FLUTAMIDE (ORAL)

(FLEW ta mide) Brand: Eulexin

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

• In rare cases, flutamide has caused severe liver hurt resulting in death or hospitalization. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, "flu-like" symptoms, yellow skin or eyes, itching, clay-colored stools, or dark urine. These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage.

• Your doctor will need to monitor your liver function with blood trials till starting treatment with flutamide, each month for the first 4 months of treatment, and periodically thereafter.

• Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor.

What is flutamide?

• Flutamide is an antiandrogen. It works in the body to prevent the actions of androgens (male hormones).

• Flutamide is used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

• Flutamide may also be used for purposes another than those listed in this medicine guide.

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

• Till taking flutamide, speak your doctor if you

· smoke,

· have liver disease,

· have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, or

· have hemoglobin M deficiency.

• You may not be able to take flutamide, or you may require a dosage adjustment or particular monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

• Flutamide is not indicated for use by women. Flutamide is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to harm an unborn child. Do not take flutamide if you are pregnant.

• Flutamide is not indicated for use by women. It is not known whether flutamide passes into breast milk. Do not take flutamide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

How must I take flutamide?

• Take flutamide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.

• Take every doze with a full glass of water.

• Flutamide is generally taken three times a day (every 8 hours). Follow your doctor's instructions.

• Your doctor will need to monitor your liver function with blood trials till starting treatment with flutamide, each month for the first 4 months of treatment, and periodically thereafter.

• Do not stop taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor.

• Store flutamide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, skip the doze you missed and take only your following regularly scheduled doze. Do not take a double doze of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention.

• Symptoms of a flutamide overdose include decreased activity, slow breathing, dizziness, watering eyes, upraised body hair, decreased appetite, vomiting, and sedation.

What must I avoid while taking flutamide?

• 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.

• There are no restrictions on foods, beverages, or activities while taking flutamide. Follow any particular instructions given by your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of flutamide?

• Stop taking flutamide and search abnormal medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or person; or hives).

• Another, smaller serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take flutamide and conversation to your doctor if you experience

· hot flashes,

· diarrhea,

· skin rash,

· heighten skin sensitivity to sunlight,

· loss of sex drive,

· impotence,

· lowered sperm count,

· enlarged breasts,

· amber or greenish discoloration of the urine,

· rectal bleeding or inflammation, or

· blood in the urine.

• Side effects another than those listed here may also occur. Conversation to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect flutamide?

• Till taking flutamide, speak your doctor if you are taking warfarin. Flutamide may interact with warfarin, and the interaction could lead to bleeding.

• Drugs another than those listed here may also interact with flutamide. Conversation to your doctor and pharmacist till taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about flutamide written for health professionals that you may read.

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.

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