Choriogonadotropin Alfa (Systemic)
   
Choriogonadotropin Alfa (Systemic)
US Brand Names
• Ovidrel
Description
Choriogonadotropin alfa (KOR-ee-o-goe-nad-oh-troe-pin AL-fa) is a substance used to help women become pregnant. It is usually given to women after they have been treated with follicle stimulating hormones, another substance that helps pregnancy occur.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)
Special Considerations
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For choriogonadotropin alfa, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to choriogonadotropin alfa . Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy
Choriogonadotropin alfa is not recommended during pregnancy. Since women using choriogonadotropin alfa may be more likely to have more than one child at a time, the problems related to multiple births should be considered by women using this medicine. Also, this medicine has been shown to overstimulate the ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) for a longer time in some women who conceive than in women developing this syndrome who do not become pregnant. Before you use this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
It is not known whether choriogonadotropin alfa passes into breast milk. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with your doctor
Children
Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no information comparing use of choriogonadotropin alfa in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of choriogonadotropin alfa in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of choriogonadotropin alfa. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
• Abnormal bleeding of uterus (unknown cause)
• Adrenal gland or thyroid disease (not controlled)
• Tumor, brain or sex-dependent
• Ovarian cyst or enlarged ovaries (unknown cause)
• Primary ovarian failure
Administration
Dosing
Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . Do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
• For injection dosage form:
o For treatment of female infertility:
o For use with assisted reproductive technology (ART):
Storage
To store this medicine:
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Store away from heat and direct light
• Store at room temperature or in refrigerator
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Use immediately after adding sterile water provided
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits to make sure that the medicine is working and to check for unwanted effects. Your doctor will likely want to monitor the development of the ovarian follicle(s) by measuring the amount of hormones in your bloodstream and by checking the size of the follicle(s) with ultrasound examinations.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Abdominal pain; aching; bloating stomach; heaviness; pelvic discomfort; rapid weight gain; nausea or vomiting; severe pelvic pain.
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.
More common
Bruising or pain at site of injection.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
November 21, 2001 
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