Nafarelin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 9, 2024.

Applies to nafarelin: nasal spray.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Be sure to keep all appointments.

For female patients: You should not use this medicine if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

For children using nafarelin spray for central precocious puberty (CPP): This medicine can cause a brief increase in blood levels of some hormones. During this time, you may notice more signs of puberty in your child, including light vaginal bleeding and breast enlargement in girls. If your child's symptoms do not improve within 4 weeks, or if they get worse, call your doctor.

For adult women using nafarelin spray for endometriosis:

• For the first few days of treatment, the symptoms of your condition may get worse. This is normal. Do not stop using this medicine. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this.
• During the time you are using nafarelin, your menstrual period may not be regular or you may not have a menstrual period at all. This is to be expected when being treated with this medicine. If regular menstruation does not begin within 2 to 3 months after you stop using this medicine, check with your doctor.
• During the time you are using nafarelin spray, you should use birth control methods that do not contain hormones, such as condoms, IUD, a diaphragm or a cervical cap with a spermicide. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
• Use a water-based vaginal lubricant product if dryness of the vagina causes problems, such as pain during sexual intercourse. Make sure the lubricant you choose can be used with a latex birth control device if you are using one. Some lubricants contain oils, which can break down the latex rubber of condoms, a cervical cap, or a diaphragm, and cause them to rip or tear.
• This medicine can cause your bone mineral density to decrease, which may lead to osteoporosis or weakened bones. Talk with your doctor about how this risk will affect you.
• If you suspect you may have become pregnant, stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away. There is a chance that continued use of nafarelin during pregnancy could cause birth defects or a miscarriage.

This medicine may cause depression especially in women. Check with your doctor right away if you have discouragement, feeling sad or empty, irritability, lack of appetite, loss of interest or pleasure, tiredness, trouble concentrating, or trouble sleeping.

This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Using this medicine may increase your risk of having seizures. Check with your doctor right away if you start to have muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities, seizures, sudden loss of consciousness, or loss of bladder control.

Nafarelin spray can increase your risk of having cysts in the ovaries. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

This medicine may cause intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri (increased pressure in the head) in children. Check with your doctor right away if your child have blurred or double vision, change in ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow, continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears, dizziness, eye pain, hearing loss, nausea and vomiting, or severe headache.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of nafarelin

Along with its needed effects, nafarelin 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 nafarelin:

For children (male)

• body odor
• growth of pubic hair

For children (female)

• body odor
• breast enlargement
• growth of pubic hair
• light vaginal bleeding between regular menstrual periods, called spotting
• longer or heavier menstrual periods
• vaginal bleeding between regular menstrual periods, called breakthrough bleeding

Incidence not known

• anxiety or mental depression
• blurred or double vision
• change in ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
• changes in vision
• cold, clammy, or pale skin
• confusion
• discouragement
• eye pain
• feeling sad or empty
• headache
• irregular heartbeats
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• loss of interest or pleasure
• nightmares or unusually vivid dreams
• seizures
• slow heart rate
• trouble concentrating
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting
• weakness

Other side effects of nafarelin

Some side effects of nafarelin 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:

For children (male)

• acne
• dandruff
• mood swings
• oily skin

For children (female)

• acne
• dandruff
• hot flashes
• mood swings
• oily skin

For children (male)

• irritated or runny nose

For children (female)

• irritated or runny nose
• white or brownish vaginal discharge

For healthcare professionals

Applies to nafarelin: nasal spray.

Cardiovascular adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Hot flashes/hot flush (up to 90%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, edema, hyper/hypotension
• Frequency not reported: Palpitations
• Postmarketing reports: Arterial thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism^[Ref]

Hot flashes occurred commonly in adult women who were treated for endometriosis. Approximately 3% of children developed transient hot flashes.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased libido (up to 23%), emotional/affect lability (up to 15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, increased libido, insomnia
• Postmarketing reports: Aggression, anger, impatience, irritability, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Vaginal dryness (up to 19%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Transient breast enlargement, breast atrophy/decreased breast size, vulvovaginal dryness, artificial menopause, uterine hemorrhage, vaginal bleeding, white/brown vaginal discharge
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Ovarian cyst
• Frequency not reported: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 18%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Paresthesia
• Frequency not reported: Migraines
• Postmarketing reports: Convulsions, stroke, transient ischemic attack^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Acne (up to 14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Transient increase in pubic hair, body odor, seborrhea, pruritus, rash, urticaria, hirsutism
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Alopecia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Rhinitis, dyspnea, nasal irritation
• Frequency not reported: Shortness of breath
• Postmarketing reports: Interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary fibrosis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Myalgia, decreased bone mineral density
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia
• Postmarketing reports: Arthritic symptoms^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Estrogen deficiency
• Frequency not reported: Pituitary enlargement/asymmetry/pituitary gland changes (size and shape)
• Postmarketing reports: Pituitary apoplexy^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased/decreased weight
• Frequency not reported: Increased serum alkaline phosphatase, increased total cholesterol/triglycerides^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Drug hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: Adrenal rest tumor of the testis, pituitary gland adenoma^[Ref]

A patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia developed an adrenal rest tumor 8 months after discontinuing treatment; however, correlation to treatment is unlikely.

Pituitary gland adenomas have been observed in a few children receiving treatment; however, the relationship to treatment is unknown.^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Increased AST/ALT, serious liver injury^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Blurred vision^[Ref]

Other

• Postmarketing reports: Crying

See also:

Further information

Nafarelin 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