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.

What does bicalutamide do for cancer?

Bicalutamide belongs to the group of medicines called antiandrogens. It works by blocking the effects of testosterone (a male hormone), which helps stop the growth and spread of cancer cells. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

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.

How effective is bicalutamide?

At a median follow-up of 5.3 years, survival in those with locally advanced disease was improved with bicalutamide compared with placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.68). Overall, the risk of disease progression was reduced by 43%, with the greatest benefit in locally advanced tumors (HR, 0.4).

What is the Best Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer?

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.

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.

Can bicalutamide increase PSA?

In patients with early biochemical failure on CAB with bicalutamide 50 mg, an increase in dose to 150 mg of bicalutamide resulted in a PSA response of ⩾50% in 22% of patients.

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.

Does bicalutamide affect blood pressure?

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

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).

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.

Can bicalutamide cause heart problems?

Conclusion: The Naranjo scale strongly suggests that bicalutamide was the cause of heart failure. Apoptosis seems to be one of the mechanisms mediating heart failure, with the involvement of many molecular actors, such as ET-1, Bcl-2 and cyclin-A.

Is prostate cancer curable?

The short answer is yes, prostate cancer can be cured, when detected and treated early. The vast majority of prostate cancer cases (more than 90 percent) are discovered in the early stages, making the tumors more likely to respond to treatment. Treatment doesn't always have to mean surgery or chemotherapy, either.

What is the treatment for prostate cancer that has spread to the bones?

Men with prostate cancer that has spread to the bones may consider treatment that infuses a radioactive substance into a vein. Strontium-89 (Metastron), samarium-153 (Quadramet) and radium-223 (Xofigo) are medications that target fast-growing cancer cells in the bones, and may help relieve bone pain.

What medicines interact with bicalutamide?

Does bicalutamide block testosterone?

In terms of pharmacodynamics, bicalutamide acts as a selective antagonist of the androgen receptor (AR), the biological target of androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It has no capacity to activate the AR . It does not decrease androgen levels and has no other important hormonal activity.

Is bicalutamide a steroid?

Bicalutamide is an oral non-steroidal anti-androgen for prostate cancer.

Is bicalutamide a hormone blocker?

Bicalutamide is used as an antiandrogen in feminizing hormone therapy for transgender women and as a puberty blocker in adolescent transgender girls. It can be used in transgender females both in combination with an estrogen and alone.

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.

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.

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.

Does bicalutamide raise blood sugar?

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

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).