Zoladex

Zoladex is a hormonal analogue which is similar to a hormone naturally released from the hypothalamus gland in the brain. It can be used to treat a lot of medical problems which include:

• Endometriosis, which is a painful condition caused by extrauterine tissue growing outside of the uterus
• Cancer of the prostate in men
• Thinning of the lining of the uterus before surgery on the uterus.
• Cancer of the breast in women around the time of menopause

Zoladex decreases the blood levels of estrogen and testosterone when used as an implant. This medicine should only be given under the supervision of your doctor. This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Implant

Your doctor will inform you of what you need to know before using Zoladex. So, the benefits of a drug should always be weighed against its associated risks. Your doctor will consider these risks before prescribing the drug and will inform you about them.

Following factors should be considered before taking this drug:

Allergies: If you have had an allergic reaction to this drug in the past, inform your doctor. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to any other drugs or food products.

Age-specific problems: The data regarding the effects of this medicine specific to the pediatric age group is not yet available. Its safety and efficacy have not been established in children.
The studies specific to the geriatric age group have not been carried out, that would limit the use of this drug in old age group.

Pregnancy: Regarding the safety of usage of this drug during pregnancy, it comes under “X” category, which means that clinical trials on animals have revealed definite harmful effects to the developing fetus and this drug should never be used in pregnant women.

Drug Interactions: Certain drugs should not be used together because they can interact inside the body which can have a harmful effect. On the other hand, certain drugs are allowed to be used together.

So, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking. If there is a chance of interaction between those two drugs, the doctor may change the dose or may prescribe an alternative drug.

This hormone can have interaction with a lot of different drugs like:

• Amiodarone
• Alfuzosin
• Anagrelide
• Amitriptyline
• Apomorphine
• Asenapine
• Aripiprazole
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Astemizole
• Azithromycin
• Atazanavir
• Bedaquiline
• Ciprofloxacin
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Citalopram
• Clomipramine
• Clarithromycin
• Clozapine
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dasatinib
• Dabrafenib
• Delamanid
• Disopyramide
• Desipramine
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Donepezil
• Domperidone
• Doxepin
• Ebastine
• Droperidol
• Eribulin
• Escitalopram
• Erythromycin
• Famotidine
• Fingolimod
• Felbamate
• Fluconazole
• Flecainide
• Fluoxetine
• Foscarnet
• Formoterol
• Fosphenytoin
• Gatifloxacin
• Galantamine
• Gemifloxacin
• Halofantrine
• Granisetron
• Haloperidol
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroquinidine
• Ibutilide
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Ivabradine
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Levofloxacin
• Lapatinib
• Mefloquine
• Lumefantrine
• Methadone
• Mifepristone
• Metronidazole
• Mizolastine
• Nelfinavir
• Moxifloxacin
• Nilotinib
• Octreotide
• Norfloxacin
• Ofloxacin
• Ondansetron
• Olanzapine
• Paliperidone
• Paroxetine
• Panobinostat
• Pasireotide
• Pentamidine
• Pazopanib
• Perflutren Lipid Microsphere
• Perphenazine
• Pipamperone
• Probucol
• Posaconazole
• Procainamide
• Promethazine
• Prochlorperazine
• Propafenone
• Quetiapine
• Protriptyline
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Rilpivirine
• Ranolazine
• Risperidone
• Sertindole
• Ritonavir
• Sevoflurane
• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
• Sunitinib
• Solifenacin
• Sorafenib
• Sotalol
• Tacrolimus
• Telaprevir
• Tamoxifen
• Telavancin
• Tetrabenazine
• Telithromycin
• Tizanidine
• Toremifene
• Tolterodine
• Trazodone
• Vandetanib
• Trimipramine
• Vemurafenib
• Vardenafil
• Venlafaxine
• Vinflunine
• Vilanterol
• Vorinostat
• Voriconazole

Furthermore, certain medications should not be taken with alcohol or tobacco, which may also result in harmful interactions. Ask your doctor about the concurrent use of this drug along with alcohol or tobacco.

You should also inform your doctor about any other medical condition you may be suffering from, especially:

• Osteoporosis
• Alcohol abuse
• Diabetes
• Tobacco cigarette smoking—May increase risk for osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Heart rhythm problems (eg, long QT syndrome)
• Heart attack
• Heart or blood vessel problems
• Hypercalcemia (high calcium in the blood)
• Stroke, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)

Proper usage of Zoladex requires strict adherence to your doctor’s orders. This hormonal analogue is given an as an injection under your skin in the abdomen. It is either given once every 28 days or once every 3 months.

It depends on the reason why you are taking this drug. Your schedule of dosages should be determined by your doctor. Follow every instruction of your doctor and doo not miss any dose.

In using Zoladex, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor.

For female patients: Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this drug. Your birth control pills might not work properly if you are on goserelin, therefore, you may have to use a non-hormonal method of birth control in order to avoid pregnancy. Female patients might also have menstrual irregularities while taking this drug.

For male patients: It may cause an increase in your blood sugar levels. It also increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Regular follow-up is necessary during and after the treatment. It is important to allow your doctor to monitor your progress and to make sure that there aren’t any side effects from the medication.

Contact your doctor if your symptoms have not improved even after taking the full course of treatment. The doctor may order some blood tests in order to determine the blood levels of the drug.

Avoid taking any other medicine unless thoroughly discussed with your doctor. Always ask your doctor before using any prescription, non-prescription or herbal medicine.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Zoladex. Although these side effects may occur only in a handful of patients but if they do occur, contact your physician immediately.

This medication is associated with following side effects:

For all adults:

• changes in skin color of the face
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• bone, muscle, or joint pain
• fast or irregular breathing
• fainting
• numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
• skin rash, hives, or itching
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes
• sudden, severe decrease in blood pressure and collapse
• troubled breathing
• tightness in the chest

For females only:

• deepening of the voice
• anxiety
• increased hair growth
• mood changes
• mental depression

For males only:

• pain in the groin or legs (especially in the calves of the legs)
• Pain in the chest

For all adults:

• burning, itching, redness, or swelling at the place of injection
• sudden sweating and feelings of warmth (also called hot flashes)
• blurred vision
• headache
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• dizziness
• nausea or vomiting
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• swelling and increased tenderness of the breasts
• weight gain
• trouble sleeping

For females only:

• stopping of menstrual periods
• light, irregular vaginal bleeding
• pelvic pain
• burning, dryness, or itching of the vagina

For males only:

• constipation
• bone pain
• inability to have or keep an erection
• decreased the size of the testicles

Seek medical help instantly, if you experience any of these symptoms while on lanthanum. Also contact your health care professional immediately, if have overdosed on this drug. If any of these side effects becomes more bothersome or does not go away, contact your doctor.