Adacel and Gonadotropin, Chorionic

• Generic Name: diphtheria toxoid / pertussis, acellular / tetanus toxoid
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Adacel, Boostrix

Adacel (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis adult vaccine - also called Tdap) is used to help prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in people who are at least 10 years old. Most people in this age group require only one Tdap shot for protection against these diseases.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria.

Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases.

Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airways. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it can interfere with eating, drinking, or breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain damage, and death.

Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.

Adacel is especially important for healthcare workers or people who have close contact with a baby younger than 12 months old.

Adacel vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Like any vaccine, the Adacel may not provide protection from disease in every person.

• Generic Name: chorionic gonadotropin (hcg)
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Novarel, Ovidrel, Pregnyl, APL, Profasi, Chorex, Gonic, Hcg, Chorigon, Choron-10

Management of prepubertal cryptorchidism not caused by anatomical obstruction.

Induction of testicular descent usually only temporary; response may be permanent in some patients.

Differential diagnosis (hCG stimulatory test) of cryptorchidism in prepubertal boys to predict whether subsequent orchidopexy will be required. In general, hCG is thought to induce testicular descent in patients in whom descent would have occurred at puberty.

Start corrective therapy for cryptorchidism before pubescence to prevent irreparable testicular damage; opinions differ regarding optimum age for treatment. Manufacturers recommend instituting u-hCG therapy for prepubertal cryptorchidism in boys 4–9 years of age.

Management of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism resulting from pituitary deficiency.

Stimulation of spermatogenesis in males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism secondary to pituitary deficiency. Full response may require concurrent FSH or menotropins therapy.

Used in conjunction with follicle-stimulating agent(s) (e.g., menotropins as fixed-combination preparations or separate components, FSH) to induce ovulation in anovulatory, infertile women in whom anovulation is secondary (e.g., pituitary insufficiency).

Should not be used in infertile women in whom anovulation is due to primary ovarian failure.

Has been used for the treatment of infertility resulting from deficiency of corpus luteum during luteal phase of menstrual cycle.

Manufacturer states that u-hCG has not been shown to be effective as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of obesity.