Pregnyl

Generic Name: chorionic gonadotropin (Subcutaneous route, Intramuscular route, Injection route)

kor-ee-ON-ok goe-nad-oh-TROE-pin

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Chorex


• Novarel


• Ovidrel


• Pregnyl


• Profasi

In Canada

• Chorionic Gonadotropin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution


• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Endocrine-Metabolic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Gonadotropin

Uses For Pregnyl

Chorionic gonadotropin is a drug whose actions are almost the same as those of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is produced by the pituitary gland. It is a hormone also normally produced by the placenta in pregnancy. Chorionic gonadotropin has different uses for females and males.

In females, chorionic gonadotropin is used to help conception occur. It is usually given in combination with other drugs such as menotropins and urofollitropin. Many women being treated with these drugs usually have already tried clomiphene alone (e.g., Serophene) and have not been able to conceive yet. Chorionic gonadotropin is also used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs.

In males, LH and chorionic gonadotropin stimulate the testes to produce male hormones such as testosterone. Testosterone causes the enlargement of the penis and testes and the growth of pubic and underarm hair. It also increases the production of sperm.

Although chorionic gonadotropin has been prescribed to help some patients lose weight, it should never be used this way. When used improperly, chorionic gonadotropin can cause serious problems.

Chorionic gonadotropin is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

Before Using Pregnyl

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Chorionic gonadotropin, when used for treating cryptorchidism (a birth defect where the testes remain inside the body), has caused the sexual organs of some male children to develop too rapidly.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	X	Studies in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. This drug should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant because the risk clearly outweighs any possible benefit.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma or


• Epilepsy (seizures) or


• Heart problems or


• Kidney problems or


• Migraine headaches—This medication may worsen these conditions.

• Cancer of the prostate or


• Precocious puberty (a condition that causes early puberty in boys before 9 years of age)—Increases in the amount of testosterone in the bloodstream may make these conditions worse.

• Cyst on ovary or


• Fibroid tumors of the uterus—Chorionic gonadotropin can cause further growth of cysts on the ovary or fibroid tumors of the uterus

• Unusual vaginal bleeding—Irregular vaginal bleeding is a sign that the endometrium is growing too much, of endometrial cancer, or of other hormone imbalances; the increases in estrogen production caused by ovulation can aggravate these problems of the endometrium. If other hormone imbalances are present, they should be treated before beginning ovulation induction

Proper Use of chorionic gonadotropin

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain chorionic gonadotropin. It may not be specific to Pregnyl. Please read with care.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For injection dosage form:
  
  • For treating men with problems related to low levels of male hormones:
    
    • Adults—1000 to 4000 Units injected into the muscle two to three times a week. You may need to receive this medicine for several weeks, months, or longer. If you are being treated for a low sperm count and have been on this medicine for six months, your doctor may give you another hormone medicine (menotropin or urofollitropin injection). You may need to receive both of these medicines together for up to twelve more months.
    
    
  
  
  • To help pregnancy occur in women:
    
    • Adults—5000 to 10,000 Units injected into the muscle on a day chosen by your doctor. The dose and day will depend on your hormone levels and the other medicines that you have been using.
    
    
  
  
  • For the treatment of cryptorchidism (condition where testes do not develop properly):
    
    • Children—1000 to 5000 Units injected into the muscle two to three times a week for up to ten doses.
    
    
  
  

Precautions While Using Pregnyl

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that the medicine is working and to check for unwanted effects.

For women taking this medicine to become pregnant :

• Record your basal body temperature every day if told to do so by your doctor, so that you will know if you have begun to ovulate. It is important that intercourse take place around the time of ovulation to give you the best chance of becoming pregnant. Your doctor will likely want to monitor the development of the ovarian follicle(s) by measuring the amount of estrogen in your bloodstream and by checking the size of the follicle(s) with ultrasound examinations.

Pregnyl Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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 as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

For females onlyMore common

• Bloating (mild)


• stomach or pelvic pain

Less common or rare

• Abdominal or stomach pain (severe)


• bloating (moderate to severe)


• decreased amount of urine


• feeling of indigestion


• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (continuing or severe)


• pelvic pain (severe)


• shortness of breath


• swelling of feet or lower legs


• weight gain (rapid)

For boys onlyLess common

• Acne


• enlargement of penis and testes


• growth of pubic hair


• increase in height (rapid)

Frequency not determined

• difficult or labored breathing


• difficulty breathing


• flushing of skin


• hives or welts


• itching of skin


• large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs


• pain in chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves


• redness of skin


• severe, sudden headache


• skin rash


• slurred speech


• sudden loss of coordination


• sudden, severe weakness or numbness in arm or leg


• sudden, unexplained shortness of breath


• tightness in chest


• unusually warm skin


• vision changes


• wheezing

Some side effects 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:

Less common

• Discouragement


• enlargement of breasts


• feeling sad or empty


• headache


• irritability


• lack of appetite


• loss of interest or pleasure


• pain at place of injection


• trouble concentrating


• trouble sleeping


• tiredness

After you stop using this medicine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, check with your doctor immediately if you notice the following side effects:

For females onlyLess common or rare

• Abdominal or stomach pain (severe)


• bloating (moderate to severe)


• decreased amount of urine


• feeling of indigestion


• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (continuing or severe)


• pelvic pain (severe)


• shortness of breath


• weight gain (rapid)

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Pregnyl side effects (in more detail)

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More Pregnyl resources

• Pregnyl Side Effects (in more detail)
• Pregnyl Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Pregnyl Drug Interactions
• Pregnyl Support Group
• 1 Review for Pregnyl - Add your own review/rating

• Pregnyl Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Pregnyl MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Hcg Consumer Overview


• Novarel Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Ovidrel Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Ovidrel Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Ovidrel MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Pregnyl with other medications

• Female Infertility
• Hypogonadism, Male
• Obesity
• Ovulation Induction
• Prepubertal Cryptorchidism