Abarelix Side Effects

Applies to abarelix: powder for suspension, solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits. Your doctor will also want to do regular blood tests about every 8 weeks to check your testosterone level to see if abarelix is working for you. If you weigh more than 225 pounds there may be a greater chance that abarelix may stop working. Your doctor may also want to do blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment with abarelix.

This medicine may cause loss in bone mineral density with extended treatment. Loss in bone mineral density can lead to the thinning of bones (osteoporosis). If you have any questions about this ask your doctor.

This medicine can cause a change in heart rhythm called prolongation of the QTc interval. This condition may change the way your heart beats and can cause fainting and serious side effects in some patients. Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms or any questions about this.

Common side effects of abarelix

Some side effects of abarelix may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Serious side effects of abarelix

Along with its needed effects, abarelix may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking abarelix:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to abarelix: intramuscular powder for injection.

General adverse events

General side effects including pain (31%) and fatigue (10%) have been reported.^[Ref]

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects have included hot flushes (79%), sleep disturbance (44%), breast enlargement (30%), and breast pain/nipple tenderness (20%) as pharmacological consequences of androgen deprivation.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including back pain (17%) have been reported.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including peripheral edema (15%) and prolongation of the QT interval have been reported.^[Ref]

Physicians should carefully consider whether the risks of abarelix outweigh the benefits in patients with baseline QTc values >450 msec and in patients taking class IA or class III antiarrhythmic medications.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including constipation (15%), diarrhea (11%), and nausea (10%) have been reported.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including dizziness (12%) and headache (12%) have been reported.^[Ref]

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including upper respiratory tract infection (12%) have been reported.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including dysuria (10%), micturition frequency (10%), urinary retention (10%), and urinary tract infection (10%) have been reported.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects including immediate-onset allergic reactions (3.7%), sometimes resulting in hypotension and syncope, have been reported to have occurred after administration of abarelix.^[Ref]

The allergic reaction included urticaria, pruritus, hypotension, and syncope.

Immediate-onset reactions have been reported to have occurred following any administration of abarelix, including the initial dose. The cumulative risk for such a reaction increases with the duration of treatment.

Following each injection of abarelix, patients should be observed for at least 30 minutes in the office. If an allergic reaction associated with hypotension and/or syncope does occur, supportive measures such as leg elevation, oxygen, IV fluids, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine should be administered as needed.^[Ref]

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including clinically meaningful increases in serum transaminases have been reported in a small percentage of patients.^[Ref]

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including slight decreases in hemoglobin and mean increases in serum triglycerides of approximately 10% have been reported.^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Abarelix side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer