Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)
Generic and brand names: goserelin acetate implant; Zoladex
This medicine is an implant placed just under the skin of the stomach to treat prostate cancer or breast cancer. The implants are designed to allow slow release of the drug into your body. It may also be used to relieve the pain and to reduce the lesions caused by endometriosis, and to treat uterine bleeding. This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your provider if you smoke cigarettes.
Females of childbearing age: This medicine has been reported to cause birth defects. Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for 12 weeks after stopping it. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant and contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.
This medicine comes either as a one-month treatment or as a 3-month treatment that is used to treat prostate cancer in men.
The one-month implants are given by your healthcare provider once every 28 days. You must have these implants every 28 days, so be sure to keep all your appointments.
The 3-month implants for treatment of prostate cancer are given every 12 weeks. Keep all appointments for these implants.
When you first start this treatment, your symptoms may become worse. This medicine may cause you to lose some bone strength. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
Males: This medicine may increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or abnormal heartbeats.
Females: The implant given every 28 days should stop your periods. If regular periods or vaginal bleeding continue, contact your healthcare provider. If you miss one or more doses, breakthrough bleeding may occur. When you stop treatment, the return of regular monthly periods may be delayed.
Hormonal forms of birth control (pills, patches, rings) may not prevent pregnancy while you are receiving this medicine. You will need to use another method of birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.
You may develop diabetes when you take this medicine. If you already have diabetes, it may get worse. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Trouble urinating or inability to urinate; dizziness; swelling in your hands; swelling, pain, redness, or warmth in calf or leg; unusual nausea or vomiting.
Other: Hot flushes, change in sexual desire or ability, pain around the implant, mild rash, sweating, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, headache, vaginal dryness or itching, tiredness, depression, constipation, diarrhea, bone pain, headache, mood swings.
No significant drug interactions have been reported for this medicine to date.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
