bicalutamide
Other Name: Casodex®, Generic brand(s) available
- Used alone or with other medications to treat prostate cancer
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Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), such as:
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diabetes
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liver or lung problems
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bone thinning or osteoporosis
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irregular heartbeat or heart problems
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any allergies
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- This drug contains a small amount of lactose. If you cannot tolerate lactose, talk to your doctor.
- Patients who have cancer are at a higher risk of developing blood clots. Some cancer drug treatments may increase this risk. Discuss this with your doctor.
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
- While this may not be directly applicable to you, if there is any chance that your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must:
► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug. Keep using birth control for at least 130 days after your last dose unless your health care team told you differently. Talk to your health care team to figure out the best method(s) for you and/or your partner.
- Let your health care team know if your partner is pregnant or becomes pregnant during your bicalutamide treatment.
- This medication may affect fertility (ability to get your partner pregnant).
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Take it exactly as directed by your doctor.
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Swallow whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
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Do not crush or chew the tablets.
- If you miss a dose, skip this and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.
- 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.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
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Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements). Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- For mild aches and pain or fever:
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding. Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any medications for pain or fever. They may hide a fever.
- Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Hot flashes, feeling or wave of warmth You may sweat more or have trouble sleeping because of this. To help prevent hot flashes :
If you have hot flashes :
Hot flashes may improve over time. Talk to your health care team if this is bothersome for you. Other symptoms of low testosterone levels :
Contact your health care team if these feelings bother you. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. |
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Headache; mild joint, muscle pain or cramps
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. |
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Constipation To help prevent constipation :
To help treat constipation :
See the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Fatigue (tiredness)
See our Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Infection
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do?
If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) May occur in hours to days after your treatment. If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if severe. | ||||
Anemia (low red blood cells)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Cough; feeling short of breath You may have cough and feel short of breath without any signs of infection, such as a sore throat or a stuffed nose. Rarely this may be severe with chest pain, trouble breathing or coughing up blood. If this happens get medical help right away. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Mild swelling in arms and legs; puffiness To help prevent swelling :
If you have swelling in your legs, keep your feet up when sitting. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Diarrhea May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. If you have diarrhea :
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Bladder problems
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Contact your health care team as soon as possible (office hours). | ||||
Pains or cramps in the belly
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. | ||||
Dizziness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe. |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
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itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness
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severe or unusual bone pain or difficulty moving
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feeling thirsty and peeing more often than usual
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irregular heartbeat, fainting spells or unusual swelling in your legs, ankles and belly
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chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing blood
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pain in your arm or leg, swelling and hardening of the vein in your arm or leg
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feeling confused, have a sudden loss of vision, trouble speaking or using your arms or legs
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yellowish skin or eyes, unusually dark pee or pain on the right side of your belly
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severe belly pain, vomiting blood or what looks like coffee-grounds, or passing poo with bright red blood or which looks black or tarry-coloured
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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April 2024 Updated/Revised information sheet
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.