Chemocare.com
Care During Chemotherapy and Beyond
(GOE-se-rel-in)
Trade name: Zoladex®
Chemocare.com uses generic names in all descriptions of drugs. Zoladex is the trade
name for goserelin. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name
zoladex when referring to the generic drug name goserelin.
Drug type: Goserelin is a hormone therapy. It is classified
as an "LHRH agonist." (For more detail, see "How this drug works" section below).
What Goserelin Is Used For:
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Also used to treat endometriosis (non-cancerous condition)
Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect
to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful.
How Goserelin Is Given:
- Injection under the skin (subcutaneous, SubQ)
- As a monthly or every 3 month injection
- Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule
Side Effects:
Important things to remember about the side effects of goserelin:
- Most people do not experience all of the side effects listed.
- Side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration.
- Side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete.
- There are many options to help minimize or prevent side effects.
- There is no relationship between the presence or severity of side effects and the
effectiveness of the medication.
The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for
patients taking goserelin:
- Hot flashes (see sexuality)
- Loss of interest in sex (decreased libido) (see sexuality)
- Inability to obtain or sustain an erection (impotence) (see sexuality)
These side effects are less common side effects (occurring in about 10-29%)
of patients receiving goserelin:
- Increased bone pain due to disease "flare" during first couple weeks of treatment
- Headache
- Vaginal dryness (see sexuality)
- Swelling of the breasts (gynecomastia) (see sexuality)
- Depression
- Sleepiness
- Skin rash
Goserelin may cause short-term (within first 2 weeks of treatment) increases in
testosterone serum levels. When this is used for prostate cancer the resulting
"tumor flare" can cause temporary increase of bone pain, swelling of the prostate
that blocks urine flow or swelling around tumor in the spine causing compression
of the spinal cord. If you are noticing increased weakness, numbness or tingling
in arms or legs, or difficulty with urination, report these symptoms to your health
care provider immediately.
Rare but significant side effects may include heart problems such as arrhythmias,
congestive heart failure or heart attack (<5%).
Not all side effects are listed above. Some that are rare (occurring in less than
10% of patients) are not listed here. However, you should always inform your
health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
When to contact your doctor or health care provider:
Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should
experience any of the following symptoms:
- Urinary retention or inability to urinate
- Weakness, numbness or tingling in arms or legs
The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency.
Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the
following:
- Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities)
- Swelling of the feet or ankles. Sudden weight gain.
- Swelling, redness and/or pain in one leg or arm and not the other
- Changes in mood or memory
Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
Precautions:
Before starting goserelin treatment, make sure
you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including prescription,
over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.). Do not take aspirin,
products containing aspirin unless your doctor specifically permits this.
- Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior
to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category X (goserelin may cause fetal harm
when given to a pregnant woman. This drug must not be given to a pregnant
woman or a woman who intends to become pregnant. If a woman becomes pregnant
while taking goserelin, the medication must be stopped immediately and the woman
given appropriate counseling).
- For both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking goserelin.
Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are recommended. Discuss with
your doctor when you may safely become pregnant or conceive a child after therapy.
- Do not breast feed while taking this medication.
Self-Care Tips:
- If you are experiencing hot flashes, wearing light clothing, staying in a cool environment,
and putting cool cloths on your head may reduce symptoms. Consult your health care
provider if these worsen, or become intolerable.
- Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing.
- In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided
completely. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Maintain good nutrition.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health
care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
Monitoring and Testing:
You will be checked regularly by your health care professional while you are taking
goserelin, to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Periodic
blood work to monitor your complete blood count (CBC) as well as the function of
other organs (such as your kidneys and liver) may also be ordered by your doctor.
How Goserelin Works:
Hormones are chemical substances that are produced by glands in the body,
which enter the bloodstream and cause effects in other tissues. For example,
the hormone testosterone, made in the testicles and is responsible for male characteristics
such as deepening voice and increased body hair. The use of hormone therapy
to treat cancer is based on the observation that receptors for specific hormones
that are needed for cell growth are on the surface of some tumor cells. Hormone
therapy can work by stopping the production of a certain hormone, blocking hormone
receptors, or substituting chemically similar agents for the active hormone, which
cannot be used by the tumor cell. Different types of hormone therapies are categorized
by their function and/or the type of hormone that is affected.
Goserelin is classified as a leutinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist.
LHRH agonists work by telling the pituitary gland located in the brain to stop producing
leutinizing hormone, which (in men) stimulates the testicles to release testosterone
and (in women) stimulates the ovaries to release estrogen. The drug does not
have a direct effect on the cancer, only on the testicles or ovaries.
The resulting lack of testosterone (in men) and estrogen (in women) interferes with
stimulating cell growth in testosterone or estrogen dependent cancer cells.
In treatment of prostate cancer LHRH agonists are often used together with anti-androgen
medications. Anti-androgens are substances that block the effects of testosterone.
Cancer of the prostate depends on the male hormone testosterone for its growth.
If the amount of testosterone is reduced it is possible to slow down or shrink the
cancer.
- Examples of anti-androgens are: bicalutamide, flutamide, nilutamide.
Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional
about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained
in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute
for medical advice.
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