Men's Health - Flutamidum (Brand name: eulexin)

INDICATIONS

Eulexin is indicated for use in combination with LHRH agonists for the management of locally confined Stage B2-C and Stage D2 metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.

INSTRUCTIONS

Take flutamide exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Flutamide is usually taken three times a day (every 8 hours). Follow your doctor's instructions.

Your doctor will need to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with flutamide, every month for the first 4 months of treatment, and periodically thereafter.

In rare cases, flutamide has caused severe liver damage resulting in death or hospitalization. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, "flu-like" symptoms, yellow skin or eyes, itching, clay-colored stools, or dark urine. These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage.
Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. Store flutamide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

If you missed a dose - take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

DOSAGE

The recommended dosage is 2 capsules 3 times a day at 8-hour intervals for a total daily dose of 750 mg.

STORAGE

Store Eulexin at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep Eulexin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

SAFETY INFORMATION

Before taking flutamide, tell your doctor if you:

• smoke,
• have liver disease,
• have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, or
• have hemoglobin M deficiency.

You may not be able to take flutamide, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Flutamide is not indicated for use by women. Flutamide is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to harm an unborn baby. Do not take flutamide if you are pregnant. Flutamide is not indicated for use by women. It is not known whether flutamide passes into breast milk. Do not take flutamide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

In rare cases, flutamide has caused severe liver damage resulting in death or hospitalization. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, "flu-like" symptoms, yellow skin or eyes, itching, clay-colored stools, or dark urine. These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage.

Your doctor will need to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with flutamide, every month for the first 4 months of treatment, and periodically thereafter.
Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor.

SIDE EFFECTS

Stop taking flutamide and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

In rare cases, flutamide has caused severe liver damage resulting in death or hospitalization. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop:

• nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, "flu-like" symptoms, yellow skin or eyes, itching, clay-colored stools, or dark urine. These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take flutamide and talk to your doctor if you experience:

• hot flashes, diarrhea, skin rash, increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, loss of sex drive, impotence, lowered sperm count, enlarged breasts, amber or greenish discoloration of the urine, rectal bleeding or inflammation, or blood in the urine.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.