Gonal-F® and Follistim AQ are a part of a family of injectable hormone
medications called Gonadotropins. These work directly on the ovaries to
stimulate egg maturation. They can be administered as subcutaneous (SQ)
injections (into the fat under the skin) and should be administered around the
same time every evening.
If you have ANY questions about the following instructions or experience
unusual, bothersome side effects while taking Gonal-F or Follistim, please contact
you fertility clinic.
You can expect a potentially strong stinging feeling from the medication when
injected, but will subside soon after the injection in complete.
FOLLISTIM AQ
Equipment:
• Follistim Pen device
• Follistim AQ cartridges (300 IU, 600 IU or 900 IU)
The cartridges should be stored in the refrigerator and can be stored there for 3
months or until expiration date, whichever comes first. Once rubber stopper on
Follistim AQ cartridge has been pierced by a needle, the cartridge may be stored
at room temperature for a maximum of 28 days.
• BD Micro-fine Pen Needles
• Alcohol swabs or rubbing alcohol and cotton
To prepare medication:
1. Remove protective cap from pen device; set aside.
2. Unscrew pen device.
3. Take a Follistim AQ cartride out of its package, clean stopper with alcohol and
insert cartridge into yellow part of pen device by placing the metal-rimmed cap
end first. Screw pen device back together, lining the arrow with the yellow
rectangle.
4. Clean open end of the pen device with alcohol pad.
5.Dial in the dose prescribed by your doctor. (usually 150-400iu)**
6. Apply needle by peeling off protective paper seal on BD Micro-Fine Pen
needle. Then, pushing the yellow end of the pen device onto the needle and
screwing them together tightly.
**For doses of 50 IU up to 450 IU, turn the dosage knob until the dot beside the
correct number on the dosage scale is sitting in the middle of the dosage window.
If by mistake you dial past the correct number, do not try to turn the dosage
knob backward to fix the mistake. Continue to turn the dosage knob in the same
direction past the 450 IU mark, as far as it will turn. The dosage scale must
move freely. Push the injection button in all the way. Start to dial again, starting
from "0" upwards.
Follistim administration:
1. Choose a preferred injection site such as:
back of upper arms, abdomen or anterior thighs (about 6-12 inches above the
knee).
2. Clean the injections site with rubbing alcohol and let dry.
3. Pinch the injection site with your non-dominant hand, to hold out skin for
injection.
4. With dominant hand, insert entire needle straight into the skin. Press the
injection button all the way to make sure you give full injection. Wait for 5
seconds before pulling the needle out of skin. You should see "0" in the middle
of the injection window. ***
***If the number is not "0" this means there was not enough medication in the
cartridge to give entire dose. The number in the window is the amount of
medication still needed to be administered. Write down this number. Replace
cartridge and needle, and dial up remaining dose and reinject.
5. Recap the needle, pushing the needle into the cap while the cap is on a flat
surface. Push down firmly. The outer needle shield should now be attached to
the cartridge holder and cover the needle.
6. Grip the outer needle shield and use it to unscrew the needle from the cartridge
holder. Dispose of needle in a sharps container. Replace cap to pen device for
storage.
GONAL-F/RFF PEN
Equipment:
• Gonal -F Pen (300 IU, 450 IU or 900 IU). The pens may be stored
refrigerated for 3 months or until expiration date, whichever occurs first.
• Needles
• Alcohol swabs or rubbing alcohol and cotton
To Prepare Medication:
1. Wipe threaded end with alcohol and remove the peel tab from the outer needle
cap.
2. Press the outer needle cap to the tip and twist cap onto end of pen until tight,
the remove outer needle cap.
To Prime Pen: This is required only prior to first use of each new pen.
-Turn dosage dial to align dose of 37.5 with black arrow.
-Pull out injection button as far as it will go.
-Remove the inner needle cap.
-Hold the pen with needles pointing toward ceiling. Tap barrel to dislodge any air
bubbles. Push injection button in and watch for drop of medication.
GONAL-F Administration:
1. Turn the dosage dial so your prescribed dose is in front of the dose arrow.
Carefully check the dosage dial before proceeding to the next step.
2. Pull out the injection button as far as it will go. Confirm the dose with the
closest red arrow. If the loaded dose is lower than the set dose, the quantity of
drug left in the pen is not enough to complete dose.
If this happens, complete the injection with the amount that is left in the pen.
(remember what that amount is) The re-prep the pen with a new cartridge and
needle, and dial in the balance of the of the dosage prescribed.
3.Choose a preferred injection site such as:
back of upper arms, abdomen or anterior thighs (about 6-12 inches above the
knee).
4. Wipe injection site with alcohol.
5. Pinch the injection site with your non-dominant hand, to hold out skin for
injection
6. With other hand, insert entire needle straight into skin and push the injection
button in as far as it will go. Wait 5 seconds then remove needle from skin.
7. Apply pressure with gauze or tissue.
8. Replace outer needle cap over needle.
9.Twist needle and needle cap off as one unit. Dispose of needle in sharps
container.
10. Replace pen cap.
Gonal-F may be stored at room temperature for a maximum of 28 days once
used.
medications called Gonadotropins. These work directly on the ovaries to
stimulate egg maturation. They can be administered as subcutaneous (SQ)
injections (into the fat under the skin) and should be administered around the
same time every evening.
If you have ANY questions about the following instructions or experience
unusual, bothersome side effects while taking Gonal-F or Follistim, please contact
you fertility clinic.
You can expect a potentially strong stinging feeling from the medication when
injected, but will subside soon after the injection in complete.
FOLLISTIM AQ
Equipment:
• Follistim Pen device
• Follistim AQ cartridges (300 IU, 600 IU or 900 IU)
The cartridges should be stored in the refrigerator and can be stored there for 3
months or until expiration date, whichever comes first. Once rubber stopper on
Follistim AQ cartridge has been pierced by a needle, the cartridge may be stored
at room temperature for a maximum of 28 days.
• BD Micro-fine Pen Needles
• Alcohol swabs or rubbing alcohol and cotton
To prepare medication:
1. Remove protective cap from pen device; set aside.
2. Unscrew pen device.
3. Take a Follistim AQ cartride out of its package, clean stopper with alcohol and
insert cartridge into yellow part of pen device by placing the metal-rimmed cap
end first. Screw pen device back together, lining the arrow with the yellow
rectangle.
4. Clean open end of the pen device with alcohol pad.
5.Dial in the dose prescribed by your doctor. (usually 150-400iu)**
6. Apply needle by peeling off protective paper seal on BD Micro-Fine Pen
needle. Then, pushing the yellow end of the pen device onto the needle and
screwing them together tightly.
**For doses of 50 IU up to 450 IU, turn the dosage knob until the dot beside the
correct number on the dosage scale is sitting in the middle of the dosage window.
If by mistake you dial past the correct number, do not try to turn the dosage
knob backward to fix the mistake. Continue to turn the dosage knob in the same
direction past the 450 IU mark, as far as it will turn. The dosage scale must
move freely. Push the injection button in all the way. Start to dial again, starting
from "0" upwards.
Follistim administration:
1. Choose a preferred injection site such as:
back of upper arms, abdomen or anterior thighs (about 6-12 inches above the
knee).
2. Clean the injections site with rubbing alcohol and let dry.
3. Pinch the injection site with your non-dominant hand, to hold out skin for
injection.
4. With dominant hand, insert entire needle straight into the skin. Press the
injection button all the way to make sure you give full injection. Wait for 5
seconds before pulling the needle out of skin. You should see "0" in the middle
of the injection window. ***
***If the number is not "0" this means there was not enough medication in the
cartridge to give entire dose. The number in the window is the amount of
medication still needed to be administered. Write down this number. Replace
cartridge and needle, and dial up remaining dose and reinject.
5. Recap the needle, pushing the needle into the cap while the cap is on a flat
surface. Push down firmly. The outer needle shield should now be attached to
the cartridge holder and cover the needle.
6. Grip the outer needle shield and use it to unscrew the needle from the cartridge
holder. Dispose of needle in a sharps container. Replace cap to pen device for
storage.
GONAL-F/RFF PEN
Equipment:
• Gonal -F Pen (300 IU, 450 IU or 900 IU). The pens may be stored
refrigerated for 3 months or until expiration date, whichever occurs first.
• Needles
• Alcohol swabs or rubbing alcohol and cotton
To Prepare Medication:
1. Wipe threaded end with alcohol and remove the peel tab from the outer needle
cap.
2. Press the outer needle cap to the tip and twist cap onto end of pen until tight,
the remove outer needle cap.
To Prime Pen: This is required only prior to first use of each new pen.
-Turn dosage dial to align dose of 37.5 with black arrow.
-Pull out injection button as far as it will go.
-Remove the inner needle cap.
-Hold the pen with needles pointing toward ceiling. Tap barrel to dislodge any air
bubbles. Push injection button in and watch for drop of medication.
GONAL-F Administration:
1. Turn the dosage dial so your prescribed dose is in front of the dose arrow.
Carefully check the dosage dial before proceeding to the next step.
2. Pull out the injection button as far as it will go. Confirm the dose with the
closest red arrow. If the loaded dose is lower than the set dose, the quantity of
drug left in the pen is not enough to complete dose.
If this happens, complete the injection with the amount that is left in the pen.
(remember what that amount is) The re-prep the pen with a new cartridge and
needle, and dial in the balance of the of the dosage prescribed.
3.Choose a preferred injection site such as:
back of upper arms, abdomen or anterior thighs (about 6-12 inches above the
knee).
4. Wipe injection site with alcohol.
5. Pinch the injection site with your non-dominant hand, to hold out skin for
injection
6. With other hand, insert entire needle straight into skin and push the injection
button in as far as it will go. Wait 5 seconds then remove needle from skin.
7. Apply pressure with gauze or tissue.
8. Replace outer needle cap over needle.
9.Twist needle and needle cap off as one unit. Dispose of needle in sharps
container.
10. Replace pen cap.
Gonal-F may be stored at room temperature for a maximum of 28 days once
used.
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| Gonal F and Follistim AQ Injection Instruction |