Pergoveris
follitropin alfa, lutropin alfa
follitropin alfa/lutropin alfa
Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What Pergoveris is and what it is used for
What you need to know before you use Pergoveris
How to use Pergoveris
Possible side effects
How to store Pergoveris
Contents of the pack and other information
Pergoveris contains two different active substances called “follitropin alfa” and “lutropin alfa”. Both belong to the family of hormones called “gonadotropins”, which are involved in reproduction and
fertility.
This medicine is used to stimulate the development of follicles (each containing an egg) in your ovaries. This is to help you get pregnant. It is for use in adult women (18 years old or above) who have low levels (severe deficiency) of “follicle stimulating hormone” (FSH) and “luteinising hormone”
(LH). These women are usually infertile.
The active substances in Pergoveris are copies of the natural hormones FSH and LH. In your body:
FSH stimulates the production of eggs
LH stimulates the release of the eggs.
By replacing the missing hormones, Pergoveris allows women with low levels of FSH and LH to develop a follicle. This will then release an egg, after an injection of the hormone “human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)”. This helps the women to become pregnant.
You and your partner's fertility should be evaluated before the treatment is started by a doctor experienced in treating fertility problems.
if you are allergic to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
if you have a brain tumour (in your hypothalamus or pituitary gland)
if you have large ovaries or sacs of fluid within your ovaries (ovarian cysts) of unknown origin
if you have unexplained vaginal bleeding
if you have cancer in your ovaries, womb or breasts
if you have a condition that would make a normal pregnancy impossible, such as an early menopause, malformed sex organs or benign tumours of the womb.
Do not use this medicine if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using this medicine.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Pergoveris.
Porphyria
Talk to your doctor before you start your treatment.If you or any member of your family have porphyria (an inability to breakdown porphyrins that may be passed on from parents to children).
Tell your doctor straight away if:
your skin becomes fragile and easily blistered, especially skin that has been frequently exposed to sunlight
you have stomach, arm or leg pain.
In case of above events your doctor may recommend that you stop treatment. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
This medicine stimulates your ovaries. This increases your risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This is when your follicles develop too much and become large cysts. If you get lower abdominal pain, gain any weight rapidly, feel sick or are vomiting or if you have difficulty in breathing, talk to your doctor straight away. They might ask you to stop using this medicine (see in section 4. under “Most serious side effects”).
In case you are not ovulating and if the recommended dose and schedule of administration are adhered to, the occurrence of severe OHSS is less likely. Pergoveris treatment seldom causes severe OHSS. This becomes more likely if the medicine that is used for final follicular maturation (containing human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG) is administered (see in section 3. under “How much to use” for details). If you are developing OHSS your doctor may not give you any hCG in this treatment cycle and you may be told not to have sex or that you should use a barrier contraceptive method for at least four days.
Your doctor will ensure, careful monitoring of the ovarian response, based on ultrasound and blood tests (oestradiol measurements) before and during the course of treatment.
Multiple pregnancy
When using Pergoveris, you have a higher risk of being pregnant with more than one child at the same time (“multiple pregnancy”, mostly twins), than if you conceived naturally. Multiple pregnancy may lead to medical complications for you and your babies. You can reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy by using the right dose of Pergoveris at the right times.
To minimise the risk of multiple pregnancy, ultrasound scans as well as blood tests are recommended. Miscarriage
When undergoing stimulation of your ovaries to produce eggs, you are more likely to have a miscarriage than the average woman.
Ectopic pregnancy
Women who have ever had blocked or damaged fallopian tubes (tubal disease) are at risk of pregnancy where the embryo is implanted outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy). This is whether the pregnancy is obtained by spontaneous conception or with fertility treatments.
Blood clotting problems (thromboembolic events)
Talk to your doctor before using Pergoveris if you or a member of your family have ever had blood clots in the leg or in the lung, or a heart attack or stroke. You may be at a higher risk of serious blood clots or existing clots might become worse with Pergoveris treatment.
Tumours of sex organs
There have been reports of tumours in the ovaries and other sex organs, both benign and malignant, in women who have undergone multiple regimens for infertility treatment.
Allergic reactions
There have been isolated reports of non-serious allergic reactions to Pergoveris. If you have ever had this type of reaction to a similar medicine, talk to your doctor before using Pergoveris.
Pergoveris is not for use in children and adolescents below 18 years old.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
Do not use Pergoveris with other medicines in the same injection, except for follitropin alfa, if prescribed by your doctor.
Do not use Pergoveris if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
It is not expected that this medicine will affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Pergoveris contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose that is to say essentially “sodium-free”.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Pergoveris is intended to be given by injection just under the skin (subcutaneously). To minimise skin irritation, select a different injection site each day.
It comes as a powder and liquid, which you need to mix together and then use straight away.
Your doctor or nurse will show you how to prepare and inject this medicine. They will supervise your first injection.
If they are satisfied that you can administer Pergoveris safely, you can then prepare and inject the medicine yourself at home. When you do this, please carefully read and follow the instructions hereafter called “How to prepare and use the Pergoveris powder and solvent”.
The usual starting dose is one vial of Pergoveris every day.
According to your response, your doctor may decide to add every day a dose of a licensed follitropin alfa preparation to your Pergoveris injection. In this case, the follitropin alfa dose is usually increased every 7 or every 14 days by 37.5 to 75 IU.
Treatment is continued until you get the desired response. This is when you have developed a suitable follicle, as assessed using ultrasound scans and blood tests.
This may take up to 5 weeks.
When you get the desired response, you will be given a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 24 to 48 hours after your last Pergoveris injection. The best time to have sex is on the day of the hCG injection and the day after. Alternatively, intrauterine insemination or another medically assisted reproduction procedure may be performed based on your doctor’s judgment.
If your body responds too strongly, your treatment will be stopped and you will not be given any hCG (see in section 2. under “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”). In this case, your doctor will give you a lower follitropin alfa dose in the following cycle.
Before starting the preparation, please read these instructions the whole way through first: Give yourself the injection at the same time each day.
It is important that your hands and the items you use be as clean as possible
A good place is a clean table or kitchen surface
1 vial containing Pergoveris powder
1 vial containing water for injections (solvent)
Not provided in the pack:
2 alcohol swabs
1 empty syringe for injection
1 needle for preparation
1 fine bore needle for injection under the skin
one sharps container for safe disposal of glass and needles
Remove the protective cap from the vial filled with water (solvent vial).
Attach the needle for preparation to the empty syringe for injection.
Draw up some air into the syringe by pulling the plunger to approximately the 1 mL mark.
Insert the needle into the vial, push the plunger to expel the air.
Turn the vial upside down and gently draw up all the water (solvent).
Remove the syringe from the vial and set it down carefully. Do not touch the needle and do not allow the needle to touch any surface.
Remove the protective cap from the vial filled with Pergoveris powder.
Pick up your syringe and slowly inject the contents of the syringe into the vial of powder.
Swirl gently without removing the syringe. Do not shake.
After the powder has dissolved (which usually occurs immediately), check that the resulting solution is clear and does not contain any particles.
Turn the vial upside down, gently draw the solution back into the syringe. Check for particles as before, and do not use if the solution is not clear.
Change the needle for the fine bore needle.
Remove any air bubbles: If you see air bubbles in the syringe, hold the syringe with the needle pointing upwards and gently flick the syringe until all the air collects at the top. Push the plunger until the air bubbles are gone.
Immediately inject the solution. Your doctor or nurse will have already advised you where to inject (e.g. tummy, front of thigh). To minimise skin irritation, select a different injection site each day.
Clean the chosen skin area with an alcohol swab using a circular motion.
Firmly pinch the skin together and insert the needle at a 45° to 90 angle using a dart-like motion.
Inject under the skin, as you were taught. Do not inject directly into a vein.
Inject the solution by pushing gently on the plunger. Take as much time as you need to inject all the solution.
Then withdraw the needle and clean the skin with a new alcohol swab using a circular motion.
Dispose of all used items. Once you have finished your injection, immediately discard all needles and empty vials in your sharps container. Any unused solution must be discarded.
The effects of an overdose of Pergoveris are unknown, nevertheless one could expect OHSS to occur. However this will only occur if hCG is administered (see in section 2. under “Ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”).
Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Please contact your doctor.
If you have any further question on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions such as rash, red skin, hives, swelling of your face with difficulty breathing can sometimes be serious. This side effect is very rare.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Lower abdominal pain together with nausea or vomiting. These may be the symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Your ovaries may have over-reacted to the treatment and formed large sacs of fluid or cysts (see in section 2. under “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”). This side effect is common. If this happens, your doctor will need to examine you as soon as possible.
The OHSS may become severe with clearly enlarged ovaries, decreased urine production, weight gain, difficulty in breathing and/or possible fluid accumulation in your stomach or chest. This side effect is uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people).
Complications of OHSS such as twisting of ovaries or blood clotting occur rarely (may affect up to 1 in 1 000 people).
Serious blood clotting problems (thromboembolic events) usually with severe OHSS are found very rarely. This could cause chest pain, breathlessness, stroke or heart attack. In rare cases this can also happen independently of OHSS (see in section 2. under “Blood clotting problems (thromboembolic events)”).
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
sacs of fluid within the ovaries (ovarian cysts)
headache
local reactions at the injection site such as pain, itching, bruising, swelling or irritation.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
diarrhoea
breast pain
feeling sick or vomiting
abdominal or pelvic pain
abdominal cramp or bloating.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10 000 people):
Your asthma may get worse.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting
system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the vials and the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25 C. Store in the original package in order to protect from light. The medicine must be administered immediately after reconstitution.
Do not use Pergoveris if you notice any visible signs of deterioration.
The reconstituted solution should not be administered if it contains particles or is not clear.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
The active substances are follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa.
One vial contains 150 IU (equivalent to 11 micrograms) of follitropin alfa and 75 IU (equivalent to 3 micrograms) of lutropin alfa.
After reconstitution, each mL of the solution contains 150 IU follitropin alfa and 75 IU lutropin alfa per milliliter.
The other ingredients are
Sucrose, disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate, methionine, polysorbate 20, as well as concentrated phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide for pH-adjustment.
Pergoveris is presented as a powder and solvent for solution for injection.
The powder is a white to off-white lyophilised pellet in a glass vial with a bromobutyl rubber stopper containing 150 IU (equivalent to 11 micrograms) of follitropin alfa and 75 IU (equivalent to 3 micrograms) of lutropin alfa.
The solvent is a clear colourless liquid in a glass vial containing1 mL of water for injections.
Pergoveris is supplied in packs of 1, 3 and 10 vials of powder with the corresponding number of solvent’s vials (1, 3 and 10 vials). Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Merck Europe B.V., Gustav Mahlerplein 102, 1082 MA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Merck Serono S.p.A, Via delle Magnolie 15 (Zona industriale), 70026 Modugno (Bari), Italy