How do u feel when taking bicalutamide?

Hot flashes, breast swelling/tenderness/pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, stomach upset, weight changes, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

How does bicalutamide make you feel?

You may feel sick when you are having this treatment. This is usually mild. If you feel sick, your doctor can give you tablets to help. It may also help to take your bicalutamide tablets with food.

Does bicalutamide make you tired?

This medicine may make you sleepy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

How long does it take for bicalutamide to start working?

In some cases (e.g. spinal cord metastasis), bicalutamide will be started approximately 5-7 days before you receive the LHRH agonist. This is done to block the "flare" or surge of testosterone that occurs after LHRH agonist is given. The amount of this medicine you receive depends on many factors.

Does bicalutamide make you urinate more?

increased night-time urination; weakness, dizziness; or.

Casodex, SpaceOar, and Biopsy Reports | Ask a Prostate Expert

Does bicalutamide lower PSA?

Androgen suppression with bicalutamide 50 mg daily for 24 weeks resulted in a median of 56% reduction of PSA (P<0.001 when compared to placebo).

Can bicalutamide cause confusion?

Treatment with Casodex may cause dizziness, confusion or drowsiness. Patients should exercise caution when engaging in activities involving mental alertness or when driving (until the response or effects to the drug are known).

Does bicalutamide shrink tumors?

Bicalutamide is a type of hormone drug called an anti androgen. It stops testosterone from reaching the cancer cells. This can slow the growth of your cancer and may shrink it.

Does bicalutamide shrink the prostate?

Bicalutamide blocks testosterone from reaching the cancer cells. Without testosterone, the prostate cancer may shrink or stop growing.

What are the benefits of bicalutamide?

Bicalutamide is well tolerated when used as monotherapy or in combination with a LHRH-A. The benefits of bicalutamide as monotherapy include retention of libido and sexual potency and as combination therapy a lower incidence of diarrhea relative to flutamide.

Does bicalutamide affect blood pressure?

increased blood pressure. swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.

Is bicalutamide a form of chemotherapy?

No, Casodex is not a form of chemotherapy, Casodex (bicalutamide) is an anti-androgen which is a type of hormone therapy used to treat prostate cancer. When you have cancer there are different options of cancer treatment including: hormone therapy.

What is a normal PSA level for a 70 year old?

3.5-4.5: Normal for a man 60-70 yrs. 4.5-5.5: Normal for a man 70-80 yrs.

How long does bicalutamide stay in your system?

Official Answer. When you stop taking Casodex (bicalutamide) it takes approximately 30 days for most of the Casodex to be removed from your body. If you have severe liver impairment it will take longer (up to 50 days).

Does bicalutamide raise blood sugar?

This drug may raise the chance of high blood sugar (diabetes).

What is bicalutamide 50 mg used for?

Bicalutamide is used to treat prostate cancer. This medication works by blocking the action of male hormones in the prostate, slowing the growth of cancer cells.

Why is bicalutamide not used now?

Bicalutamide, the most recent antiandrogen to be approved for use in the United States, is also used in therapy of prostate cancer, but has not been approved for use in nonmalignant hyperandrogenic states. All three nonsteroidal antiandrogens have been linked to instances of liver injury.

What should PSA be after hormone?

Recent studies have shown that for optimal results, PSA levels should be lower than 1 ng/ml, and even lower than 0.5 ng/ml.

Does Casodex make you tired?

Talk with your doctor if you're concerned about this side effect. Cancer and its treatment can often cause fatigue. You may feel tired, weak, or lacking energy when taking Casodex. In clinical studies, 22% of people who took Casodex with an LHRH analog reported feeling weak or low in energy.

What happens when hormone therapy stops working?

After some months or years the hormone treatment usually stops working and the cancer starts to grow again. Your doctor might recommend stopping or changing hormone treatment at this stage. If you're having anti androgens and your PSA level has started to rise again your doctor might get you to stop taking them.

Is there an alternative to bicalutamide?

Amongst the anti-androgens, Casodex® (bicalutamide) is the preferred choice. It is often used at a dose of 150 mg (three 50 mg pills) daily. Another alternative is flutamide (Eulexin®) which is less expensive.

What medicines interact with bicalutamide?

Does bicalutamide cause depression?

The most common side effects of bicalutamide monotherapy in men include breast tenderness, gynecomastia, feminization, demasculinization, and hot flashes. Less common side effects of bicalutamide monotherapy in men include sexual dysfunction, depression, fatigue, weakness, and anemia.

Can you drink alcohol when taking bicalutamide?

Drinking alcohol while taking medications like bicalutamide should be avoided because doing so can worsen side effects you may experience. In severe cases, combining alcohol and anti-androgen medications can lead to liver damage.

How long do you stay on Casodex?

Casodex (bicalutamide) is a medicine that you take long term. In a clinical trial the median follow up time was 160 weeks (approximately 3 years). The length of time you may be on Casodex will be depend on: cancer stage.