Zoladex side effects?

[Humbug7]

Hi, I've been taking Zoladex since October and have been having quite a few side effects recently. Aside from the more medical ones I've been struggling emotionally by not feeling like myself. Has anyone got any tips for that side of things? Also wanted to ask if people have any tips for the beauty side of things as I've noticed that the top layer of my hair has been breaking off and is now really short, as well as my skin breaking out when it usually doesn't. If anyone has any tips I would be v grateful!

Edit: I've also been taking Tibolone 2.5mg hrt daily.

[MyStar86]

The best option is to ask for add back HRT because your side effects are basically the menopause. I couldn’t cope with the mood changes I was an anxious mess so my gyne put me on low dose hrt. It was still awful but once I had my total hysterectomy and hrt was balanced things have been much better however I wouldn’t cope without hrt.

It’s something to discuss with them how long have they said they will have you on zoladex? How old are you? Sorry I can’t help more but without oestrogen these are what happens to the body xx

[Humbug7 in reply to MyStar86]

Sorry I forgot to add that in the post but I've been on Tibolone the whole 4 months I've been on Zoladex. I should be having a GP appointment soon but my consultant has said I could be on it for 9 months without a checkup unless I need one, so I'll be moving that forwards now. I'm 21, so it's definitely a weird one dealing with these symptoms at this age! Sorry to hear you struggled with anxiety, it's awful. Mine has been really triggered by it too. Hopefully they might be able to do something about the dosage. xx

[Sunset-lady]

Mystar86 is right. You are in chemical menopause which is brutal without addback HRT especially if you are younger and your ovaries are fully functioning. I'm on zoladex but take HRT as my mental health is the most important thing. I suffered badly at the start of peri menopause and I'm not prepared to go back to that for anything. In terms of beauty take a really good collagen supplement 3 times a day. My hair has been rubbish since peri hit but these supplements are really helping. Without estrogen, everything goes dry so you need a richer moisturiser than before. I take B VITS too and vitamin C.

[Sunset-lady in reply to Sunset-lady]

If you have spots it could be due to testosterone drop.

[Humbug7 in reply to Sunset-lady]

Thank you so much for the advice! I was worried about buying collagen as I've heard mixed reviews about it but I'll definitely give it a try!

[Sunset-lady]

I take collagen complex and it has iodine in it too which I think I need. My hair is so much better I'm amazed x

[CrazyHoundLady]

Hi, like you I have been on Zolodex since October.

I was using a period tracking app before I started (Clue) and I have noticed that my symptoms are worse around the time that my period should have happened. My dose always falls just before my period would have been due.

I have dry skin anyway but yes the spots were new! I have been using 47 Skin serum and it has helped quite a bit. I’m also taking collagen tablets, just one a day but will probably have to up that eventually (Holland & Barrett).

I’ve just had my 4th dose and my hot flushes and night sweats are really kicking in now. I’m trialling taking evening primrose oil twice a day (1g 12h apart) as I read a post saying that may help. Another suggestion was tart cherry extract, but I haven’t tried that yet. I also saw on the TV the other night a drink made of celery, cleavers and apple juice I’d meant to help too, I’m not totally sold but I may get desperate enough to try.

I can’t have HRT because I have hormone responsive breast cancer but I know a number of women who have been prescribed it for natural menopause and it isn’t a magic wand. Best advice I can give is talk to your doctor and they can try you on a different one. I know that different brands of the same active ingredient can feel very different too so it could be a change of brand can help.

I hope you find a way through x

[TrustinginGOD]

I did zoladex for 5 months hoping it will help the endo. Two days after taking it I started feeling suicidal. I lost my mother less than a year before that and didn’t feel like that then… this med is messed up. So doc put me in small dose of Tibolone. Never again!!! Doc wanted me to keep on going but I declined after 5 months. And worse still it didn’t do much for my endo.

I almost had a mental breakdown with it and hair? Lost half of it whilst on this.

Also out on almost a stone and half whilst on it even though I was intermittent fasting.

Only thing nice was no monthly bleed or pain.