Pronunciation: GOE-se-REL-in
Generic Name: Goserelin
Brand Name: Zoladex
Goserelin is used for:
Treating prostate cancer. It is used along with another medicine (flutamide) and radiation therapy. It may also be used alone to treat symptoms of advanced prostate cancer.
Goserelin is a synthetic analogue of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. It works by decreasing levels of certain hormones produced by the testes and preventing the growth of certain tumors that need these hormones to grow.
Do NOT use Goserelin if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Goserelin, GnRH, or another GnRH agonist (eg, histrelin)
- you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Goserelin:
Some medical conditions may interact with Goserelin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of urinary problems (eg, blockage of the bladder or ureters), spinal cord problems, abnormal growths on or near the spine or spinal cord, mental or mood problems (eg, depression), diabetes or high blood sugar, heart problems, blood vessel problems, a stroke, or high blood calcium levels
- if you have bone problems (eg, weak bones, osteoporosis) or if a family member has had bone problems
- if you are overweight
- if you have a history of alcohol abuse or regular tobacco use
- if you are taking medicines that can weaken the bones, such as anticonvulsants (eg, phenytoin) or corticosteroids (eg, prednisone)
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Goserelin. However, no specific interactions with Goserelin are known at this time.
Ask your health care provider if Goserelin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Goserelin:
Use Goserelin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Goserelin is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic.
- If you miss a dose of Goserelin, contact your doctor right away.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Goserelin.
Important safety information:
- Goserelin may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Goserelin with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Certain hormone levels may increase during the first few weeks of treatment with Goserelin. This may cause you to experience worsening symptoms or onset of new symptoms (eg, bone pain; blood in the urine; difficulty urinating; burning, numbness, or tingling) during the first few weeks of treatment. Patients with growths on or near the spine or spinal cord, or blockage of the bladder or ureters may be at greater risk of developing serious and sometimes fatal complications. Contact your doctor if any new or worsened symptoms occur while using Goserelin.
- Goserelin lowers the amount of certain hormones in your body. This may cause certain expected side effects to occur, such as breast enlargement, soreness, or tenderness; testicular changes, pain, or soreness; decreased sexual ability; hot flashes; or night sweats. Contact your doctor if you have questions or concerns or if you experience any of these side effects.
- Goserelin may cause your bones to weaken or become more prone to fractures, especially if you use Goserelin for long periods of time. Contact your doctor if you experience bone pain or if you have concerns regarding changes in bone density. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.
- A slight increase in the risk of stroke or serious and sometimes fatal heart problems has been reported with the use of GnRH agonists in men. Although the risk appears to be low, seek immediate medical attention if you experience chest, jaw, or left arm pain; confusion; fainting; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; slurred speech; sudden, severe headache or vomiting; or vision changes. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.
- Goserelin may raise your blood sugar. High blood sugar may make you feel confused, drowsy, or thirsty. It can also make you flush, breathe faster, or have a fruit-like breath odor. If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor right away.
- Diabetes patients - Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Rarely, a serious pituitary gland problem (pituitary apoplexy) may occur after you use Goserelin. This serious problem usually occurs shortly after you begin to use Goserelin. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience a sudden headache, vomiting, fainting, eye weakness, inability to move your eyes, mental status changes, or vision changes.
- Goserelin may interfere with certain lab tests, including certain hormone tests and pituitary gland function tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are using Goserelin.
- Lab tests, including bone density, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or testosterone levels, hemoglobin A1c, or blood glucose, may be performed while you use Goserelin. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Goserelin should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Goserelin may cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while taking Goserelin. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Goserelin while you are pregnant. It is not known if Goserelin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Goserelin. Goserelin is not approved for use in women.
Possible side effects of Goserelin:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Acne; breast tenderness; decreased sexual desire or ability; diarrhea; dizziness; enlarged breasts; headache; hot flashes; loss of appetite; nausea; sweating; tiredness or weakness; trouble sleeping.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); back or stomach pain; blood in the urine or dark urine; bloody vomit; bone pain; breast pain; burning, numbness, or tingling; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; mood or mental changes (eg, depression); painful urination; reaction at the injection site; severe or persistent headache or dizziness; shortness of breath; sudden, unusual weight gain; swelling of the arms or legs; symptoms of heart attack (eg, chest, jaw, or left arm pain; numbness of an arm or leg; sudden, severe headache or vomiting; vision changes); symptoms of high blood sugar (eg, drowsiness; fast breathing; flushing; fruit-like breath odor; increased thirst, hunger, or urination); symptoms of stroke (eg, confusion, one-sided weakness, slurred speech, vision changes); trouble urinating or inability to urinate; unusual tiredness or weakness.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Goserelin side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Goserelin:
Goserelin is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Goserelin at home, store Goserelin as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Goserelin out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Goserelin, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Goserelin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Goserelin. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Goserelin resources
- Goserelin Side Effects (in more detail)
- Goserelin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Goserelin Drug Interactions
- Goserelin Support Group
- 8 Reviews for Goserelin - Add your own review/rating
Compare Goserelin with other medications
- Bleeding Disorder
- Breast Cancer, Palliative
- Endometriosis
- Prostate Cancer
No comments:
Post a Comment