Zoladex Syringe

Zoladex, generically referred to as goserelin, is a prescription drug used to treat particular types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer. The hormonal medicine also effectively treats endometriosis and abnormal uterine bleeding where it causes endometrial thinning. Zoladex can be used alone or in conjunction with other agents. Its safety and efficacy in children are unknown. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of Zoladex before using the medication.

What is Zoladex and How Does It Work?

Zoladex (Goserelin) is a synthetic analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, a natural chemical manufactured by the body. The drug inhibits the secretion of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland, leading to a decrease in the blood levels of testosterone and estrogen in males and females. Thus, goserelin slows or stops the growth of particular cells and tissue, especially cancer cells, which require testosterone and estrogen hormones to grow or spread. 

What Does Zoladex Treat?

• Prostate cancer

The cancer cells in prostate tumors rely on testosterone hormone from the testes to grow. When administered, Zoladex inhibits testosterone production from the testes, relieving prostate cancer symptoms, such as difficulty urination. That said, the adrenal glands might continue stimulating prostate tumor growth by secreting testosterone-like chemicals. That’s why the doctor might prescribe another drug known as flutamide to stop the androgen secretion by the adrenal glands. Using Zoladex and flutamide simultaneously to treat prostate cancer is known as combined androgen blockade. 

• Advanced breast cancer

Zoladex is indicated for the palliative management of certain types of advanced breast cancer in pre and post-menopausal women. It eases some symptoms of advanced disease, such as bone pain but does not cure cancer. 

• Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which the normal tissue lining the inner uterine wall grows in other places besides the womb. Zoladex (goserelin) relieves pain associated with endometriosis and reduces the number of endometriosis lesions. Only women above 18 should use goserelin, with the treatment duration limited to 6 months.

• Abnormal uterine bleeding

Zoladex is used to thin the uterine lining in preparation for ablation surgery during the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

How to Use Zoladex: Form, Dosage, and Administration

Form and Dosage

Zoladex comes as a sterile, biodegradable goserelin implant fitted in a syringe and hypodermic needle. The rice grain-sized implant is inserted below the skin (subcutaneously) and slowly releases the active ingredient, goserelin, into the body. Zoladex is available as 3.6 mg and 10.8 mg implants, which infers the content of the LHRH analog.

Zoladex 3.6 mg implant lasts 28 days and should be inserted every four weeks until the duration of therapy is accomplished, while Zoladex 10.8 mg usually lasts 12 weeks. The use varies depending on the condition. For instance, in treating prostate cancer, Zoladex 3.6 mg should be started eight weeks before administering the radiotherapy. After 28 days, a 10-mg Zoladex depot is then given.

When treating endometriosis, Zoladex depot should not be used for more than six months, as research shows no benefits past this duration.

Administration

Zoladex is not self-administered. Instead, the healthcare provider uses a special technique to place the implant under the skin of the front abdominal wall without causing injury. Ideally, the depot should be inserted below the navel line. Since it is entirely biodegradable, the body will absorb the implant after one or three months, depending on the dosage.

Receive the medication as directed by the doctor. Individuals receiving Zoladex 3.6 mg should visit the provider for an injection every four weeks, while those on Zoladex 10.8 mg receive a new implant after three months.

During the first weeks of treatment, the symptoms might worsen as the drug causes a transient spike in hormone levels. Tell the doctor about issues such as increased difficulty in urination but do not fail to go for the next injection due to these symptoms.

Menses should stop in premenopausal women using Zoladex. Report to the doctor if menstruation continues after two months of regular use.

If serious complications or symptoms worsen when using the Zoladex implant, inform the doctor promptly. The provider might remove the medication to reverse the effects.

Possible Side Effects of Zoladex (Goserelin)

The doctor prescribes this medication because of the potential benefits. However, unwanted effects might occur during the use of Zoladex. While some are mild and disappear over time, other side effects are serious and might warrant discontinuation or a change of drug dosage.

Common unwanted effects of Zoladex include:

• Hot flashes
• Sexual dysfunction with decreased erections in men
• Lower urinary tract infections
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Vaginal dryness
• Sleep disturbances
• Change in breast size
• Increases sweating
• Hair loss
• Pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site

Other side effects are rare but potentially serious. If they occur, inform the doctor immediately. These adverse effects include:

• Breast pain or tenderness
• New bone fractures
• Vaginal irritation and pain during sexual intercourse
• Unusual tiredness (lethargy)
• Mental health problems such as depression and mood lability
• Signs of spinal cord compression like severe back pain and numbness or tingling sensation in the legs
• Swelling of the legs
• High blood sugar characterized by increased thirst, fatigue and difficulty concentrating
• Irregular heartbeat

Warnings and Precautions for Using Zoladex

• Goserelin can influence fetal development and cause congenital disabilities (harming the unborn baby). For this reason, avoid using the drug during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should use birth control methods such as condoms and diaphragm with spermicides when taking Zoladex to avoid getting pregnant.
• Tumor flare, in which symptoms such as difficulty in urination and spinal cord compression with unusual sensations in the legs worsen, might occur within the first few weeks of treatment. Monitoring for signs of such complications should be done during the early weeks of therapy.
• Men receiving Zoladex are at a higher risk of developing high blood sugar levels (diabetes). Thus, check the blood glucose levels regularly to ensure they are normal. Sometimes, dose adjustment for diabetes drugs might be necessary.
• QT prolongation syndrome with irregular heartbeat might occur, especially in those taking drugs for heart problems. Tell the doctor of current heart medications before using goserelin.

Talk to the healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of using Zoladex before taking the medication.

Drug Interactions and Contraindications

There are no known drug interactions between Zoladex and other medications. However, the drug is contraindicated if a person is allergic to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), GnRH agonists, or the inactive components of Zoladex.

Do not use the drug during pregnancy unless for palliative treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Alternatives to Zoladex

• Triptorelin
• Apalutamide
• Trastuzumab (Canmab)
• Bicalutamide

Buying Zoladex Syringe from A Trusted Online Source

Kiwi Drug offers affordable access to all medications to people on all continents. Subject to industry regulations, Kiwi uses professional pharmacists to ensure the clients receive the best services and maintain optimum quality of life. You will need a doctor’s prescription to buy a Zoladex syringe. Kiwi’s unique online doctor service allows you to get a prescription after a certified online doctor reviews your medical profile. Thus, purchasing a Zoladex syringe from Kiwi Drug, with or without a prescription, is straightforward and quick. It involves:

• Signing up and adding the Zoladex syringe to the cart
• Clicking the “Checkout Now” button
• Answering the questions presented on the next page
• Entering payment details and waiting for your order to arrive.