Nafarelin

Nafarelin is a prescription medication used to treat women with symptoms of endometriosis including severe menstrual cramps, pain during sexual intercourse, low back pain, and painful bowel movements. It is also used to treat abnormally early sexual development in children, known medically as central precocious puberty (CPP). 

Nafarelin belongs to a group of drugs called synthetic hormones, which help control hormone levels in the body.

This medication comes in the form of a nasal spray. In treating endometriosis, one spray is inhaled in one nostril in the morning, and one spray is inhaled in the other nostril in the evening. In treating CPP, two sprays are inhaled in each nostril every morning.

Common side effects of nafarelin include acne, breast enlargement, and vaginal bleeding.

Nafarelin is a prescription medicine used to relieve the symptoms of:

• endometriosis
• abnormally early sexual development in children, a condition known as central precocious puberty (CPP)

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

For treating endometriosis, nafarelin is usually used twice a day: one spray in one nostril in the morning and one spray in the other nostril in the evening. Nafarelin should be started between the second and fourth days of your menstrual period. Nafarelin should not be used for longer than 6 months to treat endometriosis.

For treating precocious puberty, nafarelin is usually used once a day as two sprays in each nostril each morning, for a total of four sprays each morning.

You should not use nafarelin if

• you are pregnant
• you are breastfeeding
• you have abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been checked into by your doctor
• you are allergic to any ingredient of this medication

Your child should not use nafarelin if she/he is allergic to GnRH or GnRH agonist analogues or to any of the ingredients of nafarelin.

Nafarelin may cause side effects. Usually these symptoms are temporary, lasting only until your body adjusts to the medication. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• acne
• breast enlargement
• vaginal bleeding (menstruation should stop with this medication)
• mood swings
• increase in pubic hair
• body odor
• seborrhea (skin irritation)
• nasal irritation
• headache
• hot flashes
• insomnia
• change in weight
• vaginal dryness or vaginal discharge
• change in sex drive
• oily skin
• muscle aches
• rhinitis (runny nose)
• depression

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• stomach pain not related to menstruation
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• rash
• severe itching

This is not a complete list of nafarelin side effects. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medicines for epilepsy (seizures)
• nasal decongestants (if you must take a nasal decongestant, wait at least 2 hours after using nafarelin spray)
• steroids
• vitamins

This is not a complete list of nafarelin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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.

Nafarelin falls into category X. This medication should not be used during pregnancy.

It is important to use a non-hormonal means of contraception (birth control) while using nafarelin (e.g., condom or diaphragm). If you become pregnant while using nafarelin, call your doctor immediately.

It is not known if nafarelin 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 nafarelin.

Nafarelin may cause side effects. Usually these symptoms are temporary, lasting only until your body adjusts to the medication.

It is important to use a non-hormonal means of contraception (birth control) while using nafarelin (e.g., condom or diaphragm). You should not use birth control pills while taking nafarelin.

If you miss 1 or more doses of nafarelin, vaginal bleeding (often called breakthrough bleeding) may occur. If you miss successive doses of nafarelin and have not been using contraception as described above, release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation) may occur, with the possibility of pregnancy.

You should avoid sneezing during or immediately after using nafarelin, if possible, since sneezing may impair drug absorption.