Drug Detail:Goserelin (monograph) (Zoladex)
Generic Name: Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg [ GOE-se-rel-in ]
Drug Class:
Uses of Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg:
- It is used to treat prostate cancer.
- It is used to treat endometriosis.
- It is used to treat breast cancer.
- It is used to treat uterine bleeding.
- It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg?
- If you are allergic to goserelin implant 3.6 mg; any part of goserelin implant 3.6 mg; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
Women:
- If you have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
- If you are pregnant.
- If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with goserelin implant 3.6 mg.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take goserelin implant 3.6 mg with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while I take Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg?
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take goserelin implant 3.6 mg. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- This medicine may raise some hormone levels in your body during the first few weeks of taking it. Disease signs may get worse before getting better. Tell your doctor if you have any new signs or if your disease signs are worse for longer than a few weeks after starting goserelin implant 3.6 mg.
- This medicine lowers some hormone levels in your body. This may cause some effects like change in breast size, breast soreness or tenderness, testicle changes in men, change in sex ability in men, hot flashes, or sweating. Talk with your doctor.
- Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
- This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take goserelin implant 3.6 mg.
- High blood sugar has happened with goserelin implant 3.6 mg. This includes diabetes that is new or worse.
- Check your blood sugar as you have been told by your doctor.
- This medicine may cause weak bones. This may happen more often if used for a long time. This may raise the chance of broken bones. Call your doctor right away if you have bone pain.
- Have a bone density test as you have been told by your doctor. Talk with your doctor.
- Injury where the shot was given and blood vessel injury have happened with goserelin implant 3.6 mg. These include pain, bruising, and bleeding. Sometimes, these have led to the need for a blood transfusion or surgery. Talk with the doctor.
- A higher chance of stroke or severe and sometimes deadly heart problems have been noted with the use of drugs like goserelin implant 3.6 mg in men. The chance is low, but get medical help right away if you have chest pain or pressure, weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on 1 side of the face, or change in eyesight.
- Most of the time, goserelin implant 3.6 mg stops you from having a period (menstrual bleeding). This is not a method of birth control. Use a non-hormone type of birth control like condoms to prevent pregnancy while taking goserelin implant 3.6 mg.
- If you miss doses of goserelin implant 3.6 mg, bleeding between cycles can happen. There may also be a chance of getting pregnant if you miss doses of goserelin implant 3.6 mg. Talk with your doctor.
- This medicine may cause harm to an unborn baby. A pregnancy test will be done before you start goserelin implant 3.6 mg to show that you are NOT pregnant.
- Women must use birth control while taking goserelin implant 3.6 mg and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.
How is this medicine (Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg) best taken?
Use goserelin implant 3.6 mg as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- It is given as a shot into the fatty part of the skin.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- Call your doctor to find out what to do.
What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
For all patients taking goserelin implant 3.6 mg:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
- Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
- Shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
- Trouble passing urine.
- Weakness.
- Not able to move.
- Pain when passing urine.
- Irritation where the shot is given.
- Back pain.
- Stomach pain.
- Swelling of belly.
- Dizziness or passing out.
- Pelvic pain.
- Blood in the urine.
- Depression or other mood changes.
- High calcium levels have happened with drugs like this one in some people with cancer. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of high calcium levels like weakness, confusion, feeling tired, headache, upset stomach or throwing up, constipation, or bone pain.
- A very bad pituitary gland problem (pituitary apoplexy) has rarely happened with goserelin implant 3.6 mg. Most of the time, this has happened within 2 weeks after the first dose. Call your doctor right away if you have a sudden headache, throwing up, passing out, mood changes, eye weakness, not able to move your eyes, or change in eyesight.
- A type of abnormal heartbeat (prolonged QT interval) can happen with goserelin implant 3.6 mg. Call your doctor right away if you have a fast heartbeat, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, or if you pass out.
Men:
- Enlarged breasts.
Women:
- Vaginal bleeding that is not normal.
- For women, still having a period.
What are some other side effects of Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
For all patients taking goserelin implant 3.6 mg:
- Pimples (acne).
- Headache.
- Diarrhea.
- Not hungry.
- Upset stomach.
- Feeling tired or weak.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Signs of a common cold.
Women:
- Vaginal irritation.
- Change in breast size.
- Change in sex interest.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
How do I store and/or throw out Goserelin Implant 3.6 mg?
- If you need to store goserelin implant 3.6 mg at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
- If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
- Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
- Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about goserelin implant 3.6 mg, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.