Desofal Solution

DESOFAL contains the active substance fulvestrant, which belongs to the group of estrogen blockers. Estrogens, a type of female sex hormones, can in some cases be involved in the growth of breast cancer. DESOFAL is used to treat postmenopausal women with a type of breast cancer called estrogen receptor positive breast cancer that is locally advanced or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

DESOFAL should not be administered to you :

• If you are hypersensitive (allergic) to fulvestrant or any of the ingredients of DESOFAL (listed in section 6).
• If you have severe liver problems.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby.

DESOFAL should not be given to men or children.

Warnings and precautions

Tell your doctor or healthcare professional before being given the injection:

• If you have any problems with your liver or kidneys.
• If you have been told you have a low blood platelet count, a bleeding disorder or if you use anticoagulants (medicine to prevent blood clots).

Special care should be taken with DESOFAL: If you have or have ever had a problem with alcoholism. If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before being given this medicine.

Always use DESOFAL exactly as your doctor has instructed you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure. The usual dose is 500 mg fulvestrant (two 250 mg/5 mL injections) given once a month, with an additional 500 mg dose given two weeks after the initial dose.

Your doctor or nurse will give you DESOFAL injection. DESOFAL will be slowly injected into the muscle of each of your buttocks. Your doctor will tell you how long your treatment with DESOFAL will last. Do not stop any treatment unless your doctor tells you to do so. If you have the impression that the effect of DESOFAL is too strong or too weak, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are administered more DESOFAL than you should Since a health care provider will administer DESOFAL , he/she will control the dosage, However, in the event of overdosage your doctor will manage the dosage. If the dose of DESOFAL is forgotten Since a health care provider will administer DESOFAL, it is unlikely that the dose will be missed.

DESOFAL can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for DESOFAL are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while using DESOFAL , please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional for advice.

If any of the following happens, stop using DESOFAL and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:

• Swelling around the eyes, face, lips and mouth or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing
• Rash or itching
• Yellowing of the skin or e yes

These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to DESOFAL. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Treatment with DESOFAL can very commonly cause reactions where the injection is administered, muscle weakness, nausea and increase in liver enzymes (seen on laboratory tests).

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Frequent side effects:

• Injection site reactions, such as pain and/or inflammation.
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Joint and musculoskeletal pain, back pain
• Hot flushes
• Headache
• Gastro-intestinal symptoms (symptoms from the stomach or the bowels), such as, vomiting, diarrhoea or loss of appetite
• Skin rash
• Urinary tract infections (bladder infections)
• Inflammation of the liver. Symptoms may include a general feeling of being unwell, with or without jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), liver pain or liver swelling.

Less frequent side effects:

• Increased levels of enzymes produced in the liver (called AST, ALT, ALP, and Gamma GT)
• Thick, whitish vaginal discharge and candidiasis (infection)
• Bruising and bleeding at the site of injection
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• Liver failure
• Numbness, tingling and pain

If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects If you get side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects via https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of DESOFAL.

STORE ALL MEDICINES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. DESOFAL will be stored in the pharmacy. Store at or below 5 °C. Keep the container in the outer carton in order to protect from light. Do not use after the expiry date stated on the vial and the carton. Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g., toilets).