Nandrolone Decanoate, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anabolic steroid

Generic and brand names: nandrolone decanoate, injection; Androlone-D; Hybolin Decanoate; Neo-Durabolic

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injections (shots) to treat low red blood cell counts (anemia). It is given to people who have chronic (long-term) kidney disease. It may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergy to any medicine or hormone, or to sesame seeds
• breast cancer
• diabetes
• edema (swelling)
• heart disease or a heart attack
• high cholesterol
• hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood)
• kidney or liver problems
• prostate disease
• seizures.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine has been reported to cause birth defects. Read the information that comes in the medicine package. You must meet certain conditions and sign a consent form. Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for a month after stopping it. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant and contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

How do I take it?

Your healthcare provider will give these injections. The length of treatment will depend on your response to the medicine. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly. Keep all your appointments.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine can cause liver problems. You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop severe tiredness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, fever, headache, muscle or joint pain, yellowing of your eyes and skin. These are signs of possible liver damage.

This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.

This medicine may affect bone growth in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Yellowish eyes or skin, dark urine, black or very light bowel movements, severe tiredness, vomiting, unusual bruising or bleeding, sudden weight gain, depression.

Other: Headache, diarrhea, nausea, trouble sleeping, change in sexual ability or desire, acne.

Men: Painful erections of the penis that will not return to normal, breast enlargement.

Women: Hoarseness or deepening of voice, facial hair, hair loss, changes in menstrual periods.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• adrenal cortical steroid (ACTH, Acthar gel)
• bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit)
• finasteride (Proscar, Propecia)
• growth hormone (Genotropin, Humatrope, Nutropin, Protropin)
• insulin and oral medicines for diabetes such as acarbose (Precose), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), metformin (Glucophage), miglitol (Glyset), nateglinide (Starlix), repaglinide (Prandin), pioglitazone (Actos), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• medicines that prevent or treat blood clots such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and clopidogrel (Plavix)
• saw palmetto.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.