Zoladex side-effects

Hi HEL,

I think the thing to bear in mind with Zoladex, is not the actual drug itself, it's side effects are minimal, compared with the intended effects that hormone therapy has on your body.

What all of these hormone therapies have in common is that they stop your body making testosterone, and testosterone is that all important hormone that made a man of you!

Your body started making testosterone when puberty kicked in, it was testosterone that made your beard grow, your muscles grow and your wedding tackle grow, without testosterone you will revert to having the body of a 60 year old boy.  

When I was on Zoladex and later on Prostrap, my beard still grew enough to just about justify shaving in the morning, however I didn't really need another shave in the evening to get rid of the 5 o'clock shadow.  More noticeable was the way the hairs diminished on the rest of my body.  But those are just the externally noticeable effects.  Hormone therapy causes the bones to thin, as old men without testosterone we are just like old women and prone to osteoporosis, and our muscles will grow smaller and loose their strength, so none of this will help arthritic joints.

What can we do about it?

Personally I persuaded my GP to put me on a junior aspirin every day, there is some evidence it fights cancer, it thins the blood leading to better circulation and it is a bit anti-inflammatory.

Another trick, is to pig out on a high dose of Ibuprofen.  Apparently you need to take Ibuprofen for about 3 days before it has an anti-inflammatory effect, and you mustn't take it too long either, its a sort of Goldilocks thing, not too little and not too much.  You need to get the strongest tablets from behind the chemists counter and take them for a week, take whatever the back of the packet recommends as the maximum daily dose, every day for a week, then stop to let your body recover, repeat every 2 to 3 months.

Finally, there is apparently some chemical found in apple skin that combats muscle loss in the elderly, so an apple a day, but don't peal it.

:)

Dave   

Edited by member 16 Jan 2017 at 19:45  | Reason: Not specified

I appreciate your well-meaning responses. I am not totally convinced that Zoladex is responsible. Just highly suspicious. That is why I am trying to find out whether other people have similar experiences and their prevalence. I am aware of the efficacy of the treatment and its side effects. In fact I experience these on a daily basis, as I suspect many others do. These two reactions though were painful and debilitating and if Zoladex is responsible it needs to be brought to people's attention. Many thanks again for taking the time to respond to my post.

My doctor usefully supplied the date of administration. name of the supplier, batch number and website address https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk (tel: 0808 100 3352) for reporting suspected side effects. Not able to supply location of manufacturer though. I intend to write to AstraZeneca UK, who produce Goserelin Acetate under the brand name Zoladex LA, and to report my suspicions at the above web address.

http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/zoladex/arthritis/

My OH Suffers from painful Achilles also has arthritis in knees which has got worse mainly due to muscle wastage
Debby

Hi, I see your entry was a few years ago. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 4/5 years ago. I chose to have a prostatectomy. Initially all was fine but then my PSA levels started to slowly rise again over the next couple of years. Its complicated as I also suffer from Parkinson's Disease and my oncologist advised against radio therapy as there was a good chance it would leave me doubly incontinent. So we opted for hormone treatment and I was prescribed Zoladex, an implant every 12 weeks. From the start of taking this, I started to have pain and numbness in both my hands. As I have Parkinson's I was having physiotherapy and complained about the pain in my hands, numbness, pins and needles, so I was sent to have electro conductive tests which confirmed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I'm now awaiting surgery for it but I'm adamant that it started at the same time I was given Zoladex.

Looking up causes of CTS, I find hormonal changes can cause it. In particular, for women, the menopause. When I started on Zoladex, my oncologist said that I would have similar side effects as a woman going through the menopause. I feel certain my resulting CTS is a result of the Zoladex.

I've now finished my Zoladex implant and its the wait and see time for several months. It'll be interesting to note what happens with CTS.

Although it was hard going at times with the RT and HT I remain thankful it seems to have done what it was supposed to (RT/HT was my only option upon diagnosis PSA 21 T3b N0M0 only slight spread to seminals gleason 8 up to 9 after TURP).

PETER

Peter, I am pleased that the side effects from the Zoladex have disappeared. I am finding my treatment tough at present but I am hoping for the same outcome after January 2025 when mine is due to end. I am doubly pleased for you that Zoladex did what it was supposed to do.

Yes H, it might well improve for you. My family has something of a genetic predisposition to peripheral neuropathy so I was worried Z might have triggered something permanent but apart from an occasional nerve twitch in my legs at night, there's no signs of any unhappy nerves now,

Jules

Discuss any new or unusual symptoms with your healthcare provider and consider reporting potential side effects to the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. Individual responses to medications can vary.

Edited by member 06 Nov 2023 at 06:21  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Robin and all

I am waiting for my results from the scan on Saturday to see if I have gone from 3c to 4. Results next week. I am pretty scared. But hey, I have told my partner I have hidden reserves. We will find out. 

Meanwhile I can make comments about Zoladex and now Prostap, which I have been on for 6 years or so. The fatigue is a real life changer. For me I am human in the morning but after about 3 pm I turn into a kind of zombie. But (i) this is quite regular and it is possible adapt to it (ii) you can take advantage of the insomnia and simply get up early (iii) avoid evening social life (very hard for me because I am a double zombie after 6 pm); I go to  bed by 9pm.  

And, yes there are a lots of horrible side effects of from the Zoladex mafia : back pain, joint pain, arthritic-like pain, dizziness, severe tinnitus, neuropathy etc etc. The doctors and nurses are wonderful but they never tell you about the side effects. My advice is try to be brave about these side effects and concentrate on managing the FATIGUE, for which there are no pills. If you are depressed, then I am telling you seriously it's NOT YOU its the drug. 

And now I may have to take some fancy chemo ON TOP of  the Zoladex mafia drug. I may have to change my views about the pain-fatigue balance.

Cheers to all,

Otto

Hi Jules,

I just wish there was more support for those of us going through this HT. I know and understand this is going to help me rid myself of this disease, but I feel we are just left on our own to deal with the side effects which can seriously affect QOL. I am so proactive in Improving my QOL and if I find any useful solutions I will keep everyone posted.

If it weren’t fo this forum and Maggies I really don’t know how I would cope!

Derek

Edited by member 06 Nov 2023 at 20:06  | Reason: Not specified