Ganirelix

Ganirelix is a prescription medication used during certain fertility treatments in women called ovarian stimulation to help ensure that women's eggs can develop properly. 

Ganirelix belongs to a group of medications called gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists. These work by decreasing the production of certain hormones in the body order to prevent ovulation from occurring at the wrong time and to allow additional fertility treatments to promote ovulation at the right time.

Ganirelix is available in an injectable form to be given directly under the skin.

Common side effects of ganirelix include headache, abdominal pain, and vaginal bleeding.

Ganirelix is a prescription medication used during certain fertility treatments in women called ovarian stimulation to help ensure that women's eggs can develop properly. 

This medication can be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your age

The recommended dose of ganirelix to help ensure that eggs can develop properly is 250 micrograms given daily until your physician determines it is time to stop treatment.

Serious side effects have been reported with ganirelix including the following:

• Hyperstimulation and/or enlargement of the ovaries. Discontinue using ganirelix and get medical attention immediately if you experience abnormal severe abdominal pain.
• Life-threatening allergic reactions. Discontinue using ganirelix and get medical attention immediately if you experience facial, lip, tongue, throat swelling and/or difficulty breathing.
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). Discontinue using ganirelix and get medical attention immediately if you experience severe pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, and/or weight gain.

Do not take ganirelix if you:

• Are allergic to ganirelix or to any of its ingredients or latex
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Serious side effects have been reported with ganirelix. See "Ganirelix Precautions" section.

Common side effects of ganirelix include:

• headache
• stomach pain
• vaginal bleeding
• injection site reaction
• nausea

This is not a complete list of ganirelix side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Ganirelix falls into category X. It has been shown that women taking ganirelix during pregnancy may have babies born with problems. There are no situations where the benefits of the medication for the mother outweigh the risks of harm to the baby. These medicines should never be used by pregnant women.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if ganirelix crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using ganirelix.