Firmagon

[NewGame]

Has anyone taking Firmagon been allowed to self-administer their shot?

[Mcrpca]

I have administered Firmagon to my husband but I am a Nurse Practitioner. It is a subcutaneous injection like insulin, but that’s where the similarities end. I definitely don’t recommend self administration and unless you have a really competent professional in your house or next door, you should not do this at home. Firmagon requires mixing and injection immediately after mixing or it sets up like concrete. With insulin, the dose is very small (0.01cc-ish). With Firmagon the injection is 2 full ccs for the loading dose and 3ccs for the maintenance doses. That’s a HUGE volume under the skin and it has to be deep but can’t be injected into muscle so it requires an area of sufficient fatty subcutaneous tissue to inject.

[Mcrpca in reply to Mcrpca]

Pardon the error. 2 cc in 2 separate places for the loading dose. Total 4 ccs.

[NewGame in reply to Mcrpca]

Thank you!

[Mcrpca in reply to NewGame]

I hope that description wasn’t too over the top but I really wanted you to understand. BTW I feel the same way about TrelStar (Triptorelin). Tricky stuff to mix and administer. One of the worst delivery systems I’ve ever come across and I do immunizations for a living.

[Skoda1]

After the first 4ml was administered by the district nurse (we're in UK) and was painful with huge bruises and wrongly recorded I read up on the technique and for the last year have self administered. It is probably easier for someone who is not used to giving injections as the speed is crucial. Normal injections are done quickly; this is so, so slow. Find the right place - I keep a sketch on the calendar - keep the needle OVER 45 deg and insert slowly with the breathing pattern. Then take about a minute to inject. Then wait for at least a minute before withdrawing again very slowly. Not a lot of fun, but quite do-able.

[hansjd]

My husband has been on Firmagon for most of 6 years and each time we have been traveling when it’s time for an injection he just does it himself. The hospital is happy to give us the Firmagon before we leave. We’re in Australia. Not sure if things are different in the US.

[Tinkudi in reply to hansjd]

do you get any reactions to the Firmagon shot ?

[hansjd in reply to Tinkudi]

Like others I just get an area of redness and a bit of swelling for a couple of days if the injection is done properly. By that I mean slowly in at a 45 degree angle and slowly out. It’s especially important to get that right. I’ve had a few nurses ‘do their own thing’ with less satisfactory results i. e. more discomfort. Now each time I proactively monitor the injection. As for the little sting of the needle, it’s not bothersome, but you can get a little patch to put on the site before the injection that numbs the area and you feel nothing when the needle goes in.

The bottom line is that I would always choose Firmagon (an antagonist) over an agonist for its better efficacy and fewer complications.

[Tinkudi in reply to hansjd]

Thanks. What kind of patch. I wonder why some people say they get fever. Have you always been on Firmagon only ?

[hansjd in reply to Tinkudi]

I’m given a patch at the hospital each time I have the injection so I can apply it about an hour before the next injection. It’s a small circular patch of 25 mg lignocaine.

I’ve had a mild fever a couple of times but only after bad injections by nurses who didn’t follow the procedure correctly. I don’t allow that to happen anymore.

I was started on Firmagon when I was diagnosed Feb 2018 at a time when I had no knowledge about the different ADT meds. I’m glad I was because when I started researching it I came across studies showing its superiority to lupron for example. Then about 9 months into treatment, my MO switched me to dipheriline, an agonist. I wasn’t happy about that and after a short while I changed my MO and went back on Firmagon. Still on it now.

[Tinkudi in reply to hansjd]

Thanks 😊. i will show one of the videos on how to do it properly to the nurse and hope she follows it.

Why does it give fever to some do you know ? How long did it last

[hansjd in reply to Tinkudi]

Not sure why some get fever. On the few occasions I’ve had one it has always been after a poor injection. It usually lasts for about a day only and is low grade. I do think it’s important not to be too active for the first 24 hours after the injection. Carry on much as normal, but don’t do strenuous exercise.

[Jac_J]

I have been self injecting for > 2 years. Very easy and saves time.

My GP says maybe 50% of his patients self inject.

Recommended.

[Tommyj2 in reply to Jac_J]

If you self inject isn’t it billed under Medicare part D???????

BIG difference in price.

[Jac_J in reply to Tommyj2]

Im in Australia. A place where the air is free and the so is the health system (to a degree, but I would still HIGHLY recommend private care)

[Tinkudi in reply to Jac_J]

do you get any reactions to the Firmagon shot ?

[NewGame in reply to Tinkudi]

nothing except redness and swelling at injection site - with Lupron I have terrible hot flashes constantly

[Jac_J in reply to Tinkudi]

No

[lowT163]

I have had nurses that made it hurt and nurses that it was ok. Never did I say I didn’t feel it. It’s painful like a wasp sting at best. Personally not going to try it.