Indication

ELIGARD is a prescription drug, given by injection, for the management of advanced prostate cancer. However, there is no known cure for prostate cancer.
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For U.S. Residents Only
IMPORTANT SAFETY IMFORMATION FOR ELIGARD

ELIGARD should not be used by anyone who is allergic to any drug product in the same class of products, or who is allergic to any of the ingredients of Eligard, including leuprolide acetate. Life-threatening allergic reactions have been reported with the drugs in Eligard’s class . Eligard should not be used in women who are pregnant of may become pregnant. ELIGARD can cause pregnancy loss and harm to the fetus when used by a pregnant woman.

Eligard, like other drugs in its class, causes a temporary increase in testosterone during the first and second weeks of treatment. Patients may experience worsening of symptoms or new symptoms during the first weeks of treatment, including bone pain, nerve damage, blood in the urine, pressure on the spine, or difficulty urinating. If your cancer has spread to the spine or urinary tract, urinary blockage or pressure in the spine may occur and can sometimes lead to paralysis, which may be fatal. You may require close medical attention during the first few weeks of therapy and you should notify your doctor if you develop any new or worsened symptoms after beginning treatment with Eligard.

Elevated blood sugar and an increased risk of developing diabetes have been reported in men receiving the drugs in Eligard’s class. Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels. Increased risk of heart attack, sudden death due to heart attack, and stroke has also been reported in men with the use of the drugs in Eligard’s class. Your doctor will monitor you for heart disease.

The most common injection site side effects are temporary burning and stinging, pain, bruising and redness. The most common systemic adverse events include mild to severe hot flashes/sweats, fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, dizziness, clamminess, testicular shrinkage and breast enlargement. For more information on these and other side effects, please talk to your doctor.

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Testing for Prostate Cancer

Your doctor may perform one or more of these tests to find out if you have prostate cancer:

  • Digital rectal exam (DRE) – The doctor feels the size, shape, and surface of the prostate by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum.
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test – The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a blood sample. PSA is a substance produced by normal, infected, inflamed, or cancerous prostate cells. As the number of prostate cancer cells increases, the PSA level increases. However, some men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate and prostatitis have increased levels of PSA without cancer.
  • Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) – Sound waves are used to enable the doctor to generate an image of the prostate.

If any one of these tests suggests you have prostate cancer, your doctor will probably do some imaging tests as well as a biopsy. A biopsy is a test in which the doctor uses a thin needle to remove small pieces of tissue from the prostate, which helps the doctor determine if you have prostate cancer. The tissue is then examined under a microscope and cancer is either diagnosed or ruled out.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor
  • What role does testosterone play in my prostate cancer?
  • What is my PSA?
  • What are my DRE results?
  • What is my biopsy result?
  • What staging system do you use?
  • What is the stage of my prostate cancer?
  • Can you please explain it to me?
  • What is my Gleason Score?
  • Can you please explain it to me?