Introduction
Bical 50 is used in the treatment of cancer of the prostate gland. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor. It works by blocking the effects of male hormones such as testosterone.
Bical 50 should be taken with or without food, preferably at a fixed time every day. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
Anemia (low number of red blood cells) is very common side effect of this medicine. Other than this, yellowing of skin, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, dark urine, and skin rashes are some side effects which require immediate action. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with liver function during treatment with this medicine. It makes your skin more sensitive towards sunlight, hence take extra caution while going out.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if have diabetes, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It may harm your baby. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy. You may be asked for regular monitoring of blood glucose level while on treatment.
Side effects of Bical 50
Common
- Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
- Rash
- Abdominal pain
- Breast enlargement in male
- Breast tenderness
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Decreased libido
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Indigestion
- Flatulence
- Hot flashes
- Increased liver enzymes
- Nausea
- Sleepiness
- Weakness
- Weight gain
How to use Bical 50
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Bical 50 may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Bical 50 works
Bical 50 blocks the effect of the natural male hormones on the growth of prostate cells. Bical 50 also blocks the undesired effects of androgens in females such as excessive hair growth and acne.
Indication
Prostate Cancer
Administration
May be taken with or without food.
Adult Dose
Oral
Palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer
Adult: When used with gonadorelin analogue: Usual dose: 50 mg once daily. May be started with or at least 3 days before starting gonadorelin analogue therapy.
Monotherapy or adjuvant therapy to surgery or radiotherapy in locally advanced prostatic cancer
Adult: 150 mg once daily.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity. Females, children. Pregnancy, lactation.
Mode of Action
Bicalutamide competes with androgen for the binding of androgen receptors, consequently blocking the action of androgens of adrenal and testicular origin, thus preventing the growth of normal and malignant prostatic tissue.
Precaution
Monitor liver function regularly in hepatically impaired patients on prolonged therapy. Monitoring serum levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) may be useful in evaluating the patient's clincial progress.
Lactation: Bicalutamide is not indicated for use in women.
Side Effect
>10%
Hot flashes (53%),General pain (35%),Back pain (25%),Asthenia (22%),Constipation (22%),Pelvic pain (21%),Infection (18%),Nausea (15%),Dyspnea (13%),Edema (13%),Peripheral edema (13%),Diarrhea (12%),Hematuria (12%),Nocturia (12%),Abdominal pain (11%),Anemia (11%)
1-10%
Gynecomastia (9%),Rash (9%),UTI (9%),Chest pain (8%),Hypertension (8%),Vomiting (8%),Flu like symptoms (7%),Headache (7%),LFTs elevation (7%),Weight loss (7%),Anorexia (6%),Breast pain (6%),Anxiety (5%)
Arthritis (5%)
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy
Contraindicated for use in pregnant women because it can cause fetal harm; not indicated for use in females; there are no human data on use in pregnant women; in animal reproduction studies, oral administration of bicalutamide to pregnant rats during organogenesis caused abnormal development of reproductive organs in male fetuses at exposures approximately 0.7 to 2 times the human exposure at recommended dose
Lactation
Not indicated for use in pregnant women; there is no information available on presence of bicalutamide in human milk, or on effects on breastfed infant or on milk production; bicalutamide has been detected in rat milk
Interaction
Enhances effect of coumarin anticoagulants.