Boostrix Intramuscular and Gonadotropin, Chorionic

• Generic Name: diphtheria toxoid / pertussis, acellular / tetanus toxoid
• Dosage Forms: injection, suspension
• Other Brand Names: Adacel, Boostrix

Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis booster vaccine (also known as Tdap) is a combination immunizing agent given by injection to protect against infections caused by diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough). This vaccine is given to children 10 years of age and older, and to adults who have already been given this vaccine in the past. The vaccine will "boost" or increase the protection that the child or adult had from an earlier dose.

Diphtheria is a serious illness that can cause breathing difficulties, heart problems, nerve damage, pneumonia, and possibly death. The risk of serious complications and death is greater in very young children and in the elderly.

Tetanus (also known as lockjaw) is a serious illness that causes convulsions (seizures) and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. Tetanus causes death in 30 to 40 percent of cases.

Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is a serious disease that causes severe spells of coughing that can interfere with breathing. Pertussis also can cause pneumonia, long-lasting bronchitis, seizures, brain damage, and death.

Children 10 years of age and older, and adults, may need an additional immunization called a booster against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Adults and teenagers should receive Tdap instead of the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) injection if it has been 10 years or more since their last tetanus-diphtheria vaccine. Tdap vaccine is recommended for adults who are in close contact with a baby who is less than a year old and for adults who work in the healthcare field.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases that can cause life-threatening illnesses. Although some serious side effects can occur after a dose of Tdap (usually from the pertussis vaccine part), this rarely happens. The chance of your child catching one of these diseases, and being permanently injured or dying as a result, is much greater than the chance of your child getting a serious side effect from the Tdap vaccine.

This vaccine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

• 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.