ANDROCUR

What it does:

ANDROCUR is a drug acting against male sex hormones (androgens). Androgens encourage the growth of prostate cancer and ANDROCUR inhibits this effect.

Do not take ANDROCUR if you:

 

• ·         are allergic (hypersensitive) to cyproterone acetate or any of the other ingredients of ANDROCUR;
• ·         have a liver disease or reduced liver function;
• ·         have Dubin-Johnson syndrome or Rotor syndrome that   affects the excretion of red blood cell pigment (bilirubin);
• ·         have or have had liver tumors that are not due to the spread of prostate cancer;
• ·         have reduced kidney function;
• ·         have wasting diseases that are not related to prostate cancer;
• ·         suffer from severe chronic depression;
• ·         have conditions that increase your risk for developing  blood clots (thromboembolic process).

 

What the medicinal ingredient is:

Cyproterone acetate

 

BEFORE you use ANDROCUR talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

• ·         Blood clots;
• ·         Liver problem;
• ·         Depression;
• ·         Breathing problem (shortness of breath).
• ·         Diabetes. Your doctor may need to adjust your antidiabetic medication. This requires strict supervision during treatment with ANDROCUR.
• ·         Anemia. Your doctor will monitor your red-blood cell count during treatment.

 

ANDROCUR is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below 18 years of age and before the end of puberty, as it may have a negative effect on growth and the immature hormonal regulation functions.

 

ANDROCUR is not recommended for use in women.

 

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

 

Drugs that may interact with ANDROCUR include:

 

• Statins (medicines for reducing blood fats)

• Ketoconazole, itraconazole, clotrimazole (for fungal infections)

• Ritonavir (for viral infections)

• Rifampicin (for tuberculosis)

• Phenytoin (for epilepsy)

• St. John’s Wort (herbal remedy for depression)

 

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

 

You should follow the dose prescribed by your doctor.

Usual dose ANDROCUR Tablet 200 mg to 300 mg daily taken orally in two or three divided doses with liquid after meals. Maximum daily dose is 300 mg.

ANDROCUR DEPOT Injection

300 mg given slowly into a muscle (intramuscular) once a week.

 

Overdose

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

 

Missed Dose

Do not take the missed ANDROCUR tablet (do not take a double dose to make up for the missed tablet). Continue taking the tablets at the regular time.

 

ANDROCUR DEPOT Injection

 

Have a new appointment with your doctor in order to make up for the forgotten injection. You should not get a double dose.

 

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

 

ANDROCUR can have side effects, like all medicines, but not everybody gets them. For further information about any of these effects, ask a doctor or pharmacist.

Very frequent side effects:

·         Reduced sexual interest (decreased libido)

·         Swelling of the breast, breast soreness (gynecomastia)

·         Impotence

·         Abnormal sperm, low sperm count which may be

·         reversible after ANDROCUR is discontinued.

 

Other side effects:

·         Hair loss or unusual increase in hair growth

·         Constipation or diarrhea (loose stools)

·         Weight gain

·         Tiredness and weakness

·         Shortness of breath

·         Skin rash, blisters

·         Vision change

·         Decrease in blood pressure

·         Increase in blood sugar

·         Depression

 

Rare but serious side effects:

·         Liver toxicity: generally feeling unwell, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, light-colored stools, dark-colored urine.

·         Life-threatening internal bleeding (intra-abdominal hemorrhage): unusual upper abdominal pains which do not disappear within a short time.

·         Blood clots: swelling of the calf or leg (blood clots in the leg), chest pain and being short of breath (blood clots in the lung), suddenly feeling weak, loss of coordination, slurred speech (a stroke or blood clots in the brain), temporary blindness (blood clots in the eye).

·         Bone loss (osteoporosis) and benign brain tumors (cerebral meningioma) have been reported with long term use of  ANDROCUR.