What is the best time of day to take bicalutamide?

It is best to take this medicine at the same time each day, in the morning or in the evening. This medicine should be started at the same time as treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog (eg, goserelin, leuprolide, Lupron®, or Zoladex®).

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.

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.

How should bicalutamide be taken?

Bicalutamide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food once a day, either in the morning or evening. Take bicalutamide at around the same time every day. You should begin taking bicalutamide on the same day you begin injecting the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.

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).

Does bicalutamide make you tired?

This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, diabetes, heart disease. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy.

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).

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).

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.

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).

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 medicines interact with bicalutamide?

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.

Can I drink alcohol with bicalutamide?

Bicalutamide is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day. Drinking alcohol while taking bicalutamide may produce excessive facial flushing. Avoid drinking alcohol if this becomes bothersome.

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.

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).

What is bicalutamide 50 mg used for?

Bicalutamide is used together with a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analog (eg, goserelin or leuprolide) to treat stage D2 metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that has spread) in men. Bicalutamide belongs to the group of medicines called antiandrogens.

Does bicalutamide cause constipation?

Others may find that their hair thickens during the treatment. Bicalutamide can cause constipation. Drinking at least two liters of fluids each day will help if this is the case. Try to eat more high-fiber foods such as fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain bread and get some light exercise.

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.

Is bicalutamide a steroid?

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

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.

Does bicalutamide cause hot flashes?

Doctors think this might the same reason that men get hot flushes when they have hormone therapy. Some treatments such as goserelin (Zoladex) cause hot flushes in most men. Treatments called anti androgen drugs are less likely to cause hot flushes. An example of an anti androgen is bicalutamide.