Casodex

I looked it up plenty, same goes with the generic name. What I'm trying to find out are users experiences with this drug taking 50mg per day and nothing else? How long before the SE's kick in?
Thanks much.

It's a little hard for most of us to say. Generally, we have only been on the Casodex for a few weeks when we get a GnRH (ant)agonist shot (Lupron, Firmagon, etc.) that does most of the heavy lifting for our androgen deprivation therapy. It's hard to sort out the side effects of the Casodex from the other drug. I don't think most guys notice the side effects of the Casodex during those few weeks. I know I was much too busy worrying about the side effects of the Lupron shot I was going to get to notice much about what the Casodex did. I tend to think of the side effects of Casodex as being similar to Lupron except maybe not as severe. One side effect that is more severe with Casodex is gynecomastia (man boobs). I think it's a big deal for Casodex as a monotherapy. Not sure it's as much of an issue for a combined Casodex/Lupron therapy. If it is a problem adding a daily dose of Tamoxifen seems to help.

Are you scheduled for a Lupron (or whatever) shot?

alephnull, what was it like side effects for you? I'm on my third day now and haven't noticed a thing. From what a have read about ADT I keep waiting for me to feel like garbage. 3 days isn't much, but some have said adt hits you right away, but maybe that's because they are taking 150mg, and or Lupron at the same time.

Side effects are: loss of libido, breast enlargement and sensitive nipples( can be eliminated by taking Femera). Hot flashes.
A guy on this forum about 8 years ago had a severe case of PC where the tumor had grown into his bladder. His doctors recommended removal of his bladder. He took 50mg of Casodex, his catheter fell out on it's own, and today he is still on Casodex only with a very low psa.

I'm on Casodex mono therapy for almost 4 years. Current dose is 50 mg tablet every 3 days (10 tablets every month). Recent PSA is 0.25 and testosterone 307 ng/ml.
SE's are gynecomastia and decrease in libido. You can prevent gynecomastia by using tamoxifen 10 mg per day. As an alternative to tamoxifen you can use raloxifene (Evista 60 mg).

I was on Casodex for a week prior to starting my Lupron. I don't recall any SEs kicking in during that time. First hot flash took a few weeks and by then I was on Lupron, although I continued with the Casodex for the duration. Good luck to you.

I was only on it (50 mg bicalutamide - generic casodex) for 14 days around the time of my first Lupron injection. I don't really remember having any SEs at that time other than a sore butt (and that was from the Lupron injection, not the bicalutamide/casodex). I was starting to wonder what the big deal was about ADT (found out about a month later).

I read that post before, great info.
So I was wondering if the diarrhea I have was because of food, etc. But since taking Casodex, well I'm pretty sure its causing diarrhea as I have never had it this long before. I just wanted to wait at least 6 days to see if it was indeed food related. Maybe my body will get used to it.
So, first SE for me is diarrhea, but Ill take it compared to other SE's I read about.
I'll update this thread if I experience any other issues, maybe it will help others.
Thanks everyone.

10 day update. Diarrhea gone, go figure. Still no side affects. No loss in libido, or anything regarding down there and my GF. I work out 4 days a week with weights and haven't seen any difference in regards to the amount I can lift. 20 days to go, will update every week.

Pratoman said...
At first, i scratched my head at reading your above post, idog. But then i remembered... an FYI in case you are not aware.... it can take up to 28 days on average for Lupron to drive your T down to target (0 or close) levels.

Prat, he is talking about Casodex here, no? Casodex and Lupron are different, no? I know sometimes they are used together, but still two totally separate drugs, no? I was a bit confused by your response. I am asking a question, not making a statement here, btw!

Day 16.. I think I might have had a hot flash on Wednesday, but hard to say as it was, well hot. I noticed that I'm peeing more now which seems to be a SE. Besides that, nothing else. Had to stop working out this week due to me pulling a muscle in my back, ugh. I'm sick of going to the dr.

Hopefully someone else can chime in that knows more about what is the best ADT for shrinkage. But in regards to the oncologist that is doing my ldr brachy boost, and he is one of the best in the country, its what he prescribed saying to me to pretty much to stay away from being shot up. Now, this is in regards to my scores and the journey I'm on only.

3rd week is in the books, only one more to go then RT starts. Libido has decreased for sure, but about 50 percent only. For some reason I seem to pee more, but I do chug tons of water. I get what I call, warm flashes. Only have had a few in the past week, and they are pretty mild. Never had one at night and its pretty warm here in Chicago. What I have noticed is a slight fog that has come and gone a few times. Its a weird feeling, something I have never experienced before. Kind of calming and spacey.
I'll post one more time in 7 days and call this thread a done deal. I'll create another for my RT journey.
I talked with the doc that will do my ld brachy about when we should implant the seeds after ebrt and this is exactly what I wanted to hear. He said normally I do it three weeks after ebrt, but that I need to tell him how my SES's are after EBRT so we can postpone it if need be.