Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Triptorelin embonate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
for
Salvacyl contains triptorelin, which is similar to a hormone called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH analogue). It is a long acting formulation designed to slowly deliver 11.25 mg of triptorelin over twelve weeks. It acts by lowering the levels of the male hormone, testosterone, in the body. Salvacyl is used to decrease sexual drive in adult men with severe sexual deviations. The treatment with Salvacyl is to be initiated and controlled by a psychiatrist. The treatment should be given in combination with psychotherapy, in order to decrease deviating sexual behaviour.
2.
e Salvacyl
Do not use Salvacyl
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If you develop a depressed mood while taking Salvacyl. There have been reports of depression in patients taking Salvacyl which may be severe. Your doctor may want to monitor your depression during your treatment. If you are using anticoagulants (medicines that inhibit the blood clotting ability), since you may experience bruises at the site of injection. If you are a heavy drinker, a smoker, have osteoporosis (a condition that weakens your bones) or have a family history of osteoporosis, have a poor diet or take anticonvulsants (medicines for epilepsy or fits) or corticosteroids. When Salvacyl is used for a long period of time the risk of developing weak bones is increased, especially if any of the above applies. In order to prevent brittleness of the bones, a healthy lifestyle including no smoking, moderation of alcohol consumption and regular weight bearing exercises that put a load on and strengthens the skeleton, is recommended (e.g. walking, jogging, other forms of sports that put a load on the skeleton). Adequate dietary calcium and vitamin D intake should also be maintained. If you are about to take a diagnostic test of pituitary gonadal function or sex organs. The result can be misleading if you are on Salvacyl treatment or after discontinuation of Salvacyl treatment. If you experience sudden headache, vomiting, problems with eyesight and paralysis of the eye muscles. These can be signs of a benign tumour of the pituitary gland which may be discovered following treatment with Salvacyl. If you have diabetes, or if you suffer from heart or vascular problems If you have any heart or blood vessel conditions, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia), or are being treated with medicines for these conditions. The risk of heart rhythm problems may be increased when using Salvacyl. Testosterone decreasing agents may cause changes in ECG associated with heart rhythm abnormalities (QT prolongation). Treatment with GnRH analogues including Salvacyl might increase the risk of anaemia (defined as a decrease in the count of red blood cells).
When the treatment is stopped, testosterone will return to normal levels and your sexual drive may increase again. Therefore your doctor may give you another medicine in order to control this effect. Children and adolescents Salvacyl is not indicated for use in neonates, infants, children and adolescents. Other medicines and Salvacyl When Salvacyl is taken with medicines which affect the release of hormones from the pituitary (part of the brain), your doctor may need to do additional checks. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Salvacyl might interfere with some medicines used to treat heart rhythm problems (e.g. quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol) or might increase the risk of heart rhythm problems when used with some other drugs (e.g. methadone (used for pain relief and part of drug addiction detoxification), moxifloxacin (an antibiotic), antipsychotics used for serious mental illnesses). Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility Salvacyl is not to be used by women. Driving and using machines You may feel dizzy, tired or have problems with your sight such as blurred vision. These are possible side effects of treatment. If you experience any of these side effects you should not drive or use machines. Page 2 of 9
Salvacyl contains sodium This medicinal product contains sodium but less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per vial. This medicine is almost 'sodium-free' and may be taken with a low sodium diet.
3.
Salvacyl
Salvacyl is prepared by and is always given to you by a doctor or nurse. The usual dose is 11.25 mg (one vial) of Salvacyl, given as a single injection into a muscle every twelve weeks. If you think the effect of Salvacyl is too strong or too weak, contact your doctor. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Many of the side effects are expected, due to the change in the level of testosterone in your body. These effects include hot flushes and impotence. In rare cases (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) you may experience a severe allergic reaction and commonly (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) you may experience an allergic reaction. Stop taking Salvacyl and contact a doctor or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue, or a rash. Other side effects that may occur: Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people:
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Dizziness, headache Loss of libido, depression, mood changes
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people:
An increase in white blood cell count may be found, as with other GnRH analogues, in patients being treated with Salvacyl. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5.
Salvacyl
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton, vial and ampoule after 'EXP'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not store above 25° C. Chemical and physical in-use stability has been demonstrated for 24 hours at 25°C. From a microbiological point of view, the product should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 24 hours at 2 to 8°C. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6.
What Salvacyl contains The active substance is triptorelin. One vial of powder contains 11.25 mg of triptorelin, as triptorelin embonate. Reconstituted suspension (2 ml) contains 11.25 mg of triptorelin, as triptorelin embonate. The other ingredients are: Powder: poly (d, l-lactide-co-glycolide), mannitol, carmellose sodium and polysorbate 80. Solvent: water for injection. What Salvacyl looks like and contents of the pack Salvacyl is a white to off-white powder. The solvent is a clear solution. The package contains: 1 vial with powder 1 ampoule with 2 ml of solvent 1 injection syringe 2 needles.
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Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder Ipsen Limited 5th Floor, The Point 37 North Wharf Road Paddington, London W2 1AF UK. Manufacturer Ipsen Pharma Biotech Parc d' Activité du Plateau de signes Chemin Départemental n ̊ 402 83870 Signes France. This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names: Sweden: Moapar 11.25 mg Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Austria, Ireland and Poland: Salvacyl 11.25 mg France: Salvacyl LP Norway and Greece: Salvapar Is this leaflet hard to see or read? Please phone +44 (0) 1753 627777 and ask for help. This leaflet was last revised in January 2025
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<—————————————————————————————————————————–> The following information is intended for healthcare professionals only (please see section 3): 1 – PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT BEFORE RECONSTITUTION
2 – PREPARATION OF THE INJECTION Two needles are provided in the box :
The presence of bubbles on top of the lyophilisate is a normal appearance of the product. The following steps must be completed in a continuous sequence.
2a
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2c
Grasp the coloured hub to disconnect the needle. Remove Needle 1 used for the reconstitution from the syringe. Screw on to the syringe Needle 2. Move the safety sheath away from the needle and towards the syringe barrel. The safety sheath remains in the position you set. Remove the needle protection from the needle. Prime the needle to remove air from the syringe and inject immediately.
3- INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION To avoid sedimentation, inject immediately into the disinfected area as quickly as possible (within 1 minute from reconstitution).
4 – AFTER USE • Activation of the safety system using a one-handed technique. • Note: Keep your finger behind the tab at all times. There are two alternatives to activate the safety system: • Method A: push the tab forward with your finger
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or Method B: push the sheath to a flat surface.
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In both cases press down with a firm quick motion until a distinct audible click is heard.
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Visually confirm that the needle is fully engaged under the lock. Page 8 of 9
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Used needles, any unused suspension or other waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
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Salvacyl 11.25 mg powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection comes as oral solution containing 11.25mg. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The active substance in Salvacyl 11.25 mg powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection is triptorelin embonate.
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Salvacyl 11.25 mg powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
Salvacyl is indicated for the reversible reduction of testosterone to castrate levels in order to decrease sexual drive in adult men with severe sexual deviations.
The treatment with Salvacyl is to be initiated and controlled by a psychiatrist. The treatment should be given in combination with psychotherapy, in order to decrease deviating sexual behaviour.
Posology
The recommended dose of Salvacyl is 11.25 mg triptorelin (1 vial) administered every twelve weeks as a single intramuscular injection.
Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Salvacyl in children have not been established. Salvacyl is not indicated for use in neonates, infants, children and adolescents.
Patients with renal or hepatic impairment
No dosage adjustment is necessary for patients with renal or hepatic impairment.
Method of administration
For instructions on reconstitution of the medicinal product before administration, see section 6.6.
Precautions to be taken before handling or administrating the medicinal product
Since Salvacyl is a suspension of microgranules, inadvertent intravascular injection must be strictly avoided.
Salvacyl must be administered under the supervision of a medically qualified person (nurse or physician).
The therapeutic benefit should be monitored regularly, for example prior to any new injection.
The injection site should be varied periodically.
- Patients with serious osteoporosis.
- Hypersensitivity to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), its analogues or to any other component of the medicinal product (see section 4.8) or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Treatment with Salvacyl should be considered on an individual basis and only be initiated if the benefits of treatment outweigh the risk following a very careful appraisal.
Initially triptorelin causes a transient increase in serum testosterone levels. During the initial phase of treatment, the patient should be closely monitored by the treating psychiatrist and consideration should be given to the additional administration of a suitable anti-androgen to counteract the initial rise in serum testosterone levels in order to control possible increase in sexual drive, if considered appropriate.
Following treatment interruption, there is a risk of an increased sensitivity to the restored testosterone, which can lead to a highly increased sexual drive. For this reason, the addition of an adequate anti-androgen before stopping Salvacyl treatment should be considered.
Once the castration levels of testosterone have been achieved by the end of the first month, they are maintained for as long as the patient receives their injection every twelve weeks.
The evaluation of the treatment effect is essentially clinical. A clinical assessment of the treatment effect should be done regularly, e.g. before each 3-month injection of triptorelin. Serum testosterone levels may be measured in case there is any doubt of treatment effect, which could be related to compliance with triptorelin treatment or to a technical problem with the injection.
Caution is required in patients treated with anti-coagulants, due to the potential risk of haematomas at the site of injection.
Administration of triptorelin in therapeutic doses results in suppression of the pituitary gonadal system. Normal function is usually restored after treatment is discontinued. Diagnostic tests of pituitary gonadal function conducted during treatment and after discontinuation of therapy with a GnRH agonist may therefore be misleading.
Long term androgen deprivation either by bilateral orchidectomy or administration of GnRH analogues is associated with increased risk of bone loss and may lead to osteoporosis and increased risk of bone fracture. Preliminary data suggest that the use of a bisphosphonate in combination with a GnRH agonist may reduce bone mineral loss. Particular caution is necessary in patients with additional risk factors for osteoporosis (e.g. chronic alcohol abuse, smokers, long-term therapy with drugs that reduce bone mineral density, e.g. anticonvulsants or corticoids, family history of osteoporosis, malnutrition).
Bone mineral density may be assessed before the start of treatment and may be followed regularly during the treatment.
In order to prevent the treatment-related bone loss, lifestyle modification including smoking cessation, moderation of alcohol consumption and regular weight bearing exercise are recommended. Adequate dietary calcium and vitamin D intake should also be maintained.
Rarely, treatment with GnRH analogues may reveal the presence of a previously unknown gonadotroph cell pituitary adenoma. These patients may present with a pituitary apoplexy characterised by sudden headache, vomiting, visual impairment and ophthalmoplegia.
Increased lymphocyte count has been reported with patients undergoing GnRH analogue treatment. This secondary lymphocytosis is apparently related to GnRH induced castration and seems to indicate that gonadal hormones are involved in thymic involution.
There is an increased risk of incident depression (which may be severe) in patients undergoing treatment with GnRH agonists, such as triptorelin. Patients should be informed accordingly and treated as appropriate if symptoms occur. Patients with known depression should be monitored closely during therapy.
Androgen deprivation therapy may prolong the QT interval.
In patients with a history of or risk factors for QT prolongation and in patients receiving concomitant medicinal products that might prolong the QT interval (see section 4.5) physicians should assess the benefit risk ratio including the potential for Torsade de pointes prior to initiating Salvacyl.
In addition, from epidemiological data, it has been observed that patients may experience metabolic changes (e.g. glucose intolerance, fatty liver), and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease during androgen deprivation therapy. However, prospective data did not confirm the link between treatment with GnRH analogues and an increase in cardiovascular mortality. Patients at high risk for metabolic or cardiovascular diseases should be carefully assessed before commencing treatment and adequately monitored during androgen deprivation therapy.
Due to androgen deprivation, treatment with analogues of the GnRH can increase the risk of anaemia. This risk should be assessed in treated patients and monitored appropriately.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) sodium per dose, i.e. essentially 'sodium-free'.
When triptorelin is co-administered with drugs affecting pituitary secretion of gonadotropins, caution should be exercised and it is recommended that the patient's hormonal status be supervised.
Since androgen deprivation treatment may prolong the QT interval, the concomitant use of Salvacyl with medicinal products known to prolong the QT interval or medicinal products able to induce Torsade de pointes such as class IA (e.g. quinidine, disopyramide) or class III (e.g. amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, ibutilide) antiarrhythmic medicinal products, methadone, moxifloxacin, antipsychotics, etc. should be carefully evaluated (see section 4.4).
Salvacyl is not indicated for use in females.
Animal studies have shown effects on reproductive parameters (see section 5.3).
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, the ability to drive and use machines may be impaired should the patient experience dizziness, somnolence and visual disturbances being possible undesirable effects of treatment.
As seen with other GnRH agonist therapies or after surgical castration, the most commonly observed adverse events related to triptorelin treatment were due to its expected pharmacological effects. These effects include hot flushes and erectile dysfunction (observed in more than 10% of the patients). With the exception of hypersensitivity reactions (rare) and injection site pain (<5%), all adverse events are known to be related to testosterone changes. The long-term use of synthetic GnRH analogues may be associated with increased bone loss and may lead to osteoporosis and increases the risk of bone fracture.
The following adverse reactions considered as at least possibly related to triptorelin treatment were reported in clinical studies performed in men suffering from advanced prostate cancer and in healthy male volunteers. Most of these events are known to be related to biochemical or surgical castration.
The frequency of the adverse reactions is classified as follows: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10000 to <1/1000); not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
System Organ Class
Very Common AEs
Common AEs
Uncommon AEs
Rare AEs
Additional post-marketing Frequency not known
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Thrombocytosis
Anaemia
Cardiac disorders
Palpitations
QT prolongation*
(see sections 4.4 and 4.5)
Ear and labyrinth disorders
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Endocrine disorders
Pituitary apoplexy**
Eye disorders
Visual impairment
Abnormal sensation in eye
Visual disturbance
Gastrointestinal disorders
Dry mouth
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Abdominal distension
Dysgeusia
Flatulence
General disorders and administration site conditions
Asthenia
Injection site reaction (including erythema inflammation and pain)
Oedema
Lethargy
Oedema peripheral
Pain
Rigors
Somnolence
Chest pain
Dysstasia
Influenza like illness
Pyrexia
Malaise
Immune system disorders
Hypersensitivity
Anaphylactic reaction
Anaphylactic shock
Infections and infestations
Nasopharyngitis
Investigations
Weight increased
Alanine aminotransferase increased
Aspartate aminotransferase increased
Blood creatinine increased
Blood pressure increased
Blood urea increased
Gamma-glutamyl transferase increased
Weight decreased
Blood alkaline phosphatase increased
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Anorexia
Diabetes mellitus
Hyperlipidaemia
Gout
Increased appetite
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Back pain
Musculoskeletal pain
Pain in extremity
Arthralgia
Bone pain
Muscle cramp
Muscular weakness
Myalgia
Joint stiffness
Joint swelling
Musculoskeletal stiffness
Osteoarthritis
Nervous system disorders
Paraesthesia in lower limbs
Dizziness
Headache
Paraesthesia
Memory impairment
Psychiatric disorders
Libido decreased
Loss of libido
Depression*
Mood changes*
Insomnia
Irritability
Confusional state
Decreased activity
Euphoric mood
Anxiety
Renal and urinary disorders
Nocturia
Urinary retention
Urinary incontinence
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Erectile dysfunction (including ejaculation failure, ejaculation disorder)
Pelvic pain
Gynaecomastia
Breast pain
Testicular atrophy
Testicular pain
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Dyspnoea
Epistaxis
Orthopnoea
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Hyperhidrosis
Acne
Alopecia
Erythema
Pruritus
Rash
Urticaria
Blister
Purpura
Angioneurotic oedema
Vascular disorders
Hot flush
Hypertension
Hypotension
*This frequency is based on class-effect frequencies common for all GnRH agonists.
** Reported following initial administration in patients with pituitary adenoma
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
The pharmaceutical form of Salvacyl and its route of administration make accidental or intentional overdose unlikely. Animal tests suggest that no effect other than the intended therapeutic effects on sex hormone concentration and on the reproductive tract will be evident with higher doses of Salvacyl. If overdose occurs, symptomatic management is indicated.
Medicines sold in Romania with the same active substance: Cunoscut în România ca
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Romanian medicines in the UK →
Medicines sold in Poland with the same active substance: W Polsce znany jako
Same active substance. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Polish medicines in the UK →
Ask anything about Salvacyl 11.25 mg powder and solvent for prolonged-release suspension for injection. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.
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