Casodex/Bicalutamide IS USED FOR:

Treating prostate cancer. Bicalutamide/Casodex is intended for use with other medicines. It may be used to treat conditions as determined by your doctor, which may not be listed in the professional package insert.

Bicalutamide/Casodex is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen. It works by blocking the action of testosterone.

BEFORE USING Casodex/Bicalutamide :

Tell your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are a woman
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have liver disease

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Bicalutamide/Casodex . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin/Coumadin) because side effects, including risk of bleeding, may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Bicalutamide/Casodex may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

HOW TO USE Casodex/Bicalutamide :

Use Bicalutamide/Casodex as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• If you miss a dose of Bicalutamide/Casodex , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
• Take Bicalutamide/Casodex with your other prostate cancer medicine at the same time each day.
• Bicalutamide/Casodex may be taken with or without food.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Bicalutamide/Casodex .

DO NOT USE Casodex/Bicalutamide IF:

• you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• you are allergic to any ingredient in Bicalutamide/Casodex

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF Casodex/Bicalutamide :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal skin sensations; anxiety; arthritis; back pain; bone pain; breast growth or pain; bronchitis; constipation; decreased sexual ability; depression; diarrhea; dizziness; frequent urination; gas; hot flashes; impotence; increased cough; indigestion; infection; loss of bladder control; muscle weakness; nausea; pain; pelvic pain; rash; runny nose; sleeplessness; sore throat; sweating; urinary retention; weakness; weight change.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; dark urine; difficulty breathing; flu-like symptoms; loss of appetite; muscle aches; nausea; pneumonia; stomach pain; tenderness of the right upper quadrant; tiredness; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

• Use Bicalutamide/Casodex with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Bicalutamide/Casodex is not recommended for use in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Bicalutamide/Casodex if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. It is unknown if Bicalutamide/Casodex is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Bicalutamide/Casodex .
• LAB TESTS, including liver function tests and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), may be required to monitor your progress. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Bicalutamide/Casodex may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Bicalutamide/Casodex . Using Bicalutamide/Casodex alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Bicalutamide/Casodex may cause constipation or diarrhea. If you experience either constipation or diarrhea, ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a treatment for you.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.