Decapeptyl depot

Antitumor drug Decapeptyl Depot – Decapeptyl Depot is an antigonadotropic agent, a hormone-releasing gonadotropin agonist. The active component of the drug is triptorelin.

Decapeptyl Depot is dispensed and used strictly according to a doctor's prescription.

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Indications Decapeptyl depot

For female patients, the drug may be prescribed for:

• endometrioid growths;
• fibromyoma, uterine leiomyoma;
• as one of the components of the IVF protocol in case of problems with conceiving a child.

For male patients:

• for the treatment of hormone-dependent prostate cancer.

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Release form

Decapeptyl depot is produced in lyophilized form, intended for the preparation of a solution for intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. It has a prolonged (longer) effect.

The active ingredient of the drug: triptorelin acetate 0.00412 g (equivalent to 3.75 mg triptorelin).

Additional components: copolymers of oxypropionic (ethylidene lactic) and hydroxyacetic acids, caprylocaprate-propylene glycol.

The solution for diluting the lyophilized mass is represented by: Tween-80, Dextran 70, sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, caustic soda, sterile water for injection.

The package contains 2 filled syringes, one of which contains a lyophilized mass of a light shade, and the second - a solvent of a soft yellowish or neutral shade.

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Pharmacodynamics

The active ingredient triptorelin is a synthesized agonist of hormone-releasing gonadotropin. Substitution of the sixth monomer unit in the molecule of natural releasing factor revealed a more pronounced affinity for gonadorelin receptors and a more prolonged half-life than that of the natural microparticle.

The initial and one of the main effects of Decapeptyl injection is considered to be the secretory activation of the pituitary gland, which secretes FSH and LH. With prolonged stimulation with the establishment of a stable amount of triptorelin in the bloodstream, the pituitary gland loses sensitivity to the effects of gonadorelin, which provokes a decrease in the concentration of gonadotropic and sex hormones to the state of post-castration or menopause.

This condition is completely reversible, hormonal activity and secretion are resumed after the end of the drug's action period.

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Pharmacokinetics

The pharmacokinetic properties of Decapeptyl Depot were studied both in healthy people and in patients with relevant diseases: endometriosis, fibroids, prostate cancer.

A few hours after the injection, the peak amount of the active ingredient in the bloodstream is recorded. Then the level decreases significantly during the day. On the fourth day after the injection, the triptorelin level sets a second maximum, then gradually decreases to minimum, difficult to determine indicators within 44 days.

With subcutaneous injection, the decrease in the level of the active component is slower, the period of decrease in the level to difficult to determine indicators increases to 65 days. Repeated injections of Decapeptyl Depot with a frequency of 28 days do not cause an increase in the level of the active substance in the bloodstream.

In male patients, stable bioavailability of the active substance is estimated at 38.3% over the initial 13 days. After that, a constant linear rate of active ingredient release is established – 0.92% of the amount of substance administered.

In female patients, after a 27-day observation period, 35.7% of the initially administered amount of drug was recovered, with 25.5% of the total amount being released in the initial 13 days, followed by a continuous release of approximately 0.73% per day of the total administered amount of drug.

The half-life of the active component is 18.7 minutes (for natural gonadorelin this duration is 7.7 minutes).

The plasma clearance rate is 503 ml per minute (clearance of natural gonadorelin is three times faster – 1766 ml per minute).

Up to 4% of the active ingredient of the drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys.

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Dosing and administration

The drug is administered subcutaneously (into the abdominal area) or intramuscularly. One injection is given every 28 days.

• For fibroids and endometrioid growths, injections are given once every 28 days, starting the course at the beginning of menstruation (from day 1 to day 5). The course of therapy is from 3 months to six months.
• During IVF, the drug is administered once from the second to the third day, or on the 22nd day of the monthly cycle.
• For hormone-dependent prostate cancer, Decapeptyl Depot is used in the amount of one injection every 28 days. The course of therapy is long, determined by the doctor individually.
• How to use Decapeptyl Depot correctly?
• We open the package with the medicine;
• with clean hands, remove the protective cap from the syringe with the lyophilized mass;
• open the packaging of the transition element (there is no need to remove it);
• we screw the transition element onto the syringe with the lyophilized mass and take it out of the packaging;
• we screw the syringe with the dissolving liquid onto the opposite edge of the transition element and check the reliability of the connection;
• pressing the piston from the side of the dissolving liquid, we move it into the syringe with the lyophilisate, then repeat the action in the opposite direction;
• We continue mixing the mass until a homogeneous mixture is formed, which should then be injected.

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Use Decapeptyl depot during pregnancy

Decapeptyl Depot is strictly not indicated for pregnant and lactating women. Before prescribing Decapeptyl Depot, the doctor must make sure that the patient is not pregnant.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of Decapeptyl Depot are:

• hypersensitivity of the body to the ingredients of the drug;
• period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• hormone-independent prostate cancer.

The drug is not used in pediatric practice.

In case of polycystic disease of the appendages, the prescription of the drug requires great caution, as well as in case of osteoporosis.

Side effects Decapeptyl depot

Side effects are explained by a decrease in the concentration of sex hormones in the bloodstream, which provokes the development of the following undesirable effects in patients:

• psycho-emotional instability;
• depressive state;
• decreased sexual desire;
• migraine-like pain;
• insomnia;
• weight fluctuations;
• periodic sensations of heat;
• increased sweating;
• dyspeptic phenomena;
• muscle and joint pain;
• dryness of the genitals, pain during intercourse;
• deterioration of potency in male patients.

Occasionally, activation of liver transaminases can be observed.

Due to the fact that in some cases an atypical reaction is observed in the injection area (swelling, hyperemia, itching), it is not recommended to administer injections in the same place every time.

The listed side effects are completely relieved after discontinuing the medication.

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Overdose

There are no facts that reliably confirm the possibility of drug overdose.

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Interactions with other drugs

There is no information regarding the positive or negative interaction of Decapeptyl Depot with other medicinal products.

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Storage conditions

Decapeptyl Depot is stored exclusively in a refrigerator with a temperature of +2°C to +8°C, in compartments that are difficult for children to access. The prepared suspension must be used immediately.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of the medicine is up to 3 years.