Overview
Casodex is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of stage D2 metastatic prostate cancer. It is prescribed as part of combination therapy with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog. Casodex is not approved for use alone or with other treatments at higher doses. Casodex is also known by its drug name, bicalutamide.

Casodex is an androgen receptor inhibitor. It works by blocking the action of androgens (sex hormones), helping to slow or stop the growth of prostate cancer cells that depend on these hormones.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Casodex is taken by mouth as a tablet once daily. It is used together with an LHRH analog. The drug should be taken exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Casodex, when used with an LHRH analog, include hot flashes, pain (general, back, pelvic, and abdominal), asthenia (weakness or lack of energy), constipation, infection, nausea, peripheral edema (swelling), dyspnea (shortness of breath), diarrhea, hematuria (blood in the urine), nocturia (frequent nighttime urination), and anemia.

Rare but serious side effects may include hepatic failure (fatal liver failure) or hepatotoxicity (severe liver injury), which require regular liver function monitoring. Casodex may also increase the risk of hemorrhage (bleeding) when taken with coumarin anticoagulants. Additional rare effects include gynecomastia (breast enlargement), breast pain, and reduced glucose tolerance (changes in blood sugar levels). Monitoring of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels is also recommended during treatment.

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Label: Casodex- Bicalutamide Tablet — DailyMed