Bicalutamide (patient information)

About your treatment
Your doctor has ordered the drug bicalutamide to help treat your illness. The drug is taken by mouth with tablets. It may be taken with or without food.

This medication is used to treat:

prostate cancer

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Bicalutamide is in a class of drugs known as hormones; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. It works by blocking the effects of certain chemicals that are necessary for the cancer cells to live. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.

Precautions
Before taking bicalutamide:

you should know that this drug should not be used in women, especially women who are or could become pregnant.
 * tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bicalutamide or any other drugs.
 * tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, aspirin-substitute products, and vitamins.
 * tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
 * you should know that this drug may stop sperm production. However, you should not assume that you cannot get someone else pregnant. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Bicalutamide may harm the fetus.
 * do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.

Minor Side Effects
Side effects from bicalutamide are common and include:


 * hot flashes
 * breast swelling, pain, or tenderness
 * loss of sexual desire
 * impotence
 * diarrhea
 * headache

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe:


 * dizziness
 * swelling of the hands or feet

Severe Side Effects
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:


 * vision changes
 * nausea
 * vomiting
 * stomach pain
 * excessive tiredness
 * loss of appetite
 * flu-like symptoms
 * dark urine
 * yellowing of the skin or eyes
 * pain in the upper right part of the stomach

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions
Keep bicalutamide in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Special instructions
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to bicalutamide.

Brand names

 * Casodex®