Diphereline (Triptorelin)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Diphereline Used For?
Diphereline contains triptorelin and belongs to a group of medicines called Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone agonists. It works by changing hormone levels in your body to treat certain medical conditions.
Primary Uses
In adult men, Diphereline treats prostate cancer that has spread into surrounding tissue and/or to other parts of the body. It is not a cure for prostate cancer. In children, the 22.5 mg dose treats puberty that occurs at a very young age (Central Precocious Puberty).
How It Works
In males, Diphereline lowers testosterone production. Since testosterone may help some prostate cancer cells grow, reducing it can slow or stop cancer growth. In females, it lowers estrogen levels, which is a natural female sex hormone.
How to Take Diphereline
Diphereline is given as an injection into your muscle by a doctor or nurse. You cannot give this injection to yourself at home.
Dosage Instructions
Your doctor will decide the right dose based on your condition: 3.75 mg injection once a month, 11.25 mg injection once every 3 months, or 22.5 mg injection every 6 months. Only the 22.5 mg injection is used for Central Precocious Puberty in children. The injection is usually given in your buttock muscle.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Tell your doctor as soon as you realize you’ve missed an injection appointment. You’ll then receive your next injection and should schedule your following appointment. Keep a diary of when your next dose is due to help remember.
Important: It’s important to have your follow-up doses at the appropriate times to get the best effects from your treatment.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Hot flushes
- Nausea and dry mouth
- Dizziness and headache
- Pins and needles in legs
- Reduced or no sex drive
- Mood changes, depression, anxiety
- Difficulty getting or maintaining erection
- Excessive sweating
- Back pain and muscle/bone pain
- Problems passing urine
- Weakness
- Pain, bruising, redness and swelling at injection site
- Fluid buildup in body tissues
- Weight gain
- In children: vaginal bleeding in first month (girls), breast pain, stomach discomfort, constipation, acne, neck pain, nosebleeds
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Allergic reactions: rash, swelling, breathing problems
- Seizures or convulsions
- Difficulty breathing
- High blood pressure
- Severe back pain (tumor flare)
- Sharp leg pain or swelling (blood clots)
- Chest pain
- Sudden headaches
- Painful swollen joints (gout)
- Vision problems, eye paralysis (pituitary enlargement)
- Fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting (heart rhythm changes)
- In children: vision changes, seizures, headache, blurred/double vision, eye pain, ear ringing, dizziness, nausea (brain pressure)
Important Warnings
Before receiving Diphereline, make sure your doctor knows about all your medical conditions and medications.
Who Should Not Take Diphereline
Do not use if you’re allergic to triptorelin, polysorbate 80, GnRH, or other GnRH agonists. Men should not receive it if there are signs the tumor doesn’t rely on hormones to grow, if you’ve had surgical removal of testes, or if you have severe back pain from prostate cancer pressing on backbone nerves.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: pituitary gland enlargement, cancer-related pain, difficulty urinating, osteoporosis or risk factors for it, sudden headaches or blurred vision, diabetes or high blood sugar, heart or blood vessel problems, heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, or if you take blood pressure medications. For children, inform the doctor about any progressive brain tumors.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
You should not receive Diphereline if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Mood Changes Warning: There have been reports of mood changes and depression with GnRH medicines like Diphereline, which may be severe. In very rare cases, severe depression can lead to suicidal thoughts. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop depressed mood or thoughts of self-harm.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Diphereline and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking.
Heart Rhythm Risk: Diphereline might increase the risk of heart rhythm problems when used with certain other drugs. Make sure your doctor knows all medications you take.
- Blood thinners (anti-coagulants) including warfarin – risk of bruising/bleeding at injection site
- Medicines that increase prolactin hormone levels
- Medicines affecting gonadotrophin secretion
- Heart rhythm medicines: quinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol
- Methadone (for pain relief and drug addiction treatment)
- Moxifloxacin (antibiotic)
- Antipsychotics (for serious mental illnesses)
Alcohol & Driving
Be cautious with activities requiring alertness until you know how Diphereline affects you.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol may make dizziness or light-headedness worse when taking Diphereline.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Diphereline affects you. It may cause dizziness, blurred vision, or seizures in some people. For children, be careful with bicycle riding or climbing until you know how the medicine affects them.
Storage
Your doctor will usually keep the medicine at the clinic or pharmacy. If you need to store Diphereline at home, keep it in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C. Store in original container, away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep away from children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
Since Diphereline is given by a healthcare provider, overdose is unlikely. However, if you think too much has been given, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
At the start of treatment, you may have increased testosterone which can temporarily worsen cancer symptoms in the first few weeks. Your doctor will monitor you and may give other medicines to manage these initial symptoms.
Call your doctor straight away if you experience pain in bones or backbone, difficulty passing urine, or weakness/tingling in arms and legs within the first few weeks of treatment. These could be signs of temporary worsening that needs medical attention.
No, do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will decide when and how to stop treatment. For children, treatment is normally stopped when girls are about 12-13 years old and boys are about 13-14 years old.
This depends on the dose prescribed: 3.75 mg is given once a month, 11.25 mg is given once every 3 months, and 22.5 mg is given every 6 months. Your doctor will decide the right schedule for your condition.
Always remind any doctor, dentist, or pharmacist you visit that you are using Diphereline. This is important for your safety and proper medical care.
Yes, Diphereline may increase the risk of heart rhythm problems, especially when used with certain other medications. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take and any heart conditions you have.
Your doctor will monitor you for high blood sugar or diabetes, cardiovascular disease symptoms, and the effectiveness of treatment. Keep all follow-up appointments as they are important for your safety and treatment success.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.