Gonal-F vs. Menopur

• Are Gonal-F and Menopur the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Gonal-F?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Menopur?
• What Is Gonal-F?
• What Is Menopur?
• What Drugs Interact with Gonal-F?
• What Drugs Interact with Menopur?
• How Should Gonal-F Be Taken?
• How Should Menopur Be Taken?

Gonal-F (follitropin alfa) and Menopur (menotropins) are used to treat infertility in women. Gonal-F and Menopur are also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for in vitro fertilization. Gonal-F and Menopur can be used by men to increase sperm production.

Both Gonal-F and Menopur contain follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Menopur also contains luteinizing hormone (LH).

Side effects of Gonal-F and Menopur that are similar include headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, bloating, injection site reactions (redness, pain, bruising, swelling, irritation), breast swelling/tenderness/pain, or skin rash.

Side effects of Gonal-F that are different from Menopur include pelvic pain or tenderness, numbness or tingly feeling, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, or acne.

Side effects of Menopur that are different from Gonal-F include drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhea, shortness of breath, pain/warmth/tenderness centralized in an arm or leg, fever, chills, or weakness or aching of muscles or joints.

Both Gonal-F and Menopur may interact with other drugs.

Common side effects of Gonal-F include:

• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• mild stomach/abdominal pain,
• pelvic pain or tenderness,
• bloating,
• injection site reactions (redness, pain, bruising, irritation),
• breast swelling/tenderness/pain,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• sore throat,
• acne, or
• skin rash.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Gonal-F including:

• unusual bleeding from the vagina/uterus,
• pain/redness/swelling of the calf muscles,
• cold/numb/pale skin of the arms/legs/hands/feet, or
• swelling of ankles/hands/feet.

• headache,
• drowsiness,
• stomach or abdominal pain,
• bloating,
• injection site reactions (pain, swelling, irritation, redness),
• breast enlargement or tenderness,
• dizziness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• shortness of breath,
• pain/warmth/tenderness centralized in an arm or leg,
• fever,
• chills,
• weakness or aching of muscles or joints, or
• rash.

Menopur may increase the likelihood of multiple births. Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Menopur including flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, chills, joint pain, muscle ache, or tiredness).

Gonal-F (follitropin alfa) Injection is a naturally occurring hormone used to stimulate a follicle (egg) to develop and mature. Gonal-F is used when a woman desires pregnancy and her ovaries can produce a follicle but hormonal stimulation is not sufficient to make the follicle mature. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for in vitro fertilization. FSH can be used by men to increase the production of sperm.

Menopur (menotropins) injection is an equal mixture of the naturally occurring follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) used to stimulate ovulation (the release of an egg) when a woman's ovaries can produce a follicle but hormonal stimulation is deficient. Menopur is also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for in vitro fertilization, and is likewise used to stimulate the production of sperm in men who have functioning testes but in whom hormonal stimulation is deficient.

It is not known if other medications will interact with Gonal-F. Tell doctor all prescription or over-the-counter medicines and supplements you use. Gonal-F must not be used during pregnancy. Stop using Gonal-F when you become pregnant. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of possible harm to a nursing infant, consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor all prescription or over-the-counter medicines or supplements you use. Stop using Menopur when you become pregnant. Menopur must not be used during pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended starting dose of Gonal-F Tablets is 30 mg (given as a single 30 mg tablet or as 1/2 of a 60 mg tablet) or 60 mg (given as a single tablet) once daily. After several days, the dosage may be increased to 120 mg (given as a single 120 mg tablet or as two 60 mg tablets) once daily.

Menopur is administered through a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. The recommended initial dose of Menopur for patients who have received a GnRH agonist for pituitary suppression is 225 IU. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 450 IU and dosing beyond 20 days is not recommended. It is unknown if other medications will interact with Menopur.