Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as leuprolide or goserelin, are used with bicilutamide to treat metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that started in the prostate and has spread to other parts of the body). Nonsteroidal antiandrogens, which include bicilutamide, are a group of drugs. It functions by obstructing the effects of androgen, a hormone produced by males, to halt the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Bicalutamide is available as an oral tablet. It is typically taken once daily, either in the morning or the evening, with or without meals. Bicalutamide should be taken every day at roughly the same time. On the same day that you start injecting the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, you should start taking bicalutamide. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Take bicalutamide as prescribed by your doctor. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Bicalutamide does not treat prostate cancer, although it may slow the growth and metastasis of cancer cells when combined with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Even if you feel better, keep taking bicalutamide and the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue using these medications.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking bicalutamide,

• If you have an allergy to bicalutamide, any other drugs, or any of the substances in bicalutamide tablets, inform your doctor right away. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are now taking or intend to take. Any of the following should be mentioned: Alprazolam (Xanax); blood-thinning medications such warfarin (Coumadin); aripiprazole (Abilify); and buspirone (Buspar); calcium channel blockers like verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and nisoldipine (Sular); chlorpheniramine; statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor), which decrease cholesterol; erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); diazepam (Valium); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); erythromycin (Biaxin); HIV protease inhibitors like indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase); methadone (Dolophine); sildenafil (Viagra), tacrolimus (Prograf), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), telithromycin (Ketek), trazodone (Desyrel), triazolam (Halcion), pimozide (Orap), quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute), quinine, and vincristine (Vincasar). Tell your doctor about all the drugs you are taking, including any not on this list, since many other drugs may also interact with bicalutamide.
• If you have liver illness now or previously, let your doctor know.
• Bicalutamide is only to be used in men, as you should be aware. Bicalutamide can result in malformations in the foetus if consumed by pregnant women. Bicalutamide should not be taken by women who are or may become pregnant. Call your doctor as soon as possible if you use bicalutamide while pregnant.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects are possible with bicularutamide. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Flushes or hot flashes
• Pelvic, back, or bone pain
• Muscular tremor
• Joint or muscle ache
• Headache
• Breathing difficulty
• Higher blood pressure level
• Edoema of the lower legs, ankles, feet, or hands
• Cough
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Continent pain
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Shift in weight (loss or gain)
• Reduced appetite
• Dizziness
• Have tingling, burning, or pain in your hands or feet
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling of fear or unease
• Rash
• Sweating
• Failure to achieve or maintain erection
• Require frequent nighttime urination
• Crimson urine
• Difficult or painful urinating
• A constant and pressing urge to urinate
• Bladder not emptying easily
• Aching or enlarged breasts

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these signs:

• Eyes or skin that have a yellow tint
• Stomach ache in the top right corner
• Extreme fatigue
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Not enough energy
• Uneasy stomach
• Reduced appetite
• Flu-like signs
• Severe or dull side discomfort
• Chest ache

Further negative effects of bicilutamide are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the poison control hotline in the event of an overdose. You can get information online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call emergency services at 911 right away if the sufferer has fallen, experienced a seizure, is having problems breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to bicalutamide, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.