From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2010-05-03 18:50:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] an FYI on GnRH Agonists (but the work might not apply and current data are limited)
To: fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
This warning might NOT apply to ferrets or to the doses used for=20
ferrets, but it may be good if someone looked at rates of heart=20
disease and or diabetes in ferrets who have used these and ones who=20
have not if funding can be found for such a study:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMe=
dicalProducts/ucm210576.htm
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatie=
ntsandProviders/ucm209842.htm
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm210549.htm
Press Release (NOTICE THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO THE DATA
which might also be good.):
> FDA NEWS RELEASE
> For Immediate Release: May 3, 2010
> Media Inquiries: Erica Jefferson, 301-796-4988, erica.jefferson@fda.hhs.g=
ov
> Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
>
> FDA Conducting Safety Review of Commonly Used Prostate Cancer Drugs
> Preliminary review suggests an increase in the risk of diabetes and=20
> certain cardiovascular diseases in men treated with GnRH agonists
>
> Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists, a class of=20
> medications primarily used to treat men with prostate cancer, have=20
> been associated with a small increased risk for diabetes, heart=20
> attack, stroke, and sudden death in men treated with one of the=20
> medications, according to a preliminary and ongoing analysis of=20
> several studies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
>
> Based on initial findings, FDA advises:
>
> =95 Health care professionals should be aware of these potential=20
> risks and carefully weigh the benefits and risks of GnRH agonists=20
> when determining a treatment for patients with prostate cancer.
> =95 Patients receiving a GnRH agonist should be monitored for the=20
> development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
> =95 Cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking and increases in=20
> blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight should be=20
> managed according to current clinical practice.
> =95 Patients should not stop treatment with a GnRH agonist unless=20
> instructed to do so by a health care professional.
> At this time, FDA has not made any conclusions about whether GnRH=20
> agonists cause an increase in the risk of diabetes and heart disease=20
> in patients receiving one of these medications to treat prostate=20
> cancer.
>
> =93While our review of these prostate cancer treatments is ongoing and =
> there are some limitations to the data, FDA believes it is important=20
> to tell patients and health care professionals that there may be an=20
> increased risk of serious side effects,=94 said Robert Justice, M.D., =
> director of the Division of Drug Oncology Products in FDA=92s Center=20
> for Drug Evaluation and Research.
>
> Medications in the GnRH class are marketed under the brand names=20
> Eligard, Lupron, Synarel, Trelstar, Vantas, Viadur, and Zoladex.=20
> There are also several generic products available.
>
> The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. Prostate=20
> cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in the=20
> United States, behind skin cancer, and usually occurs in older men.=20
> This year an estimated 203,415 new cases of prostate cancer will be=20
> diagnosed and about 28,372 men will die from the disease, according=20
> to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
>
> GnRH agonists are drugs that suppress the production of=20
> testosterone, a hormone that is involved in the growth of prostate=20
> cancer. This type of treatment is called androgen deprivation=20
> therapy, or ADT. Suppressing testosterone has been shown to shrink=20
> or slow the growth of prostate cancer.
>
> Some GnRH agonists are also used in women to help manage the pain=20
> caused by endometriosis, to improve anemia associated with uterine=20
> fibroids prior to hysterectomy and in some cases for palliative=20
> treatment of advanced breast cancer. Use of these products should=20
> not exceed one year for women except in treating breast cancer.=20
> There are no known comparable studies that have evaluated the risk=20
> of diabetes and heart disease in women taking GnRH agonists.
>
> Some GnRH agonists are also used in children to treat central=20
> precocious puberty. There are no known studies that have evaluated=20
> the risk of diabetes and heart disease in children taking GnRH=20
> agonists.
>
> Eligard is marketed by Bridgewater, N.J.-based Sanofi-Aventis.
> Lupron is marketed by Abbott Park, Ill.-based Abbott Laboratories.
> Synarel is marketed by New York City-based Pfizer.
> Trelstar is marketed by Corona, Calif.-based Watson Pharmaceuticals.
> Vantas is marketed by Chadds Ford, Pa.-based Endo Pharmaceuticals.
> Viadur is marketed by Wayne, N.J.-based Bayer Pharmaceuticals.
> Zoladex is marketed by Wilmington, Del.-based AstraZeneca.
>
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
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