Flutamide

Generic name: Flutamide (oral)
Brand names: Eulexin
Dosage form: oral capsule (125 mg)

Usage of Flutamide

Flutamide is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen (testosterone blocker) medicine.

Flutamide capsules are used to treat prostate cancer.

Flutamide is given in combination with another medicine called a luteinizing (LOO-tee-in-ize-ing) hormone-releasing hormone, or LHRH. LHRH helps prevent the testicles from producing testosterone.

Flutamide side effects

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

Flutamide can cause serious liver problems. Call your doctor at once if you have:

nausea, upper stomach pain, loss of appetite;

itching, tiredness, flu-like symptoms;

dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common flutamide side effects may include:

breast swelling or tenderness;

hot flashes;

vomiting, nausea, diarrhea; or

impotence, loss of interest in sex.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other drugs may interact with flutamide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Before taking Flutamide

You should not use flutamide if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe liver problems.

Flutamide should never be taken by a woman or a child.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver disease;

a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency;

hemoglobin M disease;

if you smoke; or

if you also take a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven).

Although flutamide is not for use by women, this medicine can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy.

How to use Flutamide

Usual Adult Dose for Prostate Cancer:

250 mg orally every 8 hours Comments: -This drug may be taken with or without food. -Stage B2-C Prostatic Carcinoma: Treatment with this drug and the goserelin acetate implant starting 8 weeks prior to initiating radiation therapy and continue during radiation therapy. -Stage D2 Metastatic Carcinoma: This drug should be initiated with the LHRH-agonist and continued until progression. Use: Locally confined Stage B2-C and Stage D2 metastatic carcinoma of the prostate

Warnings

Flutamide can cause serious liver problems. Call your doctor at once if you have upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

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