Zoladex

Zoladex is an antitumor therapeutic agent.

Indications Zoladex

It is used for therapy in the following cases:

• carcinoma in the mammary glands or prostate gland, which is hormone-dependent;
• endometriosis;
• uterine fibroma;
• to thin the endometrial layer before performing a surgical procedure;
• IVF (if there is a need for pituitary desensitization).

[ 1 ]

Release form

The drug is available in capsules of 3.6 and 10.8 mg, used for subcutaneous administration.

[ 2 ], [ 3 ]

Pharmacodynamics

The drug is an artificial analogue of natural GnRH.

It slows down the process of LHRH secretion by the pituitary gland, which results in lower testosterone levels in males and lower estradiol levels in females. As a result, neoplasms in the prostate and mammary glands begin to regress.

At the same time, the drug demonstrates effectiveness in the treatment of endometriosis and prevents the formation of follicles inside the ovaries and uterine fibroids. It also promotes thinning of the endometrial layer.

[ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Pharmacokinetics

In case of monthly subcutaneous administration of the drug, its effective therapeutic concentrations are maintained at the required level.

The level of protein synthesis within plasma is quite low. The half-life is usually about 3 hours.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ]

Dosing and administration

The capsules should be administered subcutaneously into the peritoneal wall. The medicine, which has a form of 3.6 mg, should be used at intervals of 4 weeks. When treating malignant neoplasms and benign gynecological diseases, the cycle consists of 6 capsules.

To thin the endometrial layer, an injection of 2 capsules is administered before the surgical procedure. The interval between them should be 4 weeks. Uterine ablation is observed at a stage between the 4th and 6th weeks after the introduction of the 1st capsule.

The drug at a dosage of 10.8 mg should be administered at intervals of 1.5 months.

Use Zoladex during pregnancy

Zoladex is not prescribed to lactating or pregnant women.

Contraindications

It is contraindicated to use the drug in people with severe sensitivity to its elements or other analogues of the GnRH component.

[ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Side effects Zoladex

The use of capsules may cause some side effects:

• disorders affecting the functioning of the cardiovascular system: increase or decrease in blood pressure;
• lesions in the musculoskeletal system: development of arthralgia;
• problems with the epidermis: the appearance of rashes;
• disorders of the nervous system function: paresthesia of a non-specific nature, as well as pituitary apoplexy (rarely);
• Allergy symptoms: anaphylaxis may occasionally develop.

In women, the following symptoms are observed: depression, vaginal dryness, mood lability, hyperhidrosis, changes in the size of the mammary glands, changes in libido, and headaches. At the initial stage of therapy, women with breast cancer may experience hypercalcemia, as well as transient manifestations of pathological symptoms. In patients with uterine fibroids, suppression of the development of fibromatous nodes was sometimes recorded.

In men, adverse effects such as pain and swelling in the mammary glands, decreased potency, and hyperhidrosis were observed. Compression in the spinal cord and ureteral obstruction were occasionally observed. In people with prostate cancer, bone pain sometimes increased (temporarily) at the beginning of therapy.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ]

Storage conditions

Zoladex should be maintained at temperatures no higher than 25°C.

[ 13 ]

Shelf life

Zoladex must be used within 36 months of the drug's release date.

[ 14 ]

Application for children

The medicine cannot be used in pediatrics.

[ 15 ], [ 16 ]

Analogues

Analogues of the drug are Decapeptyl, Lucrin Depot and Decapeptyl Depot, as well as Diphereline, Eligard and Leuprorelin Sandoz with Lupride Depot.

[ 17 ], [ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Reviews

Zoladex is often commented on in terms of the development of negative symptoms as a result of its use. Among these are increased frequency of menstruation, headaches and sleep disorders. But at the same time, the drug also demonstrates high medicinal effectiveness - it really helped those patients who did not experience side effects.