can safely drive a car.
Side effects
When using the drug "Diferelin", the following side effects may occur:
- symptoms of spinal cord compression;
- increased pain;
- Quincke's edema, urticaria, itching;
- ureteral obstruction;
- headache;
- bone demineralization;
- decreased potency;
- vaginal dryness;
- sweating
- testicular contraction;
- change in breast size;
- hypogonadotropic amenorrhea;
- hypertrophy of the ovaries;
- menorrhagia;
- asthenia;
- nausea, vomiting;
- hypertension
- tides;
- visual impairment ;
- emotional lability;
- hematuria;
- the appearance of excess weight;
- peripheral edema;
- fever;
- anorexia;
- depression;
- tachycardia;
- alopecia;
- dyspnea;
- hyperemia of the injection site;
- paresthesia.
Contraindications
The medicine "Diferelin" has separate contraindications for use. They are associated with the patient’s state of health, as well as with his individual physiological characteristics. For example, men should not take this drug for hormone-independent prostate cancer and after removal of the testicles, and for women it is not recommended during pregnancy, breast-feeding and polycystic ovary syndrome. Without exception, everyone should use the medicine “Diferelin” with caution in osteoporosis and hypersensitivity to its components. For any negative symptoms, the patient should immediately consult a doctor.
General condition after application
As mentioned above, the drug "Diferelin" inhibits the production of sex hormones in women and men, thereby introducing them into a state of artificial castration. Of course, immersion in a similar state and exit from it is accompanied by various psychological, endocrine-metabolic and neuro-vegetative disorders.
After completing the course of therapy with this medicine, the hormonal background is restored, but during this process, the patient may be disturbed by irritability, fatigue, headaches, sweating, hot flashes, depression, fever and other unpleasant symptoms. However, within one and a half months after the end of the action of the drug, the physical condition of the patient is fully normalized. That is, usually after the last injection of Diferelin 11.25 mg, the hormone balance is restored after 4.5 months, and the effect of the drug with a concentration of 3.75 mg ends after 2.5 months. During these periods of time, women and men fully rehabilitate reproductive and sexual functions and libido returns to normal.
Pregnancy
When carrying a child, treatment with Diferelin is contraindicated. However, this medicine is actively used to activate ovulation. Many women were able to get pregnant after just a few injections of the drug, but, not knowing about it, they continued to take Diferelin medicine. The effect of this medication, as it was found, does not harm the unborn child: it does not provoke the risk of miscarriage and does not contribute to the development of congenital malformations. However, the mechanism of the effect of this drug on the female reproductive system during pregnancy still requires close examination.
Analogues of the drug "Diferelin"
On the modern pharmaceutical market, there is only one synonymous drug, which has the same active substance in its composition - this is Decapeptil. In addition, in pharmacies you can find drugs that have the same therapeutic effect as the Diferelin drug. A similar effect on the body is exerted by: Buserelin spray, Buserelin Depot lyophilisate, Zoladex capsules, Eligardt and Lucrin Depot preparations.
Reviews
There are both positive and negative reviews about the use of the medicine "Diferelin". Injections with this drug have different effects on patients. Many women, although they notice a pronounced therapeutic effect in the treatment of fibroids and other diseases, however, they complain of side effects that were difficult to tolerate during treatment: weight gain, hot flashes, irritability, and fatigue. Moreover, all patients agree that a difficult test of drug therapy is still preferable to abdominal surgery.
In the treatment of prostate cancer and other pathologies in men, there are also conflicting reviews about the effect of the medicine "Diferelin". The price of the drug seems acceptable to many, the method of use is also not satisfactory, and laudatory odes are made up about its effectiveness, because it not only removes the neoplasm itself, but also eliminates bone metastases. However, there are also negative reviews about the medicine "Diferelin", due to two main reasons: the low effectiveness of the drug in some specific cases and side effects that are difficult to tolerate by some patients and force them to stop therapy or completely lose their normal rhythm of life.
Prices
What is the cost of the drug "Diferelin"? The price of this medicine varies depending on its variety, the pharmacy network in which it is sold, and the margin on the product. So, on the modern market, the cost of seven vials of Diferelin 0.1 mg ranges from 2597-3107 rubles. A large dosage will require more serious financial investments: for 1 bottle of Diferelin 3.75 mg, the buyer will have to pay from 7632 to 9076 rubles. Naturally, the most expensive medication is a higher concentration. One ampoule "Diferelin 11.25 mg" can be bought for 18 269-23 100 rubles.
The price of the drug "Diferelin" is quite high. Similar drugs are cheaper, but their appointment can only be entrusted to an experienced doctor, since they have completely different pharmacological characteristics, contraindications and side effects.
Conclusion
Now you know everything about the properties of the medicine "Diferelin". This hormonal drug is effective against many diseases, but can cause a lot of side effects. Before starting the course of treatment, each patient should be prepared for the fact that such therapy can be a difficult test for him. However, any risk is justified if health is at stake, and sometimes a person’s life. Therefore, do not abandon the use of the drug "Diferelin" or replace it with cheaper analogues. It is better to start treatment with the most effective means and thereby ensure its favorable outcome. Be healthy!