FAQs About VANTAS®

Frequently Asked Questions About VANTAS®

This section of the site is intended to answer many of your basic questions about once-yearly VANTAS. If you have other questions about treatment with VANTAS, be sure to ask your doctor.

What is VANTAS?

VANTAS is a drug-delivery system that contains the medicine histrelin and is placed under the skin. It looks like a small, thin flexible tube. After it is placed under the skin, VANTAS delivers histrelin to your body continuously for 12 months. VANTAS may help relieve the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer. VANTAS is not a cure for prostate cancer.

How is VANTAS given?

VANTAS is a once-yearly implant that is placed under the skin of the inside of your upper arm. The minor surgical procedure can be done in your doctor's office.

The VANTAS Implant

What does VANTAS look like?

The VANTAS implant looks like a small, thin flexible tube. It's about an inch long and is made of the same type of material used in contact lenses.

What is the benefit of once-yearly administration?

VANTAS delivers histrelin to your body continuously for 12 months. This may help you to take the interruptions out of your treatment picture caused by multiple GnRH agonist administrations, which may let you spend more time your way.

What are the possible side effects of VANTAS?

VANTAS can cause an increase in testosterone during the first week after it is inserted. Your symptoms may get worse for a few weeks. You may get new symptoms. Call your doctor right away if you:

  • get new or worse bone pain
  • get weakness or lose feeling in your legs
  • have blood in your urine
  • have trouble urinating or cannot urinate

VANTAS can cause a loss in bone mineral density. Low bone mineral density can lead to thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).

The most common side effects of VANTAS are:

  • hot flashes
  • tiredness
  • skin reactions at the implant insertion site
  • testicles become smaller
  • urination problems
  • breasts become larger
  • erectile dysfunction (impotence)
  • constipation

What were the skin reactions at the implant insertion site?

You may have some pain at the insertion site during and after VANTAS is inserted and removed. You may get some bruising and redness at the site. These usually go away without treatment within 2 weeks. Call your doctor if you have unusual bleeding, redness, or pain at the insertion site.

These are not all the side effects of VANTAS. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do I still need to see my doctor during the year if I use the VANTAS implant?

Yes. Your doctor will do blood tests to check on your response to treatment with VANTAS. For example, your doctor may check your prostate specific antigen (PSA) or testosterone levels.

What happens after a year?

After one year you'll need to make an appointment to have the implant removed. Just like the insertion procedure, this can be done in your doctor's office.

Can I take other medicines while being treated with VANTAS?

Before using VANTAS, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non- prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. It is not known if VANTAS and other medicines can affect each other.

Who should not use VANTAS?

Do not use VANTAS if you:

  • are allergic to the medicine histrelin or other medicines called GnRH agonists.
  • are a woman. VANTAS has not been studied in women and is not for use in women. VANTAS may harm the unborn baby in a woman who is pregnant or may become pregnant. VANTAS may cause a pregnant woman to lose her baby (miscarriage) if used while pregnant.
  • are a child under 18 years. VANTAS has not been studied in children and should not be used in children.

Will I be able to feel the VANTAS implant under my skin?

VANTAS may be difficult to feel under your skin. If VANTAS cannot be felt under your skin at the time for removal, your doctor may order special tests, such as ultrasound or CT scan, in order to locate it.

What else do I need to know about VANTAS?

VANTAS can be expelled from your body through the original incision site. This occurs infrequently. You may actually notice the system being expelled, or rarely, the system may be expelled without your noticing it. If you believe VANTAS has been expelled from your body, call your doctor. Also, remember to see your doctor for routine checks on your condition to ensure that VANTAS is present and functioning in your body.

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