Bicalutamide
Brand name: Casodex®
Generic
name:
Bicalutamide
Other names
: Cosudex
, Calutide, Kalumid
Therapeutic
Class: antiandrogen
or androgen
antagonist
Manufacturer
/ Distributor:
AstraZeneca
Availability:
Bicalutamide is
available by prescription only
Indications:
Bicalutamide is used to treat prostate cancer, especially metastatic prostate cancer
. However, the drug can be recommended for other medical conditions other than prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor
or pharmacist for more information.
Dosage form:
Bicalutamide comes in
tablet form to be taken by mouth
Dosage:
Bicalutamide is recommended to be taken one tablet of 50 mg once daily, with or without food. The drug can be taken
either in the morning or evening, but it is necessary to take Bicalutamide at around the same time every day
. Some patients can feel a great improvement days or week after start taking Bicalutamide. However, even if you
feel better, do not make the mistake to stop the treatment.
For
efficiency, you may be recommended to take Bicalutamide in combination with another drug that reduces your
testosterone level, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). In this case, Bicalutamide treatment should
begin at the same time as that of LH-RH or after surgical castration.
Your
oncologist may prescribe you a different dosage due to certain reasons such as your age, weight, as well as
other medical conditions or complications of the drug. If so, it is important to take Bicalutamide as
recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
Overdose: Bicalutamide overdose
is not known to be fatal. However, as a precaution, if you believe you have taken a higher dose of
Bicalutamide,
contact your physician or a drug and poison control center near you immediately.
Missing dose:
Do not take less or
more of the dose recommended by your doctor. If you miss a dose of Bicalutamide in a time not too closed to
next one, it is important to take it as soon as possible. If you
recall the missing in the next day, or when it is time to take the next dose, do not double the dose; it can
cause serious health problems. The wise option is to contact your physician or wait to continue the normal
dosage.
Contraindication:
Bicalutamide is
contraindicated in the following conditions:
- children
- women
- Patients allergic to
Casodex or one of its ingredients.
Interactions:
Talk you to your doctor
before taking any prescription or non prescription medication: aspirin,
vitamins, nutritional supplements, St. John wort, etc.
Some drugs can alter the curative effects of Bicalutamide, or increase the risk of developing side effects. Consult
your doctor before taking any of the the following medicines:
- sildenafil
(Viagra)
- alprazolam
(Xanax)
- warfarin
(Coumadin)
- aripiprazole
(Abilify)
- buspirone
(Buspar)
- nifedipine (Adalat,
Procardia)
- atorvastatin
(Lipitor)
- lovastatin
(Mevacor)
- indinavir
(Crixivan)
- amlodipine
(Norvasc)
- diltiazem (Cardizem,
Dilacor, Tiazac)
- felodipine
(Plendil)
- ritonavir
(Norvir)
- trazodone
(Desyrel)
- halcion (Triazolam)
- Vincristine
(Vincasar).
Side effects:
by attacking the growth and spread of cancer cells, Bicalutamide also attacks healthy cells that multiply
rapidly; in most patients, this can cause adverse effects. most common Bicalutamide side effects
include:
- fatigue
- sleepiness
- high blood
pressure
- erectile
dysfunction
- hair loss
- frequent and urgent
need to urinate
- nausea and
vomiting
- difficulty emptying
bladder
- decreased
appetite
- painful
urination
- hot flashes or
flushing
- bone, back, or pelvic
pain
- muscle pain and
weakness
- pain, burning, or
tingling in the hands or feet
- Intestinal problems:
abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, constipation.
Although
rare, Bicalutamide can cause serious side effects which require immediate medical attention; contact
your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:
- d
izziness
- chest
pain
- shortness of
breath
- bloody
urine
- painful or swollen
breasts
- fainting
(temporary loss of
consciousness)
- shortness of breath or
difficulty breathing
- Painful or Difficulty
swallowing
- yellowing of the skin
or eyes (jaundice)
- unusual
bruising or bleeding
- pain in
the upper right part of the stomach
- Swelling of your arms,
feet, ankles, or lower legs.
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