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nilutamide - oral, Nilandron

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GENERIC NAME: NILUTAMIDE - ORAL (nye-LOO-tuh-mide)

BRAND NAME(S): Nilandron

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

WARNING: Rarely, nilutamide has caused severe (sometimes fatal) lung problems (interstitial pneumonitis). Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of lung problems (such as cough, trouble breathing, chest pain, fever). Lung problems can happen at any time while you are taking nilutamide, but they occur most often during the first 3 months of treatment. Your doctor will tell you whether to stop or continue nilutamide.

Your doctor may have you get a chest X-ray and breathing tests before you start nilutamide.

USES: This medication is used to treat men with prostate cancer, and is used after surgery (removal of the testicles) or with other medications. Nilutamide belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-androgens (anti-testosterone). Testosterone, a natural hormone, helps prostate cancer to grow and spread. Nilutamide works by blocking the effects of testosterone, thereby slowing the growth and spread of prostate cancer.

HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or as directed by your doctor. If you are taking nilutamide after surgery, it is usually started on the day of surgery or the day after. After 30 days of treatment, your doctor will usually decrease your dose.Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. The length of treatment depends on how your body and the cancer respond to nilutamide and other treatments.Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Do not stop any medications for your prostate cancer unless told to do so by your doctor. Stopping your medications could allow the cancer to spread more rapidly.Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens (such as urination becomes more difficult, bone pain increases).

SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warning section.Because nilutamide may be used with other medications, the side effects may be due to any one medicine or the combination of medications. Hot flashes, sweating, dizziness, loss of sexual interest/ability, vision changes (such as difficulty seeing when moving into the dark or light, changes in color vision), stomach pain, constipation, nausea, signs of alcohol intolerance (such as flushing, tiredness) dry skin, increased sensitivity to touch/pain, and loss of body hair may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Rarely, nilutamide has caused severe (sometimes fatal) liver problems. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of liver problems (such as loss of appetite, persistent nausea/vomiting/stomach pain, severe tiredness, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin). Liver problems can happen at any time while taking nilutamide, but they occur most often during the first 3-4 months of treatment. Your doctor will tell you whether to stop or continue nilutamide. Your doctor will monitor your liver function with blood tests before you start and while you are taking nilutamide. Keep all medical and laboratory appointments.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration   You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Need help identifying pills and medications? Use the pill identifier tool on RxList.