Casodex (Bicalutamide) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 3, 2012

Casodex

Prostate Cancer »

What is the prostate gland?

The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder. (See the diagram that follows.) The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. The main function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar. Semen is the fluid that transports the sperm to assist with reproduction. A man can manage quite well, however, without his prostate gland. (See the section on surgical treatment for prostate cancer.)

In a young man, the normal prostate gland is the size of a walnut (<30g). During normal aging, however, the gland usually grows larger. This hormone-related enlargement with aging is called b...

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Casodex

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CASODEX®
(bicalutamide) Tablet for Oral use

DRUG DESCRIPTION

CASODEX® (bicalutamide) Tablets contain 50 mg of bicalutamide, a non-steroidal androgen receptor inhibitor with no other known endocrine activity. The chemical name is propanamide, N [4 cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl]-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-,(+-). The structural and empirical formulas are:

CASODEX® (bicalutamide) Structural Formula Illustration

Bicalutamide has a molecular weight of 430.37. The pKa' is approximately 12. Bicalutamide is a fine white to off white powder which is practically insoluble in water at 37°C (5 mg per 1000 mL), slightly soluble in chloroform and absolute ethanol, sparingly soluble in methanol, and soluble in acetone and tetrahydrofuran.

CASODEX (bicalutamide) is a racemate with its antiandrogenic activity being almost exclusively exhibited by the R-enantiomer of bicalutamide; the S-enantiomer is essentially inactive.

The inactive ingredients of CASODEX (bicalutamide) Tablets are lactose, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, polyvidone, sodium starch glycollate, and titanium dioxide.

What are the possible side effects of bicalutamide (Casodex)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

chest pain, cough or trouble breathing;
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
swelling in your hands or feet;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
blood in your urine; or

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What are the precautions when taking bicalutamide (Casodex)?

Before taking bicalutamide, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. 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, lung/breathing problems.

When higher doses (150 milligrams per day) of this medication are used in patients with early-stage localized prostate cancer, more deaths have occurred than in patients whose doctors decided to monitor them closely before treating with this medication. Ask your doctor for more details and discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment.

This drug may make you...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 3/13/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.