Zoladex (Goserelin)
Brand name: Zoladex ®
Generic
name:Goserelin
Other names: Goserelin
acetate
Therapeutic
Class: lutenizing
hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist [also known as a
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist analogue]
Manufacturer / Distributor:
AstraZeneca
FDA Approval: Zoladex (Goserelin) was
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1989 for treatment of prostate cancer; other indications
were subsequently approved.
Availability:
Zoladex is available by
prescription only
Indication: Zoladex is used to treat:
- prostate
cancer
-
breast
cancer in premenopausal and perimenopausal (the phase before menopause) women
- Endometriosis,
a non-cancerous but painful overgrowth in the inner membrane (endometrium) inside
or outside the uterus.
Zoladex is also used to thin the
lining of the uterus before surgery of the uterus. In addition, Zoladex is recommended for other medical
conditions such as stopping or reducing production of testosterone and estradiol. Talk to your pharmacist or
physician to have more information on ZOLADEX.
Dosage form: Zoladex is given by injection under
the skin in the stomach area.
Dosage: to recommend you the dosage of Zoladex
most capable of fighting the cancer, your oncologist will base on your age, whether
or not you are taking other medications, and body surface area (BSA). You can start feeling better days or
weeks after you begin to take Zoladex; however, you should not neglect or stop taking the medication. If in the
other hand, you develop severe adverse reactions, consult your physician before taking any decision.
Usually, if you are taking Zoladex for
long term, 10.8 mg of the drug will be injected under the skin of your abdomen every 12 or 13 weeks. It is
necessary that the Injection is made by a physician or a health professional with experience in chemotherapy
medications. During treatment with Zoladex, certain activities such as cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption
are strictly prohibited; using them can aggravate side effects of Zoladex.
Overdose: Zoladex should be taken exactly
according to the indications on the label. In fact, not only Zoladex, but taking any medication in the right
dose is the first step to better treatment. No fatal case of Zoladex overdose has been reported so far; however,
as is the case with any drug, an overdose of Zoladex can cause serious health problems. If you feel that you
have been given an overdose, contact your doctor immediately.
Missing dose:
a delayed or missed dose of zoladex can cause serious health problems such as vaginal bleeding in women
. Avoiding missing dose and taking the medication at right time are keys to get good results from any drug
including Zoladex. Therefore, keep all appointment with your doctor and lab technicians. If for some reasons you
cannot be present at the hospital for the treatment, contact your health care provider before the date schedule for
the injection.
Contraindications :
Zoladex
is contraindicated or should be used with precautions in the following conditions:
- breastfeeding
- infants
or children
- diabetes
(unless under strict medical supervision)
- severe
hypertension (unless under strict medical supervision)
- having
undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding
- being
female over 50 years (unless under strict medical supervision)
- having
undergone orchiectomy or pulpectomy (removing the testicles or their content)
- pregnancy
- if you use contraceptives to avoid pregnancy during treatment, take a no- hormonal
contraceptives
- Allergy
to Zoladex or to one of its constituents. In addition, tell your doctor if you are allergic to the
following medications:
a) histrelin
(Supprelin)
b) leuprolide (Lupron)
c) gonadorelin (Factrel,
Lutrepulse)
d) menotropins (Humegon, Pergonal, Repronex).
Note
:
smoking cigarette
and alcohol consumption are strictly
prohibited during treatment with zoladex.
Mechanism of action (MOA):
The hypothalamus uses LHRH (luteinizing hormone-releasing
hormone
) to transmit messages to the hypophysis
(also called pituitary gland), another gland in the brain. Having received the message, the
hypophysis
command, by impulsion, to the ovaries in women and testes in men to produce the sex hormones estrogen (female
hormone) and testosterone (male hormone). Some forms of cancer cells need these hormones to survive and multiply.
Zoladex works by stopping the production of these hormones.
Interactions:
if you are taking zoladex, tell your doctor before taking vitamins, nutritional
supplements or St. John's wort.
Some medications can alter the effects of Zoladex, or increase the risk of side effects. Tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are taking any of these medications:
-
testosterone
or androgens (men)
-
estrogen-containing birth control (women)
-
Medications
that promote loss of bone density, such as prednisone.
Side effects:
In addition to attacking cancer cells, Zoladex also affects healthy cells that multiply rapidly; this often cause
adverse effects in most patients. most common Zoladex side effects include:
- vision
changes
- constipation
- hot flashes
- decreased sexual desire
- weight gain
- headaches
- bone pain
- trouble sleeping
- nausea
or vomiting
- pelvic
pain (women)
- cessation
of menstruation (women)
- reduced
volume of testes (male)
-
Swelling and tenderness of the breasts.
If
the side effects above persist for weeks, contact your oncologist. In addition, contact your doctor if you
experience any of these symptoms:
- fainting
- vaginal
dryness
- emotionality
- increased
amount of body hair
- chest
pain
- difficulty
breathing
- fever
- chills
- rapid
heartbeat
-
painful
urination
Note : Zoladex can cause infertility in men and
women
For additional information about prostate cancer please
visit cancereffects.com
References:
1 - FDA Approval for Zoladex 3.6 mg
2- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goserelin
3 -
http://www.pharmacyescrow.com/s6-fr-801-s-ZOLADEX.aspx
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