BICALUTAMIDE

(bye ka LOO ta mide) Brand: Casodex

What is the most significant information I must know about bicalutamide?

• Bicalutamide is used to treat prostate cancer.

• Bicalutamide must never be taken by a woman or a child.

• Although bicalutamide is not for use by women, this medicine can reason birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy.

• Bicalutamide can harm your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

What is bicalutamide?

• Bicalutamide is an anti-androgen. It works in the body by preventing the actions of androgens (male hormones).

• Bicalutamide is used together with other hormone to treat prostate cancer.

• Bicalutamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking bicalutamide?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to bicalutamide.

• Bicalutamide must never be taken by a woman or a child.

• Although bicalutamide is not for use by women, this medicine can reason birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy.

• To create certain bicalutamide is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· liver disease;

· diabetes; or

· any another serious illness.

How must I take bicalutamide?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Bicalutamide is given as part of a combination prostate cancer treatment with other medicine called a luteinizing (LOO-tee-in-ize-ing) hormone-releasing hormone, or LHRH. This medicine prevents the testicles from producing testosterone.

• Treatment with bicalutamide and LHRH is generally started at the same time. Follow your doctor's instructions.

• Bicalutamide is generally taken once for day in the morning or evening. You may take the medication with or without food. Try to take the medicine at the same time every day.

• LHRH is given as an injection or a tiny implant injected through a needle under the skin near your navel. LHRH injections are given at intervals such as once each 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions.

• You must not stop using bicalutamide suddenly. Stopping suddenly may create your condition worse.

• While using bicalutamide, you may need frequent blood trials at your doctor's office.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your LHRH injection.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking bicalutamide?

• This medication can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a doze, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or another surfaces. Patients and caregivers must wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands till and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens apart from another laundry.

• Body fluids must not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.

What are the possible side effects of bicalutamide?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

· chest pain, cough or trouble breathing;

· shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;

· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

· pale skin, light bruising or bleeding;

· blood in your urine; or

· nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• General side effects may include:

· hot flashes;

· breast pain or swelling;

· weakness, dizziness;

· back pain, pelvic pain, joint or muscle pain;

· heighten nighttime urination;

· upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation;

· weight changes;

· impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm;

· dizziness, headache; or

· sore throat, runny nose or another cool symptoms.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect bicalutamide?

• Speak your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with bicalutamide, especially:

· buspirone;

· sildenafil and another erectile dysfunction medicines;

· warfarin, Coumadin;

· an antibiotic--clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;

· cholesterol medication--atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin;

· heart or blood pressure medication--amlodipine, diltiazem, dronedarone, eplerenone, felodipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, quinidine, verapamil

· HIV medication--darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, maraviroc, saquinavir, tipranavir;

· medication to prevent organ transplant rejection--cyclosporine, everolimus, sirolimus, tacrolimus;

· medication to treat mental illness--aripiprazole, lurasidone, quetiapine;

· a sedative--alprazolam, diazepam, midazolam, triazolam; or

· a steroid--budesonide, fluticasone.

• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with bicalutamide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about bicalutamide.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.