Histrelin is used to treat central precocious puberty. It is a condition in which a child’s physical signs (e.g. breast growth, appearance of underarm or pubic hair, menstruation) of sexual maturity develop at an unusually early age.
The medicine inside Histrelin implant is contained inside a tiny cylinder which looks like a small, thin and flexible tube.
Your child will be given a local anaesthetic before his/her doctor makes a small incision in the skin. The cylinder will be inserted under the skin of the inner portion of the upper arm of your child. The doctor will then place the implant in the correct position. The cut may be closed with stitches or surgical strips and covered with a bandage. To allow the incision to fully close, your child should keep the insertion site clean and dry for 24 hours after implant insertion. Heavy lifting or any activity which may require strenuous exertion of the arm should be avoided for 7 days after the implant insertion.
It may take some time for this medication to take effect. This is because the medicine is being released slowly from the site of insertion. This slow release means that the implant lasts longer and there will be no need to replace it so often. The doctor will advise you of the course of the therapy and if there’s a need to replace the implant in your child.
Ensure that your child keep all of the appointments with his/her doctor so that the implant gets replaced on time. Your child’s doctor also needs to regularly monitor his/her response to Histrelin.
If your child missed an appointment, alert your doctor. A replacement appointment should be scheduled as soon as possible.
Inform your doctor if your child has the following conditions:
- mood disorders
- fits or seizures
- brain disease or tumour
If your child needs to undergo certain diagnostic tests, inform his/her doctor that he/she is on Histrelin treatment.
Ensure that your child keeps all his/her appointment with the doctor. The doctor needs to monitor your child’s condition and to check his/her response to this medicine regularly.
- Certain diagnostic tests to confirm central precocious puberty may be needed prior to treatment initiation to check the appropriateness of Histrelin therapy.
- Your child may need to have routine hormone tests. Your doctor will advise you about how often your child will need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring of height and assessment of bone age may be needed while your child is being treated with this medicine.
- The implant may be accidentally expelled from the insertion site with or without your child knowing it. The doctor may need to occasionally check on the implant site.
Histrelin may cause any of the following side effects: implant site reaction such as bruising, soreness, redness, pain, tingling, itching, or swelling.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your child’s doctor quickly if your child experience any of the following:
- worsening of behaviour or mood changes e.g. restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness, depression
- new or worsening fits or seizures
Inform your child’s doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if he/she experienced other side effects.
Inform your child’s doctor or pharmacist if your child is taking medicines to treat depression e.g. bupropion.
Always notify your child’s doctor and pharmacist if he/she is taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
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