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Camcevi: What You Need To Know About This FDA-Approved Prostate Cancer Treatment

Doctor holding blue ribbon for prostate cancer awareness

Camcevi injection is an FDA-approved cancer medication. It is used to treat advanced prostate cancer in adult males. Learn about its mechanism of action, dosage, side effects, cost, and more. 

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Important Camcevi Warnings

Worsening of Symptoms

This medication may cause worsening or additional symptoms of prostate cancer during the first few weeks of treatment. Your healthcare provider will watch you closely during this period. 

It can also worsen bone pain and cause difficulty passing urine. In some people, this medication can cause spinal cord compression, which may result in paralysis. Seek emergency medical care if you experience:

  • Pain and stiffness in the neck or back
  • Burning pain that spreads to your arms, buttocks, or down into the legs
  • Numbness, cramping, or weakness in the arms, hands, or legs
  • Loss of sensation in the feet
  • Trouble with hand or leg coordination
  • Weakness in the foot, causing a limp

Low Blood Sugar and Diabetes

This medication can make you more likely to develop diabetes. Your healthcare provider will check your blood sugar levels periodically during treatment. 

Diseases of the Heart and Blood Vessels

This medication can increase the risk of heart attack, sudden death, and stroke. Your healthcare provider will monitor signs and symptoms suggestive of heart disease during treatment. 

Irregular Heartbeat

Before prescribing this medication, a healthcare provider will determine whether the benefits of Camcevi outweigh the risks in people with existing heart rhythm problems, heart failure, or those who use medications that can cause irregular heartbeats. 

Convulsions

Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have a seizure.

Before Taking Camcevi

Before you receive your first dose, inform your provider if you are allergic to this product, any product component, or similar medications like goserelin (Zoladex), histrelin (Supprelin LA, Vantas), nafarelin (Synarel), or triptorelin (Triptodur, Trelstar).

Tell your provider if you have or have ever had:

  • Depression, a mental disorder, or psychosis
  • Seizures or epilepsy
  • A blood vessel disorder
  • A brain tumor or spinal cord injury
  • Heart disease, such as heart failure or arrhythmia
  • Electrolyte imbalance (low blood levels of salts like potassium or magnesium)
  • Risk factors for bone loss (history of brittle bones, smoking, heavy drinking, long-term use of steroids or seizure medicines)

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Camcevi Introduction and Uses

Camcevi is a brand-name prescription medication. The active ingredient in this product is leuprolide, which is in a medication class called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. 

In 2021, the U.S. FDA approved Camcevi to treat adult males with advanced prostate cancer.

Camcevi Mechanism of Action

Camcevi causes your testes to produce less testosterone (androgen). Hence, this medication is also known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). 

Camcevi Dosage

This medication comes as an off-white to pale yellow, viscous liquid in a single-dose, pre-filled syringe. Each syringe contains 42 mg of the active drug. 

A healthcare provider will inject this medication just under your skin. The common injection sites are the upper- or mid-abdominal areas that have enough loose subcutaneous tissue. 

The recommended dosage is 42 mg leuprolide or one syringe every 6 months.

Camcevi Side Effects

Common Side Effects

Call your healthcare provider if the following symptoms worsen or don’t go away: 

  • Hot flush
  • Hypertension (elevated blood pressure)
  • Injection site reactions (pain, burning, bruising, redness)
  • Infection of the upper airway
  • Runny nose, cough, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
  • Muscle or bone pain 
  • Joint pain
  • Pain in the extremities
  • Decrease in the size of testicles
  • Decrease in sexual ability or desire
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness
  • Frequent urination
  • Increased urination at night

Serious Side Effects

Woman experiencing bone pain as a side effect of taking Camcevi

Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience:

  • Pain in your arms, back, chest, neck, or jaw
  • Slow or difficult speech
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Weakness, numbness, or inability to move an arm or leg
  • Bone pain
  • Painful, frequent, or difficult urination
  • Blood in the urine
  • Extreme thirst
  • Weakness
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Breath that smells fruity
  • Lowered consciousness
  • Sudden headache
  • Blurred vision
  • Vision changes
  • Difficulty moving the eyes
  • Drooping eyelids
  • Confusion
  • Seizures

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Allergic Reactions

Seek emergency medical care if you experience:

  • Hives
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Swelling in the face or throat

Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Cord Compression

Seek emergency medical care if you experience:

  • Pain and stiffness in the neck, back, or lower back
  • Burning pain that spreads to your arms, buttocks, or down into the legs
  • Numbness, cramping, or weakness in the arms, hands, or legs
  • Loss of sensation in the feet
  • Trouble with hand or leg coordination
  • Weakness in the foot, causing a limp

Use During Pregnancy and Lactation 

Camcevi is FDA-approved for use only in adult men with advanced prostate cancer. However, other formulations of leuprolide may be used in children (boys and girls) to delay sexual development. Ask your pharmacist for more information. 

Camcevi Cost

Cost can vary depending on your insurance plan, location, and pharmacy. Contact your insurance provider to find out if your plan covers this medication or if you need prior authorization.

Accord BioPharma, which is licensed to market Camcevi in the U.S. by Foresee Pharmaceuticals, offers support and resources to eligible patients. 

You can also contact us if you are interested in receiving financial assistance. 

Camcevi vs. Eligard

Both products contain the same active drug, leuprolide. Camcevi is a ready-to-use depot formulation, while Eligard requires mixing before administration. Also, Eligard is available in four different strengths and dosing schedules. 

Camcevi vs. Lupron

Both Camcevi and Lupron contain the same active drug, leuprolide, but different salt forms. Moreover, the strengths, dosing schedules, and methods of administration are different.  

Camcevi vs. Orgovyx

The active ingredient in Camcevi is leuprolide, while in Orgovyx, it is relugolix. Both products are used to treat advanced prostate cancer in men. 

Unlike leuprolide, which is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, relugolix is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist. 

This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your medical condition prior to starting any new treatment. AmeriPharma® Specialty Care assumes no liability whatsoever for the information provided or for any diagnosis or treatment made as a result, nor is it responsible for the reliability of the content. AmeriPharma® Specialty Care does not operate all the websites/organizations listed here, nor is it responsible for the availability or reliability of their content. These listings do not imply or constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation by AmeriPharma® Specialty Care. This webpage may contain references to brand-name prescription drugs that are trademarks or registered trademarks of pharmaceutical manufacturers not affiliated with AmeriPharma® Specialty Care.
Dr. Mark Alfonso
MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY Dr. Mark Alfonso, PharmD, BCMTMS

Dr. Mark Alfonso, PharmD was born and raised in Pueblo, CO. He received his pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy at the Anschutz Medical Campus in 2010. He was board certified in medication therapy management in 2022. The most rewarding part of his job is helping to answer patient questions and concerns. His areas of expertise are community pharmacy and medication therapy management. In his free time, he enjoys reading and running.

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