Danocrine vs. Zoladex

Danazol and Zoladex 10.8 (goserelin acetate implant) are used to treat symptoms of endometriosis.

Danazol is also used to treat breast pain/tenderness/nodules due to fibrocystic breast disease.

Zoladex 10.8 is also used in women to treat breast cancer, and to prepare the lining of the uterus for endometrial ablation (a surgery to correct abnormal uterine bleeding). Zoladex 10.8 is also used in men to treat symptoms of prostate cancer. It treats only the symptoms of prostate cancer but does not treat the cancer itself.

A brand name of danazol is Danocrine.

Danazol and Zoladex belong to different drug classes. Danazol is a steroid and Zoladex 10.8 is a man-made form of a hormone.

Side effects of danazol and Zoladex that are similar include acne, flushing, sweating, hair loss, vaginal dryness/irritation/burning/itching, changes in breast size, or mental/mood changes (such as depression, mood swings, hallucinations).

Side effects of danazol that are different from Zoladex include weight gain, oily skin or hair, voice changes (hoarseness, changes in pitch), sore throat, abnormal growth of body hair (in women), water retention or bloating, irritability, changes in menstrual cycle (spotting, irregular bleeding, missed periods), or nervousness.

Side effects of Zoladex that are different from danazol include hot flashes, dizziness, headache, changes in sexual interest, impotence, fewer erections than usual, nausea, breast swelling or tenderness, vaginal discharge, injection site reactions (pain, bruising, bleeding, redness, or swelling), bone pain, diarrhea, constipation, sleep problems (insomnia), or skin rash or itching.

Danazol may interact with warfarin, carbamazepine, antidiabetic drugs, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, synthetic vitamin D analogs, and statins.

Zoladex may also interact with alcohol, antibiotics, antidepressants, heart rhythm medicines, antipsychotic medicines, and medicines to treat cancer, malaria, HIV, or AIDS.

Side effects of Danocrine include:

•  acne or other skin problems
• increased hair growth or hair loss
• weight gain
• breast changes
• deepened voice
• hoarseness
• sore throat
• nervousness
•  increased sweating
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin
• decreased amount of semen released during sex
• changes in your menstrual periods
• unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting,
• or vaginal dryness/discomfort/itching

Common side effects of Zoladex include:

• hot flashes (flushing)
• dizziness
• headache
• increased sweating
• increased or decreased sexual interest
• impotence
• fewer erections than usual
• trouble sleeping
• nausea
• change in breast size
• breast swelling or tenderness
• vaginal dryness/itching/discharge
• hair loss, mental/mood changes (such as depression, mood swings, hallucinations)
• injection site reactions (pain, bruising, bleeding, redness, or swelling)
• bone pain
• diarrhea
• constipation
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• acne, or
• skin rash or itching

Danocrine (danazol) is a steroid used to treat endometriosis and fibrocystic breast disease. Danocrine is also used to prevent attacks of angioedema in people with an inherited form of this disorder.

Zoladex 10.8 (goserelin acetate implant) is a man-made form of a hormone used in men to treat symptoms of prostate cancer, and in women to treat breast cancer or endometriosis. Zoladex 10.8 is also used in women to prepare the lining of the uterus for endometrial ablation (a surgery to correct abnormal uterine bleeding). Zoladex 10.8 treats only the symptoms of prostate cancer but does not treat the cancer itself.

Danocrine may interact with blood thinners, or carbamazepine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Danocrine can cause birth defects. Do not use Danocrine if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Before you start taking Danocrine, you may need to have a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. Use an effective barrier form of birth control (such as a condom or diaphragm with spermicide gel or inserts). Hormonal contraception (such as birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings) may not be effective to prevent pregnancy during treatment. Breastfeeding is not recommended while using this drug.

There may be other drugs that can interact with Zoladex. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Zoladex is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. Women of child-bearing age must not be pregnant when starting this medication. Consult your doctor to discuss use of birth control. For women, this medication should stop the release of an egg (ovulation) and your periods, but this should not be used as a reliable method of birth control. It is recommended that men and women using this medication use 2 forms of non-hormonal birth control (e.g., condoms and diaphragm with spermicide) while taking this medication. Continue using birth control until the return of the woman's period or for at least 12 weeks after stopping this medication. It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding while using this medication is not recommended.

In moderate to severe disease, or in patients infertile due to endometriosis, a starting dose of 800 mg Danocrine given in two divided doses is recommended. The total daily dosage of Danocrine for fibrocystic breast disease ranges from 100 mg to 400 mg given in two divided doses depending upon patient response.

Zoladex, at a dose of 10.8 mg, is administered subcutaneously every 12 weeks under the supervision of a physician. For female patients the 3.6 mg implant is used.