FDA Reviewing Safety of Prostate Cancer Drugs

The FDA is currently reviewing the safety of some Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists medications. These drugs are commonly prescribed to men for treatment of prostate cancer. They have been associated with increase risks in stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and sudden death in patients treated with the medications. This is according to ongoing and preliminary analysis of U.S. Food and
Drug Adminstration’s studies.

Because of the initial findings, the FDA is advising that health professionals should be aware of the risks and should weigh the risks and the benefits of the medications when prescribing drugs to a prostate cancer patient. They also recommend that patients that are taking a GnRH be monitored for the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The FDA also advises that cardiovascular risks such as cholesterol, weight, smoking, and increased blood pressure should be managed. They also warned that without being instructed by a professional, patients should not cease taking their GnRH agonists.
The FDA has not made any final conclusion regarding whether GnRH agonists are actually the cause of the risk increases of heart disease and diabetes in prostate cancer patients.

The director of the Division of Oncology and Products for the FDA’s Research Center, Dr.Robert Justice, stated the reviews of the treatments are ongoing, but it is important that patients and health care professionals are aware of the potential side effects and increased risks that could be serious.

Some of these GnRH medications are marketed under the name of Zoladex, Eligard, Lupron, Synarel, Trelstar, Viadur, and Vantus. There are also numerous generic drugs on the market.