Patient leaflet - ZOLADEX LA 3.6 MG IMPLANT
Zoladex® 3.6mg Implant
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
- The name of this medicine is Zoladex 3.6mg Implant but will be referred to as Zoladex throughout the remainder of this leaflet.
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1. What Zoladex is and what it is used for
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2. What you need to know before you use Zoladex
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3. How to use Zoladex
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4. Possible side effects
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5. How to store Zoladex
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6. Contents of the pack and other information
Most of the information in this leaflet applies to both men and women.
- Where information only applies to men, it is shown by the heading Information for men.
- Where information only applies to women, it is shown by the heading Information for women.
1. what zoladex is and what it is used for
Zoladex contains a medicine called goserelin. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘LHRH analogues’.
Use of Zoladex by men
In men, Zoladex is used to treat prostate cancer. It works by reducing the amount of ‘testosterone’ (a hormone) that is produced by your body.
Use of Zoladex by women
In women, Zoladex is used to:
- Treat breast cancer.
- Treat a condition called ‘endometriosis’. This is where cells normally only found in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in your body (normally on other structures near the womb).
- Treat benign growths in the womb called ‘uterine fibroids’.
- Make the lining of the womb thinner before you have an operation on your womb.
- Help treat infertility (together with other medicines). It helps to control the release of eggs from the ovaries.
In women, Zoladex works by reducing the amount of ‘oestrogen’
(a hormone) that is produced by your body.
2. what you need to know before you use zoladex
Do not use Zoladex:
- if you are allergic to goserelin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you are pregnant or breast-feeding (see the section on ‘Pregnancy and breast-feeding’ below).
Do not have Zoladex if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before having Zoladex.
Warnings and precautions
If you go into hospital, tell the medical staff that you are having Zoladex.
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Zoladex:
- if you have high blood pressure.
- if you have any heart or blood vessel conditions, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia), or are being treated with medicines for these conditions. The risk of heart rhythm problems may be increased when using Zoladex.
There have been reports of depression in patients taking Zoladex which may be severe. If you are taking Zoladex and develop depressed mood, inform your doctor.
Children
Zoladex should not be given to children.
Information for men
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Zoladex:
- if you have problems passing urine (water) or problems with your back.
- if you have diabetes.
- if you have any condition that affects the strength of your bones, especially if you are a heavy drinker, a smoker, have a family history of osteoporosis (a condition that affects the strength of your bones) or take anticonvulsants (medicines for epilepsy or fits) or corticosteroids (steroids).
Medicines of this type can cause a reduction in bone calcium (thinning of bones).
Information for women
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Zoladex:
- if you have any condition that affects the strength of your bones, especially if you are a heavy drinker, a smoker, have a family history of osteoporosis (a condition that affects the strength of your bones), have a poor diet or take anticonvulsants (medicines for epilepsy or fits) or corticosteroids (steroids).
Medicines of this type can cause a reduction in bone calcium (thinning of bones). This may improve when treatment is stopped.
If you are having Zoladex for endometriosis, your doctor may reduce the thinning of the bones by giving you other medicines as well.
Other medicines and Zoladex
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines.
Zoladex might interfere with some medicines used to treat heart rhythm problems (e.g. quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol) or might increase the risk of heart rhythm problems when used with some other drugs (e.g. methadone (used for pain relief and part of drug addiction detoxification), moxifloxacin (an antibiotic), antipsychotics used for serious mental illnesses).
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
- Do not have Zoladex if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Do not have Zoladex if you are trying to get pregnant (unless Zoladex is being used as part of a treatment for infertility).
- Do not use ‘the pill’ (oral contraceptives) while you are having Zoladex. Use barrier methods of contraception, such as the condom or diaphragm (cap).
Driving and using machines
Zoladex is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.
3. how to use zoladex
- The Zoladex 3.6 mg Implant will be injected under the skin on your stomach every four weeks (28 days). This will be done by your doctor or nurse.
- It is important that you keep having Zoladex treatment, even if you are feeling well.
- Keep having this treatment until your doctor decides that it is time for you to stop.
- You should be given a Zoladex injection every 28 days.
- Always remind the doctor or nurse to set up an appointment for your next injection.
- If you are given an appointment for your next injection which is earlier or later than 28 days from your last injection, tell your doctor or nurse.
- If it has been more than 28 days since your last injection, contact your doctor or nurse so that you can receive your injection as soon as possible.
Information for women
- If you are having Zoladex for uterine fibroids and you have anaemia (low levels of red blood cells or haemoglobin), your doctor may give you an iron supplement.
- The length of your treatment with Zoladex will depend on what you are having it for:
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– To treat uterine fibroids, you should only have Zoladex for up to three months.
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– To treat endometriosis, you should only have Zoladex for up to six months.
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– To make the lining of your uterus thinner before an operation on your womb, you should only have Zoladex for one or two months (four or eight weeks).
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects can happen in men or women:
Allergic reactions:
These are rare. The symptoms can include sudden onset of:
- Rash, itching or hives on the skin.
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue or other parts of the body.
- Shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing.
If this happens to you, see a doctor straight away.
Injection site injury (including damage to blood vessels in the abdomen) has been reported following injection of Zoladex. In very rare cases this has caused severe bleeding. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain.
- Abdominal distension.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Low blood pressure and/or any altered levels of consciousness.
Other possible side effects:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) Hot flushes and sweating. Occasionally these side effects may continue for some time (possibly months) after stopping Zoladex.
- A reduced sex drive.
- Pain, bruising, bleeding, redness or swelling where Zoladex is injected.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Thinning of your bones.
- Tingling in your fingers or toes.
- Skin rashes.
- Hair loss.
- Weight gain.
- Pain in the joints.
- Changes in blood pressure.
- Changes in your mood (including depression).
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Psychiatric problems called psychotic disorders which may include hallucinations (seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there), disordered thoughts and personality changes. This is very rare.
- The development of a tumour of the pituitary gland in your head or, if you already have a tumour in your pituitary gland, Zoladex may make the tumour bleed or collapse. These effects are very rare. Pituitary tumours can cause severe headaches, feeling or being sick, loss of eyesight and becoming unconscious.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Changes in your blood.
- Liver problems.
- A blood clot in your lungs causing chest pain or shortness of breath.
- Inflammation of the lungs. The symptoms may be like pneumonia (such as feeling short of breath and coughing).
- Changes in ECG (QT prolongation).
Information for men
The following side effects can happen in men:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Impotence.
- Pain in your lower back or problems passing urine. If this happens, talk to your doctor.
- Bone pain at the beginning of treatment. If this happens, talk to your doctor.
- Reduced heart function or heart attack.
- Swelling and tenderness of your breasts.
- Rises in blood sugar levels.
Information for women
The following side effects can happen in women:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Dryness of the vagina.
- A change in breast size.
- Acne has been reported very commonly (often within one month of starting treatment).
- Headaches.
- Small cysts (swellings) on the ovaries which can cause pain. These usually disappear without treatment.
- Some women enter the menopause early during treatment with Zoladex, and their periods do not return when Zoladex treatment is stopped.
- Bleeding from the vagina. This is most likely to happen in the first month after starting Zoladex and should stop on its own. However, if it continues or you are uncomfortable, talk to your doctor.
- A slight increase in the symptoms of fibroids, such as pain.
- Changes in body hair.
- Dry skin.
- Putting on weight.
- Raised levels of a fatty substance known as cholesterol in your blood. This would be seen in a blood test.
- Inflammation of the vagina and discharge from the vagina.
- Nervousness.
- Disturbed sleep and tiredness.
- Swelling of the feet and ankles.
- Muscle pain.
- Sudden painful muscle tightness (cramp) in your legs.
- Stomach complaints, feeling sick or being sick, diarrhoea and constipation.
- Changes to your voice.
- When used to treat uterine fibroids, a slight increase in the symptoms of fibroids, such as pain.
- Worsening of the symptoms of your breast cancer at the beginning of treatment. This can include an increase in pain or an increase in the size of the affected tissue. These effects do not usually last long and they usually go away as treatment with Zoladex is continued.
However, if the symptoms continue or you are uncomfortable, talk to your doctor.
- Changes in the amount of calcium in your blood. The signs may include feeling very sick, being sick a lot or being very thirsty. If this happens to you, talk to your doctor as he or she may need to do blood tests.
When Zoladex is used to treat infertility with another medicine called gonadotrophin, the following can happen:
- It can have too much of an effect on your ovaries. You may notice stomach pain, swelling of your stomach, and feeling or being sick. If this happens, tell your doctor straight away.
Do not be concerned by this list of possible side effects. You may not get any of them.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website:
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. how to store zoladex
- Your doctor may give you a prescription so that you can get your medicine from the pharmacy and give it to your doctor when you see him or her again.
- Keep it in its original package and do not break the seal.
- Do not store it above 25oC.
- Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
- Your medicine should not be used after the expiry date on the carton.
- If your medicine is not used, take it back to your pharmacist.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Zoladex contains
The active ingredient is goserelin. Each Zoladex injection contains 3.6 mg of goserelin. It also contains lactide/glycolide copolymer which is an inactive substance.
What Zoladex looks like and contents of the pack
Zoladex is produced in packs of one pre-filled injection.
The pre-filled syringe contains a solid white to off white cylindrical implant. The syringe has a white plastic cover for the needle and a red tag to prevent accidental depression of the plunger.
Manufactured by
AstraZeneca UK Limited, Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2NA, UK.
Procured from within the EU by the Product Licence Holder: MPT Pharma Ltd, Westgate Business Park, Unit 5–7 Tintagel Way, Aldridge, Walsall WS9 8ER, U.K.
Repackaged by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
P L 33532/0102 -------
POM
Leaflet dated 22nd October 2015
Leaflet coded XXXXXX
Zoladex® is a registered trademark of AstraZeneca UK Limited.