Has anyone been given Zoladex implants and if so were they effective and what side effects did they experience?

[Elderflower]

[Sailorgirl]

I've been on zoladex for over a year.

I started with monthly injections and took tibilone as my add back. I didn't get on with the tibilone, so stopped taking it, and continued the zoladex alone for about 5 months. Without any add back the side effects were pretty strong. About 10 hot flushes a day (pretty big ones), vaginal dryness, loss of libido, but no pain and no bleeding and to be honest I was happy! It was hard to forget bout it because the side effects were so obvious.

Am now on three month injections, and I am now on evoril conti patches for my add back which seem to work for me.

Still the occasional hot flush, and occasional break through bleeding and a little bit of pain.

I have my second bone scan in April which will see if there is damage being done to my bones... An from there my consultant said we would review the use of zoladex.

It's a heavy duty drug... And I had huge reservations... But if your pain is as bad mine then anything is worth it!

Good luck!

[SurreyGirl]

Hi,

I am now in my 11th month on Zoladex with add back HRT while waiting for surgery which I am finally having next week after nearly a year of waiting.

Yes there are side effects - and they are not little ones but I am better than I have been for years.

Without the add-back I was getting terrible hot flushes and night sweats and my memory was not great. With the add-back I feeling fine, not hot flushes or night sweats.

I have asked my Gp for a bone scan but he is not keen to request it.

Hope this help.

[lyd54321]

I've had 2 zoladex injections now and can honestly say that this seems to have worked for me. The first month after the zoladex I had severe cramping and thought it wasn't going to work. After the 2nd all i can say is no period has meant no pain! I have suffered with pain for 2-3 weeks of the month for 12 years now and am shocked they never offered me zoladex sooner. The first month I was really moody and spotty but that seems to have subsided. Yes I am getting hot sweats and my skin is dry but nothing compared to the pain I was experiencing prior. I know it isn't a long term fix and most likely when I stop the injections it will come back, but just having a few months with no pain has been amazing. I can make plans to go out, I've been at work with no time off and i can actually make plans. I've suffered from upset stomachs for years and since on zoladex that has stopped as well which makes me think the endometriosis must have been on my bowel as well as is feel so well. I know there have been a number of mixed views on here about zoladex but if you were like me and thought nothing was going to work please give it a try. You never know! I'm only having 3 injections in total so another one at the end of his month but if it gives me another month or 2 of being pain free I am going for it. In the mean time I am going to get my GP to refer me to a pain management specialist so when it all kicks in again (fingers crossed it doesn't but who knows) I can get the right help. I know it doesn't work for everyone but i am so glad I gave it a chance. My depression has lifted so I can actually have a life even if just for a few months. Anyway I hope you all also find something that works for you. Keep persevering! I am a great example of someone who has undergone so many operations and pain for so many years and just a few months of being pain free has given me some hope. X