Goserelin Subcutaneous

Name: Goserelin Subcutaneous

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

  • Zoladex

Available Dosage Forms:

  • Implant

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Agonist

Proper Use of goserelin

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you goserelin. goserelin is given as a shot under your skin near your stomach. goserelin may be given once every 28 days or once every 3 months. Your schedule depends on the reason you are using goserelin. To stay on the right schedule with the medicine, make sure you keep all appointments.

It is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, even after you begin to feel better.

Precautions While Using goserelin

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that goserelin is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

For female patients: You should not receive goserelin if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Using goserelin while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Your birth control pills may not work as well while you are receiving goserelin. Use a nonhormonal form of birth control together with your pills to keep from getting pregnant while you are receiving goserelin and for at least 12 weeks after treatment. Nonhormonal birth control includes vaginal spermicides, condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

For female patients: During the time you are receiving goserelin, your menstrual period may not be regular or you may not have a menstrual period at all. This is to be expected when being treated with goserelin. If regular menstrual periods continue during treatment or do not begin within 2 to 3 months after you stop using goserelin, check with your doctor.

When you first start using goserelin for cancer treatment, some of your symptoms might get worse for a short time. You might also have new symptoms. You might have bone pain, back pain, or trouble urinating. These symptoms should improve within a few weeks. Tell your doctor if you have any new symptoms or your symptoms get worse.

For male patients: goserelin may affect blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.

For male patients: goserelin may increase risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, confusion, double vision, headache, nausea or vomiting, slow speech, sweating, trouble speaking, or trouble moving the arms, legs, or facial muscles.

goserelin can cause decreases in bone mineral density, which may lead to osteoporosis or weakened bones. Talk with your doctor about how this risk will affect you.

goserelin may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using goserelin.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.

Injection site injury may occur after receiving goserelin. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: abdominal or stomach pain, bloated or full feeling, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, or feel short of breath.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using goserelin. The results of some tests may be affected by goserelin.

Precautions

Before using goserelin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to LHRH or LHRH-like hormones (such as triptorelin); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: unexplained abnormal vaginal bleeding, diabetes, long-term alcohol use, smoking, personal or family history of bone loss (osteoporosis), heart disease (such as heart attack), high cholesterol/triglyceride levels, stroke, urinary blockage problem (in men), spinal cord problem (in men).

If you have diabetes, this drug may make it harder to control your blood sugar. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of high blood sugar (see Side Effects section). Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.

Goserelin may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.

The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using goserelin, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).

Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using goserelin safely.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using goserelin. Goserelin may harm an unborn baby. Ask about reliable non-hormonal forms of birth control (such as condoms, diaphragm with spermicide) while using this medication and for 12 weeks after stopping treatment or until the return of your period. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Overdose

This implant may be harmful if swallowed. If someone has swallowed it and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood sugar, hormone levels) should be done while you are using this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist right away to establish a new dosing schedule.

Sudden/unusual vaginal bleeding (breakthrough bleeding) may occur if a dose is missed.

Storage

Different brands of this medication have differentstorage needs. Check the product package for instructions on how to store your brand, or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2016 First Databank, Inc.

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