Tips & Troubleshooting

Tips & Troubleshooting

Tips for injecting ELIGARD

Set expectations with your patient while mixing ELIGARD

ELIGARD must be mixed for 60 cycles, so this is a great time to let the patient know what to expect. For example, you can tell them:

  • This is a subcutaneous injection of LA (the drug they’ve been receiving for X amount of time)
  • There is no interruption in their treatment
  • This treatment is injected into fat instead of muscle
  • They might experience some injection site burning and stinging
  • About 20% of patients feel this, it’s to be expected
  • This is transient — it goes away in just a few moments
  • No sore muscles in days to come!

  • Room temperature

    If it’s cold, ELIGARD will be more difficult to mix and might not reconstitute properly. It must be room temperature before mixing.

    Though ELIGARD is shipped cold, it can be stored for up to 8 weeks at room temperature — it can be stocked on shelves in order to be ready for mixing and injection.

  • 60 cycles of mixing

    The contents of both syringes must be pushed in a horizontal position back and forth for 60 cycles to obtain a homogenous, viscous solution.

  • 90° angle

    ELIGARD comes with a shorter 5/8 inch needle for injecting. Therefore, always inject at a simple 90° angle (no need to calculate angle to the skin).

  • Less than 30 minutes

    ELIGARD should be administered as soon as possible after mixing. After 30 minutes the polymer becomes thick, making administering the treatment ineffective. To ensure the patient receives the correct treatment, do not wait more than 30 minutes after mixing to administer.

Troubleshooting

If ELIGARD is very difficult to mix and/or administer

Contact us

Have you followed all the steps, but still have difficult mixing and/or administering ELIGARD? Please contact our medical team:

Would you like a mixing & administration demo?

Send us an in-service (demo) request. We can meet in person or via the platform of your choice.

Consent: We will only use your submission to communicate with you about scheduling a mixing and administration training and to share associated materials. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

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ELIGARD®, (leuprolide acetate) for injectable suspension, is indicated for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

ELIGARD is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to GnRH, GnRH agonists, or any of the components of ELIGARD. Anaphylactic reactions to synthetic GnRH or GnRH agonists have been reported in the literature. Transient increase in serum levels of testosterone during treatment may result in worsening of symptoms or onset of new signs and symptoms during the first few weeks of treatment, including bone pain, neuropathy, hematuria, bladder outlet obstruction, ureteral obstruction, or spinal cord compression. Monitor patients at risk closely and manage as appropriate.

Hyperglycemia and an increased risk of developing diabetes have been reported in men receiving GnRH agonists. Monitor blood glucose level and manage according to current clinical practice. Increased risk of myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death and stroke has also been reported with use of GnRH agonists in men. Monitor for cardiovascular disease and manage according to current clinical practice. Androgen deprivation therapy may prolong the QT/QTc interval. Consider risks and benefits. May cause fetal harm. Convulsions have been observed in patients taking leuprolide acetate with or without a history of predisposing factors. Manage convulsions according to current clinical practice.

ELIGARD may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential.

The most common injection site adverse events are transient burning and stinging, pain, bruising, and erythema. The most common systemic adverse events include mild to severe hot flashes/sweats, malaise and fatigue, weakness, myalgia, dizziness, clamminess, testicular atrophy, and gynecomastia. As with other GnRH agonists, other adverse reactions, including decreased bone density and rare cases of pituitary apoplexy have been reported.

See package insert for full prescribing and safety information.

Please see full Prescribing Information for ELIGARD and full Prescribing Information for ELIGARD with Pre-connected Syringe System.