Clinical experience of the use of triptorelin as an antilibidinal medication in a high-security hospital

Paraphilias (disorders of sexual preference), in particular paedophilia, have been increasingly recognised as a major problem in Western countries and are associated with significant human and material costs. Various treatments have been used to manage sex offenders with varying success. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as triptorelin, a depot injection, cause castration-equivalent testosterone levels in men and are emerging as an effective treatment option in cases of severe paraphilia. Triptorelin has recently received a licence in the UK for use in sex offenders. We surveyed the literature on prescribing protocols for triptorelin's use as an antilibidinal medication and compared them with actual prescribing practice in a high-security hospital, which enabled us to suggest improvements in practice with regard to pre-treatment considerations and appropriate monitoring during therapy. Our study highlights the need and proposes a treatment protocol for the safe administration of long-te...