The drug "Bicalutamide": instructions for use, description, composition and reviews

Prostate cancer is a malignant formation that develops from the epithelium of the alveolar-cellular components of the prostate gland. This is the most common malignant formation in the stronger sex. Each year around 400,000 cases of cancer are recorded in the world. For its treatment, a drug such as Bicalutamide is often used. The instructions for use, price, testimonials, properties, indications, side effects and contraindications are presented below.

Packaging of the product, its form and composition

In what form are the medicines "Bicalutamide" manufactured? Instructions for use, reviews argue that this tool can be purchased in the form of round biconcave and covered with white film-coated tablets. Their active ingredient is bicalutamide. In addition, the composition of the drug includes: lactose monohydrate, corn starch, sodium stearyl fumarate, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, opadrai white, polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol and talc.

On sale this medicine comes in blisters or dark bottles, sealed in a box of thick paper.

Features of the medicinal product

What is Bicalutamide? Instructions for use indicate that this is a selective nonsteroidal anti-androgen that does not have other kinds of endocrine activity.

This drug is able to bind to androgen receptors and, without activating gene expression, suppress the stimulating effect of androgens. The result of this influence is the regression of neoplasms (malignant) prostate gland.

In some people, discontinuing bicalutamide leads to the withdrawal of anti-androgen syndrome.

Kinetic features of the drug

Where does the absorption of "Bicalutamide" take place? Instructions for use indicate that after taking the tablets their active substance is completely and quickly absorbed from the intestine. The use of food does not affect the absorption of this drug.

The half-life of this remedy is about 7 days. With regular intake of tablets, the concentration of their active component in the blood increases by 10 times. Thus, a long half-life of the drug makes it possible to use it once a day.

The connection with plasma proteins in this medium is high. It is intensively metabolized in the liver, resulting in the formation of inactive derivatives.

Indications

When is the drug "Bicalutamide" (pills) prescribed? Instruction for use reports the following:

• Prostate cancer is common (used in combination with castration surgical or analogous to GnRH);
• Prostate cancer is locally advanced (in the form of monotherapy, with radiotherapy or adjuvant therapy in combination with radical prostatectomy);
• Nonmetastatic prostate cancer is locally advanced (if surgical castration or other medical interventions are unacceptable).

Prohibitions to use the tool

When do not prescribe the drug "Bicalutamide"? Instructions for use indicate that this drug can not be used if it is sensitive to its ingredients, taken with "Cisapride", "Terfenadine" or "Astemizol", as well as with lactase deficiency, in childhood, with lactose intolerance, in women Sex and in glucose-galactose malabsorption.

With caution, such pills are recommended for impaired liver function.

The drug "Bicalutamide": instructions for use

The price of this medication is indicated at the end of the article. Take it should be inside.

This drug is prescribed only for adult men, including elderly patients.

With advanced prostate cancer in combination with castration (surgical) or an analogue of GnRH, this medication is recommended to take 50 mg once a day.

Treatment with this drug should be started together with the reception of an analogue of GnRH or castration (surgical).

In prostate cancer, the locally treated drug is prescribed 150 mg once daily. The duration of therapy with this drug should last at least two years.

When the disease progresses, taking pills should be stopped.

With impaired renal function and mild violation of liver function, dosage adjustment is not required. In individuals with severe and moderate impairment of liver function, an increased cumulation of bicalutamide may be noted.

Adverse events

Are there any side effects of the drug Bicalutamide? Instructions for use indicate the following adverse reactions:

• Gynecomastia, "tides" of blood to the face, tenderness of the mammary glands;
• Diarrhea, cholestasis, nausea, jaundice, weight gain, itching, alopecia, asthenia, sexual dysfunction, decreased sexual desire;
• Angioedema, abdominal pain, hives, stenocardia, interstitial lung diseases, cardiac arrhythmias, depression, hematuria, dyspepsia;
• Vomiting, hepatic insufficiency, dry skin, thrombocytopenia;
• Constipation, heart failure, anorexia, dysphagia, dry mouth, flatulence, indigestion;
• Dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, increased drowsiness, insomnia;

• Nocturia, anemia, urinary tract infection, urinary retention, dysuria, leukopenia, frequent urination, hydronephrosis, polyuria;
• Rash, hyperglycemia, increased sweating, increased activity of "liver" transaminases, hirsutism;
• Pain in the abdomen, back, chest, pelvic area, swelling, increase or decrease in body weight, fever, diabetes.

The cost of medicine and similar drugs

The price of the medicine in question may vary from pharmacies to pharmacies. On average, the cost of 30 tablets (50 mg) of Bicalutamide varies between 590 and 830 rubles per package. When buying the same amount of medicine, but at a dosage of 150 mg you will have to pay about 1100-1400 rubles.

As for similar drugs, they include the following medicines: Bikalan, Casodex, Bikulid, Bilumid, Biculutera, Kalumid, Bicalutamide Kanon. Instructions for the use of these drugs may differ from that of Bicalutamide. Therefore, appoint only an experienced specialist.

Reviews of specialists and consumers about the medicine

Most patients leave extremely positive reviews about the drug in question. According to the opinion of specialists and consumers, taking the drug in question causes a persistent remission.

As for the negative aspects, the patients refer to them the presence of a large number of side effects. Usually, taking such medication often causes abdominal pain, weakness, jaundice and a decrease in hemoglobin. In addition, very many men complain about the high cost of tablets. Given that they need to take at least two years, treatment of prostate cancer is very expensive.