Follistim ratings & reviews

Follitropin Beta
Company: Merck S&D
Brand: Follistim
Drug class: Systemic Hormonal Agents (excluding Sex Hormones)
+6 more
Systemic Hormonal Agents (excluding Sex Hormones), Genito-urinary System and Sex Hormones, Pituitary and Hypothalamic Hormones, Sex Hormones and Modulators of the Genital System, Infertility Agents, Pituitary Hormones, Gonadotropins
Overall rating
3.5
full star full star full star half star empty star
Ranked #4
Physician ratings
  • Efficacy: effective for its intended use
  • Safety: safe to use in humans
  • Tolerability: low drug side effects
  • Accessibility: insurance/payer coverage, cost, affordability,formulary coverage, availability in your hospital or practice setting
  • Adherence: patient compliance with treatment
Efficacy
3.8/5
Safety
3.5/5
Tolerability
3.5/5
Accessibility
3.1/5
Adherence
3.7/5

Sermo AI Overview

  • Follistim's effectiveness varies across different conditions, with physicians expressing concerns about its efficacy for hypogonadism and oligospermia, where ratings from specialists are notably low, indicating weak effectiveness.
  • While Follistim can provide good outcomes for infertility, particularly for women not responding to other treatments, its cost and accessibility are significant concerns that may limit its use across patient populations.
  • Healthcare providers express mixed opinions about Follistim's efficacy, often recommending it for specific cases such as ovarian stimulation, particularly given the overall variability in patient responses and access challenges.
  • Was this summary helpful?
Based on insights from Sermo’s triple verified physicians

Description

The brand name of the drug is Follistim.

Source: This information is sourced from FDA and powered by AI

Dosage & Administration

How should I use this medication?

This medication is injected under the skin. It is usually given by your care team in a hospital or clinic setting. It may also be given at home.

If you get this medication at home, you will be taught how to prepare and give it. Use exactly as directed. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.

It is important that you put your used needles and syringes in a special sharps container. Do not put them in a trash can. If you do not have a sharps container, call your pharmacist or care team to get one.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

It is important not to miss your dose. Talk to your care team about what to do if you miss a dose.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store in the refrigerator.

The medication may also be stored at room temperature, at approximately 25 degrees C (77 degrees F) for up to 3 months or until the expiration date, whichever occurs first. Do not freeze. Once the rubber stopper of the cartridge has been pierced by a needle, the product can only be stored for a maximum of 28 days in the refrigerator or at room temperature between 2 and 25 degrees C (36 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light. Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Side Effects

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

  • Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome—stomach or pelvic pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain
  • Trouble breathing

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

  • Acne
  • Breast pain or tenderness
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
  • Stomach pain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings & Precautions

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

  • Abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding
  • Asthma
  • Blood clots
  • Cancer
  • Conditions affecting your adrenal or thyroid gland
  • Enlarged ovaries or ovarian cyst
  • Had stomach surgery
  • Fallopian tube blockage
  • Ovarian insufficiency
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • An unusual or allergic reaction to follitropin beta, neomycin, streptomycin, other hormones, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
  • Pregnant
  • Breast-feeding

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following:

  • Chasteberry

This medication may also interact with the following:

  • Black cohosh

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

It is important to keep all records required by your care team on body temperature and intercourse, and to carefully follow any directions for urine or blood testing or ultrasound exams. If you think you have become pregnant, contact your care team at once.

Certain fertility treatments increase your chances of having multiple babies, like twins or triplets.

If stomach pain occurs while you are using this medication, discontinue treatment and call your care team immediately. Do not use the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and avoid sexual intercourse.

Source: This information is sourced from Elsevier Inc.

Disclaimer

The reviews, ratings, comments, and opinions expressed on this platform are solely those of the individual medical professionals who posted them and do not reflect the views or positions of Sermo, Inc. Sermo does not endorse, verify, or validate the content of individual reviews. The information provided is user-generated and reflects personal clinical experiences, which may not be complete, accurate, or applicable to your specific health needs. It is not intended as medical advice.

Prescription medications affect individuals differently, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed applies to your personal circumstances. Only a licensed healthcare provider can advise you on what is safe and effective for you.

Keep all medications out of the reach of children, never share your medicine with others, and use each medication only as prescribed. Your reliance on any information provided on this platform is at your own risk.

Terms of use

  1. Sermo Drug Ratings, and all information provided on this website, may not be used in combination with any artificial intelligence tool (including to train an algorithm, test, process, analyze, generate output and/or develop any form of artificial intelligence tool). 

  2. Visitors to the online patient-facing website at Sermo.com (“Sermo Drug Ratings”) are Authorized Users of the website, which contains data owned by a third-party provider, Elsevier, Inc.  Accordingly, by visiting Sermo Drug Ratings, Authorized User acknowledges that the website includes Elsevier owned data that Sermo licenses pursuant to a separate usage and Data agreement (the “Agreements”).  Authorized User further acknowledges that Sermo is a third-party beneficiary of the Agreements and Authorized User’s use of the website hereby binds them to the terms of the Agreements; provided, however, that Elsevier shall have no obligations or liability to an Authorized User whatsoever pursuant to the terms of the Agreements.

  3. Authorized User acknowledges and agrees that the Elsevier Products are designed for and are intended to be used by those residing in the United States, and that the information contained in the Elsevier Products does not comply with any laws or practices outside of the United States. You assume all responsibilities, duties, and obligations for any treatment, decision, or advice made or given to third parties as a result of the use or application of the Elsevier Products outside of the United States, and Sermo, Elsevier and its affiliates, subsidiaries, agents and suppliers will incur no liability for any use or application of the Products by Authorized Users outside of the United States.

Welcome to Sermo's Drug Ratings

Previously only for members, Sermo Drug Ratings are now openly available to all healthcare providers, patients, and industry professionals to support better healthcare decisions.

Clinical expertise
Insights based on real prescribing experience from triple-verified practicing physicians only
Detailed insights
Ratings on key attributes including efficacy, safety, tolerability, accessibility, and adherence
Unbiased reviews
Independent, physician-only reviews, free from pharmaceutical industry influence