ask your pharmacist

back to: pharmacy | ask your pharmacist

What is Follitropin (Follistim, Gonal-F)?

Follitropin alfa or follitropin beta (brand names Gonal-F or Follistim) are drugs that can be used to treat infertility. Infertility is described as the inability to conceive a baby within one year of trying.

Follitropin is a hormone that is identical to follicle-stimulating hormone or FSH. FSH helps with the development of eggs in the ovaries. Follitropin helps women who are unable to become pregnant due to problems with ovulation. Other uses include increasing sperm count in men dealing with fertility issues.

The dose of follitropin varies from person to person. Talk to your doctor about the best dose for you. It is an injectable medication that you may or may not be able to give yourself at home. Your doctor may decide to give you other drugs before or after follitropin such as GnRHa (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist) or hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).

Side effects of follitropin can include itching at injection site, bloating, diarrhea, gas, aches, runny nose, cough, fever, weakness, acne, spotting, breast tenderness, mood swings, and tiredness. Talk to your doctor if side effects worsen or become severe.

If you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, be sure to talk to your doctor about what the best treatment is for you.

Sources:
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.Drugs and Supplements, "Follitropin Alfa (Systemic)." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 2/14/2007.
Drugs and Supplements, "Follitropin Beta (Systemic)." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 2/14/2007.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.

This answer prepared 2/14/2007.

Related Links