ABARELIX (Intramuscular route) - a-ba-REL-iks.(Drug overview)

Dosage forms --

* Powder for Suspension

Therapeutic classification: Antineoplastic Agent

Pharmacologic classification: Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Antagonist

DESCRIPTION OF USE

Abarelix is a type of medicine called a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist that lowers the male hormone testosterone in your blood. Testosterone makes most prostate cancers grow. Other ways to treat your prostate cancer are taking other hormone medicines to lower testosterone or surgery to remove your testicles. Abarelix is used when these other ways to treat prostate cancer cannot be used or are refused.

Abarelix is to be given only under the supervision of your doctor. It is to be injected into your buttocks.

This medicine was available only with your doctor's prescription.

This medicine was withdrawn from the U.S. market in May 2005, and is available only to patients who are currently receiving the medicine .

BEFORE USING THIS MEDICINE

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:

It is very important that you read the Patient Information for abarelix before you start …