This section of the website is for patients who have been prescribed Decapeptyl® (triptorelin) in Ireland. Information for members of the general public can be found here.
Side effects reporting information is available at the bottom of this webpage.

This website has been commissioned by Ipsen Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and is intended for an Irish audience

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Why is Decapeptyl® (triptorelin) prescribed?

Decapeptyl® (triptorelin) is prescribed when a doctor believes it is a suitable treatment for an individual patient’s prostate cancer.
It is important to talk to a doctor or other member of the healthcare team if you have prostate cancer and have any questions or concerns about your treatment.
If you have already been prescribed this medication, please read the patient information leaflet (PIL) for the dosing option that your doctor has prescribed. It is a good idea to keep a copy of this handy and refer back to it from time to time.

How often is the injection?

Injection every 28 days (4 weeks)
Read the Decapeptyl® 3 mg PIL

 

Injection every 3 months (12 weeks)
Read the Decapeptyl® 11.25 mg PIL

Injection every 6 months (24 weeks)
Read the Decapeptyl® 22.5 mg PIL

What is Decapeptyl® (triptorelin)?

Decapeptyl® is a type of hormone therapy used to treat certain types of prostate cancer.1-3
This includes:

  • High-risk localised prostate cancer (only in combination with radiotherapy)
  • Locally advanced, non-metastatic prostate cancer
  • Metastatic prostate cancer

Decapeptyl® contains the active ingredient triptorelin, which acts similarly to a naturally occurring hormone in the body called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).1-3 This hormone is also known as luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH).
Triptorelin helps to lower the level of testosterone in the body.1-3 This, in turn, reduces the ability of prostate cancer cells to grow, as they need testosterone to do so.

How is Decapeptyl® (triptorelin) given?

Decapeptyl® is given by injection into a muscle, usually a buttock but may be given elsewhere.1-3 The injection will be given by a doctor or nurse at a hospital or GP practice and cannot be self-injected.
The frequency of the injection will depend on the dosing option of Decapeptyl® that has been prescribed.

  • Decapeptyl® SR 3 mg is given as one injection every 28 days (4 weeks)
  • Decapeptyl® 11.25 mg is given as one injection every 3 months (12 weeks)
  • Decapeptyl® 22.5 mg is given as one injection every 6 months (24 weeks)

If you have been prescribed this medicine then your doctor should have discussed your dosing options with you and told you how often you need to have your injections.
If you would like to discuss the frequency of your injections, please speak to your doctor. Remember that there may be medical reasons why your doctor has recommended that you should have a particular injection frequency.

Before the first injection

Before the first injection of Decapeptyl®, it is important to have read the patient information leaflet for the correct dosing option.
This is because there are several warnings and precautions that must be considered before the first injection is given. A doctor should have checked all of these with you, but it is a good idea to double check yourself with the patient information leaflet.
For instance, do not use Decapeptyl® if you are likely to be allergic to this type of medicine (LHRH agonist) or any of the ingredients (triptorelin) it contains.1-3
If, after reading the patient information leaflet, you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor to discuss them.

Low mood and depression
There have been reports of depression in patients taking Decapeptyl®, which may be severe. If you are taking Decapeptyl® and develop depressed mood, always inform your doctor. Your doctor may want to monitor you for depression during treatment.1-3

Blood-thinning treatment
If you are using medicines for preventing your from blood clotting, you may experience bruising at the site of injection.1-3

Bone effects
There is a risk of developing thin or weak bones with long-term treatment. This is particularly associated with being a heavy drinker, a smoker, having a family history of osteoporosis (a condition that affects the strength of your bones), having a poor diet or taking anticonvulsants (medicines for epilepsy or fits) or corticosteroids (steroids). If you have anything wrong with you that affects your bones, such as osteoporosis, tell your doctor. This may affect the way your doctor decides to treat you.1-3

Hormone changes
When you first start treatment with Decapeptyl®, it will increase the level of your hormones for a short time. This means that you may feel worse to begin with. The doctor may give you some medicine (an anti-androgen) to prevent your symptoms from getting worse. After a short time, the amount of hormone will drop and your symptoms will get better.1-3

Urination
During the first weeks of treatment, Decapeptyl® may, similarly to other LHRH agonists, in isolated cases, cause the spinal cord to compress or the urethra (where you pass urine) to block. You will be monitored by your doctor and given treatment for these conditions if they occur.1-3

Also tell your doctor if you notice blood in your urine or if you find it difficult or painful to urinate.1-3

Diabetes
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes.1-3

Heart conditions
Tell your doctor if you have any heart or blood vessel conditions, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia), or are being treated with medicines for these conditions. The risk of heart rhythm problems may be increased when using Decapeptyl®.1-3

Pituitary tumours
If you have an enlargement (benign tumour) of the pituitary gland that you were unaware of, this may be discovered during treatment with Decapeptyl®. Symptoms include sudden headache, problems with eyesight and paralysis of the eye muscles.1-3

Pain, numbness and tingling
Tell your doctor if you have back pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in your legs.1-3

 

What are the side effects of Decapeptyl® (triptorelin)?

Most of the side effects of Decapeptyl® arise because it works by lowering the levels of testosterone in your body.1-3 These side effects include hot flushes, impotence, and decreased sex drive (libido).
If you experience any side effects from your treatment which make you uncomfortable, or cause you distress, please talk to your doctor or nurse. They will be happy to help and can provide treatment and/or advice. They can also tell you about local patient support groups where you can share your experiences with people who understand what you are going through.
You should tell your doctor if you think your symptoms have worsened or changed, particularly if you are experiencing more pain and/or if you have difficulty passing urine during your treatment.
On very rare occasions there may be a severe allergic reaction, hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis.
If you develop symptoms such as swallowing or breathing problems, a rash, swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue you must tell your doctor and get medical help immediately.

 

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed within this website.
You can also report side effects to the Ipsen Medical Information Department on +35318098256 or pharmacovigilance.uk-ie@ipsen.com. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

 

Side effects of Decapeptyl®

Side effects that have been associated with Decapeptyl® in men being treated for prostate cancer are given here.1-3 These are grouped into four categories according to how many people might be affected.

  • Very common – may affect more than one in 10 people
  • Common – may affect up to one in 10 people
  • Uncommon – may affect up to one in 100 people
  • Rare – may affect up to one in 1,000 people

Talk to your doctor if you develop any of these side effects or a depressed mood as these can and should be treated.1-3

Very common side effects (may affect more than one in 10 people)1-3

  • Hot flushes
  • Weakness
  • Excessive sweating
  • Back pain
  • Pins and needles sensation in the legs
  • Reduced sex drive (libido)
  • Impotence (erectile dysfunction)

Common side effects (may affect up to one in 10 people)1-3

  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Pain, bruising, redness and swelling of the injection site
  • Muscle and bone pain
  • Pain in the arms and legs
  • Oedema (build-up of fluid in the body tissues)
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Allergic reaction
  • Increase in weight
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Reduced sex drive (libido)
  • Depression, mood changes

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to one in 100 people)1-3

  • Increase of blood platelets
  • Feeling your heartbeat
  • Ringing in the ears, vertigo, blurred vision
  • Pain in abdomen, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting
  • Drowsiness, severe shivering associated with sweating and a fever,
  • Sleepiness, pain
  • Some blood tests affected (including raised liver function tests)
  • Blood pressure increased
  • Weight loss
  • Loss or increase of appetite, gout (severe pain and swelling in the joints (usually in the big toe)
  • Diabetes, excessive lipids in the blood
  • Joint pain, muscle cramp, muscle weakness, muscle pain, swelling and tenderness, bone pain
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Inability to sleep, feeling of irritability
  • Development of enlarged breasts in men, breast pain, reduction in testicular size, pain in testicles
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Acne, hair loss, itching, rash, redness of the skin, hives
  • Waking up at night to pass urine, problems passing urine
  • Nosebleeds.

Rare side effects (may affect more than one in 1,000 people)1-3

  • Red or purple discolorations on the skin
  • Abnormal sensation in the eye, blurring or disturbance in vision
  • Sensation of fullness in the abdomen, flatulence, abnormal sense of taste
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty in standing
  • Flu-like symptoms, fever
  • Anaphylactic reaction (serious allergic reaction which can cause dizziness or difficulty in breathing)
  • Inflammation of the nose/throat
  • Increased body temperature
  • Stiff joints, joint swelling, musculoskeletal stiffness, osteoarthritis
  • Memory loss
  • Feeling confused, decreased activity, having a feeling of elation
  • Shortness of breath when lying flat
  • Blisters
  • Low blood pressure

Additional side effects (seen during post-marketing surveillance)

  • Anaphylactic reaction (serious allergic reaction which causes difficulty in breathing or dizziness)
  • Changes in ECG (QT prolongation)
  • General discomfort
  • Anxiety
  • Rapid formation of wheals due to swelling of the skin or mucous membranes
  • Urinary incontinence
  • As with other GnRH agonists, an increase in white blood cell count may be found in patients being treated with Decapeptyl SR

 

Making and keeping your appointments

For those prescribed Decapeptyl®, it is important to make and attend all your injection appointments. Keeping up to date with your schedule is key to your treatment, and any changes or missed appointments might have an impact on your health or well-being.
If you forget to make or attend an injection appointment, do not worry. Contact your doctor as soon as possible so that they can advise you on what to do and when your next injection should be.
Please always talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about any aspect of your treatment.

References

  1. https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/decapeptyl-triptorelin-sr-31797/spc Decapeptyl® 3mg Summary of Product Characteristics. Ipsen Ltd.
  2. https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/decapeptyl-triptorelin-3-month-31796/spc Decapeptyl® 11.25mg Summary of Product Characteristics. Ipsen Ltd.
  3. https://www.medicines.ie/medicines/decapeptyl-triptorelin-6-month-31798/spc Decapeptyl® 22.5mg Summary of Product Characteristics. Ipsen Ltd.

Reporting of side effects:
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly to the HPRA. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.hpra.ie or email medsafety@hpra.ie. Adverse events should also be reported to Ipsen via email at pharmacovigilance.uk-ie@ipsen.com or phone on +353 1 8098256. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

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Adverse events should be reported.
Reporting forms and information can be found at www.hpra.ie or e-mail medsafety@hpra.ie.
The HPRA can also be contacted on +353 16764971. Adverse events should also be reported to Ipsen via email at pharmacovigilance.uk-ie@ipsen.com or phone on +353 1 8098256.

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This section provides information to support patients that have been prescribed Decapeptyl® (triptorelin) in Ireland. It is designed for patients in Ireland and should not replace the opinion provided by your healthcare professional or the details contained in the Patient Information Leaflet.

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Reporting of side effects:
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly to the HPRA. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.hpra.ie or email medsafety@hpra.ie. Adverse events should also be reported to Ipsen via email at pharmacovigilance.uk-ie@ipsen.com or phone on +353 1 8098256. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.