Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from the epithelium of the alveolar-cellular components of the prostate gland. This is the most common malignancy in the stronger sex. About 400,000 cases of cancer are recorded worldwide every year. For its treatment, a drug such as Bicalutamide is very often used. Instructions for use, price, reviews, properties, indications, side effects and contraindications of the drug are presented below.
Packaging of the drug, its release form and composition
What is the form of Bicalutamide? Instructions for use, reviews claim that this tool can be purchased in the form of round biconvex and white-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, white opadra, polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, polyethylene glycol and talc.
This medication goes on sale in blisters or dark bottles sealed in a box of thick paper.
Features of the drug
What is Bicalutamide? Instructions for use indicate that it is a selective non-steroidal antiandrogen that does not have other types of endocrine activity.
The medication in question is able to bind to androgen receptors and, without activating gene expression, suppress the stimulating effect of androgens. The result of this effect is the regression of neoplasms (malignant) of the prostate gland.
In some people, discontinuation of bicalutamide leads to the withdrawal of antiandrogens.
Kinetic features of the drug
Where is the absorption of Bicalutamide? Instructions for use indicate that after taking the tablets, their active substance is completely and quickly absorbed from the intestine. Eating does not affect the absorption of this drug.
The half-life of this drug is about 7 days. With regular intake of tablets, the concentration of their active component in the blood increases 10 times. Thus, the long half-life of the drug makes it possible to use it once a day.
The connection with plasma proteins in this drug is high. It is extensively metabolized in the liver, resulting in the formation of inactive derivatives.
Indications
When is Bicalutamide (tablets) prescribed? Instructions for use informs about the following indications:
- widespread prostate cancer (used in combination with surgical castration or an analogue of GnRH);
- locally advanced prostate cancer (in the form of monotherapy, with radiotherapy or adjuvant therapy in combination with radical prostatectomy);
- non-metastatic prostate cancer locally advanced (if surgical castration or other medical interventions are unacceptable).
Prohibitions on the use of funds
When is the drug “Bicalutamide” not prescribed? Instructions for use indicate that this medicine should not be used if you are hypersensitive to its ingredients, taken concurrently with Cisapride, Terfenadine or Astemizole, as well as with lactase deficiency in childhood, with lactose intolerance, to female patients sex and with glucose-galactose malabsorption.
With caution, such tablets are recommended for impaired liver function.
The drug "Bicalutamide": instructions for use
The price of this medicine is indicated at the end of the article. It should be taken orally.
Such a drug is prescribed only to adult men, including elderly patients.
With common prostate cancer in combination with castration (surgical) or an analog of GnRH, this medication is recommended to take 50 mg once a day.
Treatment with this agent should be started in conjunction with the administration of an analogue of GnRH or castration (surgical).
For locally advanced prostate cancer, the drug in question is prescribed 150 mg once a day. The duration of therapy with this drug should last at least two years.
With the progression of the disease, tablets should be discontinued.
With impaired renal function and mild impaired liver function, dosage adjustment is not required. In people with severe and moderate hepatic impairment, increased accumulation 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, flushing of the face, tenderness of the mammary glands;
- diarrhea, cholestasis, nausea, jaundice, weight gain, itching, alopecia, asthenia, sexual dysfunctions, decreased sexual desire;
- angioedema, abdominal pain, urticaria, angina pectoris, interstitial lung diseases, cardiac arrhythmias, depression, hematuria, dyspepsia;
- vomiting, liver failure, dry skin, thrombocytopenia;
- constipation, heart failure, anorexia, dysphagia, dry mouth, flatulence, dyspepsia;
- dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, increased drowsiness, insomnia;
- nocturia, anemia, urinary tract infection, urinary retention, dysuria, leukopenia, frequent urination, hydronephrosis, polyuria;
- rash, hyperglycemia, excessive sweating, increased activity of “liver” transaminases, hirsutism;
- pain in the abdomen, back, chest, pelvic area, swelling, increase or decrease in body weight, fever, diabetes mellitus.
Cost of medication and similar drugs
The price of the medication in question may be different in different pharmacies. On average, the cost of 30 tablets (50 mg) of Bicalutamide varies from 590-830 rubles per pack. When you buy the same amount of medicine, but in a dosage of 150 mg, you will have to give about 1100-1400 rubles.
As for similar drugs, the following medicines are referred to them: Bikalan, Casodex, Bikulid, Bilumid, Bicaluthera, Kalumid, Bicalutamide Canon. Instructions for use of these drugs may differ from that of Bicalutamide. Therefore, only an experienced specialist should appoint them.
Reviews of specialists and consumers about the drug
Most patients leave exclusively positive reviews about the remedy in question. According to experts and consumers, taking the drug in question causes a stable remission.
As for the negative sides, then patients attribute the presence of a large number of side effects to them. As a rule, taking such a medication often causes abdominal pain, weakness, jaundice and a decrease in hemoglobin. In addition, many men complain about the high cost of pills. Given that they must be taken for at least two years, treatment for prostate cancer is very expensive.