Nilutamide

Nilutamide is used after surgery to treat prostate cancer. Nilutamide is in a class of medications called antiandrogens. It works by blocking the effect of androgen (a male hormone), to stop the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Nilutamide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food once daily. Take nilutamide at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take nilutamide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. You should begin taking nilutamide the day of or the day after your surgery. After about 30 days of treatment, your doctor will probably decrease your dose. The length of treatment depends on how well your body responds to nilutamide. Continue to take nilutamide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking nilutamide without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Nilutamide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
<li>
constipation</li>
<li>
dizziness</li>
<li>
hot flashes</li>
<li>
visual changes</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
stomach pain</li>
<li>
pain in the upper right part of the stomach</li>
<li>
extreme tiredness</li>
<li>
loss of appetite</li>
<li>
flu-like symptoms</li>
<li>
dark urine</li></ul>Nilutamide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking nilutamide, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to nilutamide, bicalutamide, flutamide, or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), phenytoin (Dilantin), and theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Phyllin, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or lung disease. ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking nilutamide. Alcohol can make the side effects from nilutamide worse. you should know that you may have trouble seeing for a few seconds to a few minutes when you move from a lighted area to a dark area. You should be careful driving at night or through tunnels. Wearing tinted glasses may help your eyes adjust to changes in light while you are taking nilutamide.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

<ul>
<li>
nausea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
dizziness</li></ul>