Gonal-f 300 IU/0.48 ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen

Spain
Brand name Gonal-f 300 IU/0.48 ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen
Form solution for injection in pre-filled pen
Active substance / Dosage
Prescription type Hospital Diagnosis
Registration number 95001033
Manufacturer Merck Europe B.V.
Gonal-f 300 IU/0.48 ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen solution for injection in pre-filled pen

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

GONAL-f 300 UI/0.48 ml solution for injection in a pre-filled pen

folitropin alfa

Read this entire leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

  • Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
  • If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
  • This medicine has been prescribed for you only, and you must not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it could harm them.
  • If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the leaflet

  1. What GONAL-f is and what it is used for
  2. What you need to know before using GONAL-f
  3. How to use GONAL-f
  4. Possible adverse effects
  5. How to store GONAL-f
  6. Contents of the pack and other information

Instructions for use

1. What GONAL-f is and what it is used for

What GONAL-f is

GONAL-f contains a substance called "folitropin alfa". Folitropin alfa is a type of 'follicle-stimulating hormone' (FSH), which belongs to a family of hormones called 'gonadotropins'. Gonadotropins play a role in reproduction and fertility.

What GONAL-f is used for

In adult women, GONAL-f is used:

  • to help release an egg from the ovary (ovulation) in women who are unable to ovulate and who have not responded to treatment with a substance called 'clomiphene citrate'.
  • together with another substance called 'lutropin alfa' ('luteinizing hormone' or LH), to help release an egg from the ovary (ovulation) in women whose bodies produce very low amounts of gonadotropins (FSH and LH).
  • to help develop several follicles (each containing an egg) in women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (techniques that may help them become pregnant), such as in vitro fertilization, gamete intrafallopian transfer, or zygote intrafallopian transfer.

In adult men, GONAL-f is used:

  • together with another substance called 'human chorionic gonadotropin' (hCG), to help produce sperm in men who are infertile due to low levels of certain hormones.

2. What you need to know before using GONAL-f

Before starting treatment, your fertility and that of your partner should be assessed by a physician experienced in the treatment of fertility disorders.

Do not use GONAL-f

  • if you are allergic to follicle-stimulating hormone or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

  • if you have a tumor in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland (both are parts of the brain).

  • if you are a woman:

  • with enlarged ovaries or fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries (ovarian cysts) of unknown origin.

  • with unexplained vaginal bleeding.

  • with ovarian, uterine, or breast cancer.

  • if you have a condition that normally makes pregnancy impossible, such as ovarian failure (premature menopause) or a malformation of the reproductive organs.

  • if you are a man:

  • with irreversibly damaged testicles.

Do not use GONAL-f if any of the above conditions apply to you. If you are unsure, consult your doctor before starting to use this medicine.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before starting to use GONAL-f.

Porphyria

Inform your doctor before starting treatment if you or a family member has porphyria (a disorder affecting the breakdown of porphyrins, which can be inherited).

Inform your doctor immediately if:

  • your skin becomes fragile and blisters easily, especially in areas frequently exposed to sunlight, and/or
  • you have stomach, arm, or leg pain.

In such cases, your doctor may recommend that you stop treatment.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)

If you are a woman, this medicine increases the risk of developing OHSS. This occurs when your follicles develop excessively and turn into large cysts. If you experience pelvic pain, rapid weight gain, nausea or vomiting, or difficulty breathing, contact your doctor immediately, as treatment may need to be stopped (see section 4).

If you do not ovulate and the recommended dose and dosing schedule are followed, this syndrome is less likely to occur. Treatment with GONAL-f rarely causes severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome unless the medication used to trigger final follicular maturation (containing human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG) is administered. If OHSS develops, your doctor may decide not to prescribe hCG in this treatment cycle and may advise you to abstain from sexual intercourse or to use barrier contraceptive methods for at least 4 days.

Multiple pregnancy

If you use GONAL-f, you have a higher chance of becoming pregnant with more than one baby at a time (“multiple pregnancy,” usually twins) than if you become pregnant through natural conception. Multiple pregnancy can lead to medical complications for you and your babies. You can reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy by using the correct dose of GONAL-f at the correct times. If you undergo assisted reproductive techniques, the risk of multiple pregnancy depends on your age and on the quality and number of fertilized eggs or embryos transferred into your uterus.

Miscarriage

If you undergo assisted reproductive techniques or ovarian stimulation to produce eggs, the risk of miscarriage is higher than in the general population of women.

Blood clotting problems (thromboembolic events)

If you or a family member has had, in the past or recently, blood clots in the leg or lung, heart attack, or stroke, you may have an increased risk of developing these problems or of them worsening during treatment with GONAL-f.

Men with high FSH levels in the blood

If you are a man, very high levels of FSH in the blood may indicate testicular damage. In such cases, GONAL-f is usually not effective.

If your doctor decides to try treatment with GONAL-f, to monitor treatment, your doctor may request a semen analysis 4 to 6 months after starting treatment.

Children and adolescents

GONAL-f must not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Other medicines and GONAL-f

Inform your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines.

  • If you use GONAL-f together with other medicines that promote ovulation (e.g., hCG or clomiphene citrate), the response of your follicles may be increased.
  • If you use GONAL-f at the same time as a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or antagonist (these medicines reduce sex hormone levels and suppress ovulation), you may require a higher dose of GONAL-f to produce follicles.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not use GONAL-f if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

GONAL-f contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per dose; hence, it is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to use GONAL-f

Follow exactly the administration instructions for this medicine as given by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Use of this medicine

  • GONAL-f is designed to be administered by injection just under the skin (subcutaneously). The pre-filled pen may be used for several injections.
  • The first injection of GONAL-f must be administered under the supervision of your doctor.
  • Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to use the GONAL-f pre-filled pen to self-inject the medicine.
  • If you self-administer GONAL-f, read and carefully follow the “Instructions for use”.

What dose to use

Your doctor will decide how much medicine to administer and how often. The doses described below are expressed in International Units (IU).

Women

If you are not ovulating and have irregular periods or no menstruation

  • GONAL-f is generally administered every day.
  • If you have irregular menstruation, start using GONAL-f within the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle. If you do not have menstruation, you may start using the medicine on any day that is convenient for you.
  • The initial dose of GONAL-f is usually individualized and may be adjusted in a stepwise manner.
  • The daily dose of GONAL-f should not exceed 225 IU.
  • When the desired response is achieved, you will be given a single injection of 250 micrograms of 'recombinant hCG' (r-hCG, a hCG produced in a laboratory using a special recombinant DNA technique), or 5,000 to 10,000 IU of hCG, 24 to 48 hours after the last GONAL-f injection. The best time for sexual intercourse is on the same day as the hCG injection and the following day.

If your doctor does not observe the desired response, continuation of that treatment cycle with GONAL-f should be evaluated and managed according to standard clinical practice.

If an excessive response occurs, your treatment will be stopped and you will not be given hCG (see section 2, “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”). For the next cycle, your doctor will administer a lower dose of GONAL-f than in the previous cycle.

If you have been diagnosed with very low levels of FSH and LH hormones

  • The usual initial dose of GONAL-f is 75 to 150 IU, together with 75 IU of lutropin alfa.
  • You will use both medicines every day for up to five weeks.
  • The dose of GONAL-f may be increased every 7 or 14 days by 37.5 to 75 IU, until the desired response is achieved.
  • When the desired response is achieved, you will be given a single injection of 250 micrograms of 'recombinant hCG' (r-hCG, a hCG produced in a laboratory using a special recombinant DNA technique), or 5,000 to 10,000 IU of hCG, 24 to 48 hours after the last injection of GONAL-f and lutropin alfa. The best time for sexual intercourse is on the same day as the hCG injection and the following day. Alternatively, intrauterine insemination or another assisted reproductive technique may be performed, at your doctor’s discretion.

If your doctor does not observe the desired response after five weeks, that treatment cycle with GONAL-f should be discontinued. For the next cycle, your doctor will administer a higher initial dose of GONAL-f than in the cancelled cycle.

If an excessive response occurs, your treatment will be stopped and you will not be given hCG (see section 2, “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”). For the next cycle, your doctor will administer a lower dose of GONAL-f than in the previous cycle.

If you need to develop multiple eggs for retrieval prior to any assisted reproductive technique

  • The initial dose of GONAL-f is usually individualized and may be adjusted stepwise up to a maximum of 450 IU per day.
  • Treatment continues until the eggs have developed to the desired stage. Your doctor will monitor this through blood tests and/or ultrasound scans.
  • When the eggs are ready, you will be given a single injection of 250 micrograms of 'recombinant hCG' (r-hCG, a hCG produced in a laboratory using a special recombinant DNA technique), or 5,000 to 10,000 IU of hCG, 24 to 48 hours after the last GONAL-f injection. This triggers final maturation of the eggs, making them ready for retrieval.

Men

  • The usual dose of GONAL-f is 150 IU together with hCG.
  • You will use both medicines three times a week, for at least 4 months.
  • If you have not responded to treatment after 4 months, your doctor may suggest continuing these two medicines for at least 18 months.

If you use more GONAL-f than you should

The effects of using an excessive amount of GONAL-f are unknown. However, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), described in section 4, may be expected. This syndrome, however, will only occur if hCG is also administered (see section 2, “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”).

If you forget to use GONAL-f

If you forget to use GONAL-f, do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. Consult your doctor as soon as you realize you have missed a dose.

If you have any other questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Serious adverse effects in women

  • Pelvic pain, accompanied by nausea or vomiting, may be symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This may indicate that the ovaries have over-responded to treatment and developed large ovarian cysts (see section 2, “Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)”). This adverse effect is common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people).
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may worsen with clearly enlarged ovaries, reduced urine output, weight gain, difficulty breathing, and/or possible accumulation of fluid in the abdomen or chest. This adverse effect is uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people).
  • In rare cases, complications of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome such as ovarian torsion or blood clotting may also occur (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people).
  • In very rare cases (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people), serious blood clotting complications (thromboembolic events), sometimes independent of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, may occur. This could cause chest pain, breathlessness, stroke, or myocardial infarction (see also section 2, “Problems with blood clotting”).

Serious adverse effects in men and women

  • Allergic reactions, such as skin rash, redness of the skin, blisters, swelling of the face with difficulty breathing, may sometimes be severe. This adverse effect is very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people).

If you experience any of the adverse effects listed above, you must consult your doctor immediately, who may instruct you to stop treatment with GONAL-f.

Other adverse effects in women

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

  • Fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries (ovarian cysts).
  • Headache.
  • Local reactions at the injection site, such as pain, redness, bruising, swelling, and/or irritation.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

  • Abdominal pain.
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, and flatulence.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

  • Allergic reactions such as skin rash, redness of the skin, blisters, swelling of the face with difficulty breathing may occur. Occasionally, these reactions may be severe.
  • Asthma may worsen.

Other adverse effects in men

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

  • Local reactions at the injection site, such as pain, redness, bruising, swelling, and/or irritation.

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

  • Swelling of the veins above and behind the testicles (varicocele).
  • Breast development, acne, or weight gain.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

  • Allergic reactions such as skin rash, redness of the skin, blisters, swelling of the face with difficulty breathing may occur. Occasionally, these reactions may be severe.
  • Asthma may worsen.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any adverse effect, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the national reporting system included in Appendix V. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of GONAL-f

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the cartridge label or the box following EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

Store in a refrigerator (between 2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze.

Before first use and within its validity period, the product may be stored outside the refrigerator at temperatures up to a maximum of 25°C for a single period not exceeding 3 months; if not used within these 3 months, it must be discarded.

Keep the cap on the pen to protect it from light.

Do not use GONAL-f if you notice any visible signs of deterioration, if the liquid contains particles, or if it is not clear.

After first use, the pen must be stored between 2°C and 25°C and used within a maximum of 28 days.

Do not use any medicine remaining in the pre-filled pen after 28 days.

At the end of treatment, any unused solution must be discarded.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines and containers you no longer need. This helps protect the environment.

6. Package contents and other information

Composition of GONAL-f

  • The active substance is follitropin alfa.
  • Each pre-filled multidose pen contains 300 IU (22 micrograms) of follitropin alfa in 0.48 ml of solution.
  • The other components are poloxamer 188, sucrose, methionine, monohydrate sodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, and m-cresol, as well as concentrated phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment, and water for injections.

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

  • GONAL-f is presented as an injectable, clear, colourless liquid in a pre-filled pen.
  • It is supplied in packs containing 1 pre-filled pen and 8 disposable needles.

Marketing Authorization Holder

Merck Europe B.V., Gustav Mahlerplein 102, 1082 MA Amsterdam, Netherlands

Manufacturer

Merck Serono S.p.A., Via delle Magnolie 15, 70026 Modugno (Bari), Italy

Date of the most recent review of this summary: {MM/YYYY}.

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu/.

Instructions for use

GONAL-f PRE-FILLED PEN 300 IU/0.48 ml

Injectable solution in pre-filled pen

Follitropin alfa

Important information about the GONAL-f pre-filled pen

  • Read the instructions for use and the package leaflet before using the GONAL-f pre-filled pen.
  • Always follow all instructions in these guidelines and the training provided by your healthcare professional, as they may differ from previous instructions you have received. This information will help prevent treatment errors, needle-stick injuries, or glass breakage injuries.
  • The GONAL-f pre-filled pen is for subcutaneous injection only.
  • Use the GONAL-f pre-filled pen only if a healthcare professional has shown you how to use it correctly.
  • Your healthcare professional will tell you how many GONAL-f pre-filled pens you need to complete your treatment.
  • Administer your injection at the same time each day.
  • The numbers in the dose information window represent the number of International Units (IU) and indicate the dose of follitropin alfa. Your healthcare professional will tell you how many IU of follitropin alfa to inject each day.
  • The numbers shown in the dose information window help you to:
  1. Select the prescribed dose (Figure 1).

Hands holding an injection pen with a black arrow pointing to the left

  1. Check that the injection has been completed (Figure 2).

Horizontal rounded-corner box showing a dark bar with a white indicator displaying the number zero on a light gray background

  1. Read the remaining dose to be injected using a second pen (Figure 3).

Horizontal rounded-edge box showing a dark bar with the number 50 highlighted in a white box on the left

  • Remove the needle from the pen immediately after each injection.

Do not reuse needles.

Do not share the pen or needles with anyone else.

Do not use the GONAL-f pre-filled pen if it has been dropped, or if the pen is cracked or damaged, as this may cause injury.

How to use the GONAL-f pre-filled pen treatment diary

A treatment diary is included at the end of these instructions for use. Use the treatment diary to record the amount injected.

Injecting an incorrect amount of medication may affect your treatment.

  • Record the treatment day number (column 1), date (column 2), time of injection (column 3), and pen volume (column 4).
  • Record the dose prescribed to you (column 5).
  • Check that you have selected the correct dose before administering the injection (column 6).
  • After the injection, read the number shown in the dose information window.
  • Confirm that you have received a complete injection (column 7), or record the number shown in the dose information window if it is not “0” (column 8).
  • When necessary, administer another injection using a second pen, selecting the remaining dose indicated in the section “Amount to set for a second injection” (column 8).
  • Record this remaining dose in the section “Amount set for injection” (column 6) on the next line.

Using the treatment diary to record your daily injection(s) allows you to verify that you have received the full prescribed dose each day.

An example of a treatment diary:

Medical table with columns for day, date, time, volume, prescribed dose, adjusted dose, and instructions for a second injection with red circles

Familiarize yourself with the GONAL-f pre-filled pen

Diagram of a pre-filled pen with labels indicating sheath, needle, protector, connector, piston, dose window, and pen cap

*For illustrative purposes only.

**The numbers in the dose information window and on the cartridge holder represent the number of International Units (IU) of medication.

Step 1 Gather the materials

1.1 Leave the pre-filled pen at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before use to allow the medication to reach room temperature.

Do not use a microwave or any other heating device to warm the pen.

1.2 Prepare a clean, flat surface, such as a table or countertop, in a well-lit area.

1.3 You will also need (not included in the package):

? Alcohol wipes and a sharps container (Figure 4).

1.4 Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly (Figure 5).

1.5 With your hand, remove the GONAL-f pre-filled pen from its packaging.

Do not use any tools, as they may damage the pen.

1.6 Check that the pen is labeled GONAL-f.

1.7 Check the expiration date on the pen label (Figure 6).

Do not use the GONAL-f pre-filled pen if the expiration date has passed or if the pen is not labeled GONAL-f.

Biohazard waste container with biohazard symbol and a white plastic bag beside it on a light background

Two hands holding and manipulating a medical device with two vertical metal rods on a flat base in a clinical setting

Illustration of a cylindrical vial with a label showing lot number 123456, expiration date July 2029, and code L19Y0003A

Step 2 Prepare for the injection

2.1 Remove the pen cap (Figure 7).

2.2 Check that the

medication is clear and colorless and does not contain

particles.

Do not use the pre-filled pen if

the medication has changed

color or appears cloudy, as this

may cause infection.

2.3 Check that the dose information window is set to “0” (Figure 8).

Two hands holding an injection pen while a black arrow indicates a leftward rotation movement to prepare the device

A hand holding a cylindrical medical device with an indicator showing zero and a gray checkmark in the upper left corner

Choose an injection site:

2.4 Your healthcare professional should instruct you on the injection sites to use around the abdominal area (Figure 9). To minimize skin irritation,

select a different injection site each day.

2.5 Clean the skin at the injection site with an alcohol wipe.

Do not touch or cover the skin you have just cleaned.

Medical diagram showing the abdominal area of a torso with a dark gray circle and a lighter inner circle indicating the injection site

Step 3 Attach the needle

Important: always make sure to use a new needle for each injection. Reusing needles

can cause infection.

3.1 Take a new needle. Use only the “single-use”

needles supplied.

3.2 Check that the outer needle cap is not

damaged.

3.3 Hold the outer needle cap firmly.

3.4 Check that the cap lock tab of the outer needle

cap is not damaged or loose and that the

expiration date has not passed (Figure 10).

3.5 Remove the cap lock tab (Figure 11).

Do not use the needle if it is damaged or expired, or if the

outer needle cap or cap lock tab is damaged or loose. Using expired needles or needles with damaged or loose cap lock tabs or outer needle caps can cause infection. Dispose of it in a sharps container and take a new needle.

A hand applying a medical patch to the skin of the arm with a black checkmark indicating correct procedure

Two hands holding and rotating a white cylindrical medical device to prepare it

3.6 Screw the outer needle cap onto the threaded tip of the GONAL-f prefilled pen until you feel slight resistance (Figure 12).

Do not overtighten the needle when attaching it, as this may make it difficult to remove after the injection.

3.7 Remove the outer needle cap by gently pulling it off (Figure 13).

3.8 Set it aside for later use (Figure 14).

Do not discard the outer needle cap, as it will prevent needlestick injuries and infections when detaching the needle from the prefilled pen.

3.9 Hold the GONAL-f prefilled pen with the needle pointing upward (Figure 15).

3.10 Carefully remove and discard the inner needle cap (Figure 16).

Do not recap the needle with the inner needle cap, as this may cause needlestick injuries and infections.

Sequence of medical illustrations showing hands handling a medical device, with directional arrows and checkmarks or crosses

3.11 Carefully examine the needle tip for one or more drops of liquid (Figure 17)

A hand holding a syringe with needle pointing upward

If

Then

You are using a new pen

Check that there is a drop of liquid at the needle tip (Figure 17).

  • If you see a drop of liquid,

proceed to Step 4

Select the dose.

  • If you do not see any drop at

the needle tip or nearby, you must follow the steps on the next page to remove air from the system.

You are reusing a pen

It is not necessary to check for a drop of liquid. Proceed directly to Step 4

Select the dose.

If you do not see a small drop of liquid at the tip or near it the first time you use a new pen:

Two hands holding a white and black cylindrical medical device and rotating the terminal part to the left
  1. Carefully turn the dose knob forward until "25" appears in the dose information window (Figure 18).
  • You may turn the dose knob backward if you have turned it beyond "25".
Three sequential illustrations showing hands holding and operating a pre-filled syringe for injection
  1. Hold the pen with the needle pointing upward.
  2. Gently tap the reservoir holder (Figure 19).
  3. Press the dose knob completely . A small drop of liquid should appear at the needle tip (Figure 20).
  4. Check that the dose information window shows "0" (Figure 21).
  5. Proceed to Step 4 Select the dose .

If no drop of liquid appears, contact your healthcare professional.

Step 4 Select the dose

Note: The pen contains 300 IU of follitropin alfa. The maximum single dose that can be set on a 300 IU pen is 300 IU. The minimum single dose is 12.5 IU, and the dose can be increased in increments of 12.5 IU.

4.1 Turn the dose knob until the desired dose appears in the dose information window.

  • Example: if the desired dose is "150" IU, confirm that the dose information window displays "150" (Figure 22). Injecting an incorrect amount of medication may affect your treatment.

Two hands holding a white cylindrical medical device with the number 150 to prepare the injection

Two hands holding a white and black cylindrical medical device and rotating the dark terminal end to adjust the dosage indicated as 125

  • Turn the dose selector knob forward to select the dose (Figure 22).
  • You can turn the dose selector knob backward if you turn past the desired dose (Figure 23).

4.2 Check that the dose information window shows the full prescribed dose before proceeding to the next step.

Step 5 Inject the dose

Important: inject the dose exactly as shown to you by your healthcare professional.

5.1 Slowly insert the entire needle under the skin (Figure 24).

Two black-and-white illustrations showing hands holding a syringe for injection

5.2 Place your thumb in the center of the dose button. Press the dose button slowly and completely and keep it pressed to fully administer the injection (Figure 25).

Note: the larger the dose, the longer it will take to inject.

5.3 Keep the dose button pressed for at least 5 seconds before removing the needle from the skin (Figure 26).

  • The dose number in the dose information window will return to “0”.

  • After at least 5 seconds, remove the needle from the skin while keeping the dose button pressed (Figure 27).

  • When the needle is clear of the skin, release the dose button.

Do not release the dose button until the needle has been removed from the skin.

A hand holding a medical device applied to the skin with an arrow indicating a leftward movement and a timer showing 5 seconds

A hand holding an injection pen horizontally with a black arrow indicating the direction of leftward movement

Step 6 Remove the needle after each injection

6.1 Place the outer needle cap on a flat surface.

6.2 Hold the GONAL-f prefilled pen firmly in one hand and insert the needle into the outer needle cap (Figure 28).

6.3 Continue pushing the needle with cap onto a firm surface until you hear a click (“click”) (Figure 29).

6.4 Hold the outer needle cap and unscrew the needle by turning it in the opposite direction (Figure 30).

6.5 Safely dispose of the used needle in a sharps container (Figure 31). Handle the needle carefully to avoid injury.

Do not reuse or share any used needles.

Sequence of four illustrations showing the steps to separate and prepare the medical device by sliding and removing the cap

Step 7 After the injection

7.1 Check that a complete injection has been administered:

Check that the dose information window displays “0” (Figure 32).

If the dose information window displays “0”, the dose has been fully delivered.

If the dose information window displays a number greater than “0”, the GONAL-f pre-filled pen is empty. You have not received the full prescribed dose and must perform Step 7.2 described below.

Horizontal medical capsule with a white body and a central dark gray band containing the number 0 on a white background on the left

7.2 Complete a partial injection (only when necessary):

  • The dose information window

will indicate the remaining amount to be injected using a new pen. In the example shown, the amount remaining is “50” IU (Figure 33).

  • To complete the dose with a second pen, repeat Steps 1 to 8.

Capsule-shaped medical device with a digital display showing the number 50 on a dark background

Step 8 Storage of the GONAL-f prefilled pen

8.1 Replace the pen cap

over the pen to prevent infections

(Figure 34).

8.2 Store the pen with the cap on

in a safe place and as indicated in the

instructions leaflet.

8.3 When the pen is empty, ask your

healthcare professional how to dispose of it.

Two fingers holding a cylindrical medical device with a black arrow pointing to the right indicating the sliding motion of a component

Do not store the pen with the needle still attached, as this may cause an infection.

Do not reuse the GONAL-f pre-filled pen if it has been dropped, or if the pen is cracked or damaged, as this may cause injury.

Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions.

GONAL-f pre-filled pen treatment diary

1

Day of

treatment

2

Date

3

Time

4

Pen volume

5

Prescribed dose

6

7

Dose information window

8

Amount adjusted for injection

Amount to adjust for a second injection

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

/

:

300 IU

?If it is a “0”, complete injection

?If it is not “0”, a second injection is required

Inject this amount…using a new pen

Date of the last review of these instructions for use: {MM/YYYY}.