Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by admin
BICATERO 50 – INTRODUCTION
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET contains Bicalutamide which belongs to a group of medicines called Anti-androgens. It is used in the treatment of prostate cancer in adult male patients. Prostate cancer is a type of slow growing cancer that occurs in the cells of the prostate gland (a small walnut-shaped gland that provides nourishment to sperm in males) that grows out of control and spread to other parts of the body.
Prostate cancer is characterized by symptoms such as troubled urination, blood in urine, urge to urinate frequently at night, blood in semen, bone pain, losing weight without trying, pain while sitting and erectile dysfunction. During treatment with BICATERO 50 MG TABLET, your doctor may perform blood tests to check for any changes to your blood.
Avoid direct exposure to excessive sunlight or UV light while you are taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET. Before taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you have any liver or heart problems or diabetes. BICATERO 50 MG TABLET is not recommended for use in women, including pregnant women or mothers who are breast-feeding their babies.
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET is also not recommended for use in children and adolescents (less than 18 years of age). The most common side effects of taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET are skin rash, breast swelling or tenderness, weakness, loss of appetite, dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, etc. Call your doctor if any of the symptoms gets worse over time.
USES OF BICATERO 50
HOW BICATERO 50 WORKS
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET inhibits cell growth and prevents spread of cancer cells from the prostate gland to other parts of the body by selectively blocking proteins responsible for growth and development of prostate gland (androgen receptors) which reduces the effect of androgen (male sex hormone) in the prostate gland.
BICATERO 50 DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Take BICATERO 50 MG TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow with a glass of water and do not chew or crush it. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of BICATERO 50 MG TABLET treatment for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition. Do not stop taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET unless your doctor advises you to stop.
SIDE EFFECTS OF BICATERO 50
COMMON
- Skin rash, dry skin, itching
- Swollen and tender breast tissue
- Feeling weak, tired and pale due to anemia (decrease in red blood cells)
- Reduced appetite, sex drive and fertility
- Depression
- Dizziness, sleepiness
- Hot flushes, constipation, indigestion, wind, nausea
- Hair loss or increased hair growth on the body
- Impotence
- Chest pain, heart attack, reduced heart function
- Swelling
- Weight gain
RARE
- Increased skin sensitivity to sunlight
Stop taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET and contact your doctor if you experience any of the following side effects:
- Signs of allergic reactions (rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing)
- Signs of liver disease (yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes, also called jaundice)
- Stomach pain
- Blood in your urine
- Signs of interstitial lung disease (serious shortness of breath with or without a cough or fever)
- Changes in ECG (QT prolongation)
BICATERO 50: HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS
Dizziness:
When you feel dizzy, lie or sit down immediately. Lie-down in a dark and quite place with eyes closed. Vehicle driving should be avoided if you experience frequent dizziness without warning. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Nausea and vomiting:
Try to take BICATERO 50 MG TABLET with or just after a meal or a snack. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy food. Drink ice cold drinks. Try to avoid sugary snacks and drinks. Avoid drinking too much liquid along with your meals, drink slowly in between meals. If symptom persists, contact your doctor.
Constipation:
Try to eat more high-fiber foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly. If this does not help, inform your doctor for receiving alternate treatments for constipation.
WARNING & PRECAUTIONS
PREGNANCY
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Patients and their partners should use birth control while taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET and for 130 days after stopping the treatment. Consult your doctor before taking it.
BREASTFEEDING
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking it.
DRIVING AND USING MACHINES
Do not drive or operate any machines if you feel sleepy after taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET.
ALCOHOL
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET.
KIDNEY
No dosage adjustment of BICATERO 50 MG TABLET is necessary for patients with kidney impairment. Consult your doctor before taking it.
LIVER
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with liver problems. Consult your doctor before taking it.
ALLERGY
Do not take BICATERO 50 MG TABLET if you are allergic to Bicalutamide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
HEART DISEASE
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients having any heart or blood vessel conditions, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia) or are being treated with medicines for these conditions. Consult your doctor before taking it.
OTHERS
BICATERO 50 MG TABLET is not recommended for use if you:
- Are a woman
Before taking BICATERO 50 MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you:
- Have diabetes
Use in Pediatrics:
BICATERO 50MG TABLET is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (below 18 years of age). Consult your child’s doctor for advice.
Use in Geriatrics:
BICATERO 50MG TABLET can be used in elderly patients (aged 70 years or above) only if the life expectancy exceeds 10 years. Consult your doctor before taking it.
BICATERO 50: INTERACTIONS
A. Drug – Drug Interactions:
Before taking BICATERO 50MG TABLET, inform your doctor, if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Cisapride (used for stomach disorders)
- Terfenadine, astemizole (medicines used for hay fever or allergy)
- Medicines used to treat heart rhythm problems (Ex. quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol)
- Methadone (medicine used for pain relief and drug addiction detoxification)
- Moxifloxacin (an antibiotic used in infections)
- Medicines used for serious mental illnesses (Ex. clozapine, cariprazine)
- Medicines used to prevent blood clots (Ex. warfarin, heparin)
- Ciclosporin (medicine used to suppress your immune system to prevent and treat rejection of a transplanted organ or bone marrow)
- Certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions (Ex. amlodipine, nifedipine)
- Cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers)
- Ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections of the skin and nails)
- Medicines used in certain cancer treatments (Ex. buserelin, leuprorelin, triptorelin)
BICATERO 50: Overdosage
If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of BICATERO 50MG TABLET, contact your doctor immediately or go to a hospital straight away.
BICATERO 50: SYNOPSIS
Drug: Bicalutamide 50mg
Pharmacological Category: Non-Steriodal anti androgens
Therapeutic Indication: Metastatic Prostrate Cancer
Dosage Forms: Tablet
BICATERO 50: MORE INFORMATION
- Keep BICATERO 50MG TABLET out of reach of children
- Store BICATERO 50MG TABLET between 20-25°C
FAQs ABOUT BICATERO 50
Q: Can BICATERO 50 affect male fertility?
A: Yes. BICATERO 50MG TABLET may have an effect on male fertility which could be reversible. Patients and their partners should use birth control while taking BICATERO 50MG TABLET and for 130 days after stopping the treatment. Consult your doctor for further queries.
Q: What if I miss a dose of BICATERO 50?
A: If you miss a dose of BICATERO 50MG TABLET, take it as soon as you remember. However, skip that dose if it’s almost time for the next one. Do not take BICATERO 50MG TABLET two times to make up for the missed dose.
Q: Can I go out in the sun while taking BICATERO 50?
A: Avoid direct exposure to excessive sunlight or UV light while you are taking BICATERO 50MG TABLET as it can increase you skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. Discuss with your doctor how you can protect your skin from the sun during treatment with BICATERO 50MG TABLET.
Q: Can BICATERO 50 be taken in pregnancy?
A: BICATERO 50MG TABLET is strictly for use in men and is not recommended for use in women, including pregnant women. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning for a child, consult your doctor before taking it.
Q: Can BICATERO 50 be taken by a diabetes patient?
A: BICATERO 50MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with diabetes (high blood sugar levels). Consult your doctor before taking it. Your doctor may advise you to check your blood sugar level before and during BICATERO 50MG TABLET treatment.
REFERENCES:
- KD. Tripathi. Androgens and Related Drugs, Drugs for Erectile Dysfunction. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Eighth edition. 2019. Page – 326.
- AstraZeneca. Casodex 150-mg Compassionate Use Trial for Subjects with Prostate Cancer. NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine. ClinicalTrials.gov. [Revised in June 2008] [Accessed on 2nd May 2022]. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00636259
- Jesco Pfitzenmaier and Jens E. Altwein. Hormonal Therapy in the Elderly Prostate Cancer Patient. NIH National Library of Medicine. National center for biotechnology information. PubMed Central. April 2009. [Accessed on 2nd May 2022]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689585/
- Zhao J, Stockwell T, Roemer A, Chikritzhs T. Is alcohol consumption a risk factor for prostate cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis. NIH National Library of Medicine. National center for biotechnology information. Pubmed.gov. November 2016. [Accessed on 2nd May 2022]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27842506/
- Accord Healthcare Limited. Electronic medicines compendium (EMC). [Revised in January 2021] [Accessed on 2nd May 2022]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.9687.pdf
- Accord Healthcare Limited. Electronic medicines compendium (EMC). [Revised in February 2020] [Accessed on 2nd May 2022]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6038.pdf
- Corden Pharma GmbH. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). [Revised in October 2017] [Accessed on 2nd May 2022]. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020498s028lbl.pdf
