COSUDEX® 150mg (Bicalutamide)
Information in this fact sheet is meant to assist you in making decisions about your treatment. Always make medication decisions in consultation with your healthcare team.
What is Cosudex® 150mg used for?
Cosudex® 150mg is used to treat locally advanced prostate cancer.
Cosudex® 150mg belongs to the family of non-steroidal anti-androgens.
Androgens such as testosterone are natural male sex hormones.
In some types of prostate cancer, androgens may help the cancer cells to grow. Cosudex® 150mg interferes with some of the actions of these hormones.
Cosudex® 150mg should only be taken by men.
What does Cosudex® 150mg look like?
Cosudex® 150mg tablets are white, round film-coated tablets. An arrow logo is impressed on one side and ‘Cosudex® 150' is impressed on the other side.
Cosudex® 150mg tablets are packed in blister foils of 28 tablets.
How is Cosudex® 150mg given?
The usual adult dose is one 150mg tablet taken each day. Cosudex® 150mg is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Swallow your Cosudex® 150mg tablet whole with a full glass of water. Take Cosudex® 150mg at about the same time each day.
Cosudex® 150mg should be started at the same time as the other medicines you have been given for the treatment of prostate cancer.
It does not matter if you take Cosudex® 150mg before, with or after food.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it is 12 hours before the next dose is due.
If it is less than 12 hours to the next dose do not take the dose you have missed.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What are the common side effects?
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Cosudex® 150mg.
Cosudex® 150mg helps people with advanced prostate cancer, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- breast tenderness or changes in breast size
- hot flushes or sweating
- itching or dry skin
- increased hairiness or hair loss
- aches or pains anywhere in your body
- nausea
- constipation/ diarrhoea
- weight changes
- stomach pain
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- decrease in your sexual drive
- inability to get or maintain an erection.
These are possible side effects of Cosudex® 150mg.
What are the less common side effects?
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist immediately if any of the following happen:
- frequent urination
- shortness of breath and dizziness when exercising and looking pale (anaemia)
- excessive thirst with weight loss, and passing large amounts of urine.
These are all serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately, call an ambulance or go to an Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if any of the following happen:
- chest pain
- yellowing of the skin or eyes and dark coloured urine
- rash, hives or severe itching of the skin
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing
- swelling of other parts of the body including hands, feet or ankles
- serious breathlessness, or sudden worsening of breathlessness, possibly with a cough or fever
- shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
These are all serious side effects.You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Some people may get other effects while taking Cosudex® 150mg.
References
Disclaimer
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia develops materials based on best available evidence and takes advice from recognised experts in the field in developing such resource; however it cannot guarantee and assumes no legal responsibility for the currency or completeness of the information.
