Pain after firmagon

[Dachshundlove]

Thank you in advance for your help with this.

My husband had his first firmagonshot Thursday. He still has discomfort and a band of redness below belly button.

Is this normal?

[GP24]

It takes time to inject Degarelix properly. Did your doctor follow these instructions?

firmagon.com/hcp/dosing-and...

[Dachshundlove]

I am not sure. It was a nurse doing the injecting and now I’m concerned that her experience level was low.

[6357axbz]

Even when done correctly I found there was always a subcutaneous “log” at the injection site that will persist. The pain will subside, the first injection is the worst and usually is actually two injections on either side of your belly button. Subsequent injections are about half the dose and given on just one side.

[Tall_Allen]

Yes, it's very common with the first two injections, but should disappear after that. Some patients ice the area before and afterwards.

[Pleroma]

The pain and swelling started to ease after about the 3rd day for me. Clears up within a week. Most will get this even with the best-trained nurses.

It seems most folk move from Firmagon to Lupron at some stage. None of the side-effects of Firmagon, but many urologists will start you with Firmagon.

[hansjd]

Hi. I was on Firmagon monthly for 8 months and I can honestly say I had minimal site reactions because I insisted on the correct procedure being used for the injection.

In fact, when we were travelling, I did them myself.

It's really important to do the following:

1) Don't shake the bottle to dissolve the powder. Gently swirl it until all the powder is dissolved and the liquid is clear with minimal bubbles. Don't rush!

It can take 10 minutes.

2) Grab the tissue between the thumb and fingers to make a bulge.

3) Insert the needle at an angle of about 45 degrees (not too shallow and not too deep).

4) SLOWLY inject the fluid. Take at least 1 1/2 minutes. This is really important.

5) Leave the needle in position for at least another 1/2 minute so the liquid has time to form the gel depot under the skin.

6) Remove the needle slowly to avoid the possibility of dragging any fluid up the needle track into the dermal layer, because this can cause irritation.

7) Calm any inflammation over the first few days with an ice pack.

After 8 months my MO changed me to 3 monthly Diphereline (Trelstar), which I questioned because it's an agonist (Firmagon is an antagonist). The injections are OK, but I've started to experience stiffness and weakness in my hands and my GP thinks it could be related to the Diphereline. So when I see my new MO next week (my previous MO refused to treat me anymore after I got a second opinion), I'm going to ask him about the Diphereline and probably switch back to Firmagon. I'd have no problems doing so especially as I know that a long term study shows that Firmagon produces better control of PSA and Testosterone than Lupron.

"Long-term tolerability and efficacy of degarelix: 5-year results from a phase III extension trial with a 1-arm crossover from leuprolide to degarelix."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/246...

[Hirsch]

Unfortunately yes. Related to the drug and somewhat the experience of the one administrating it. I have a permanent scar on the right side of my abdomen from a shot going on 2 years

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hirsch]

Well at least you've got a conversions piece...Breaking the ice etc.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 05/20/2019 6:33 PM DST