What is Androcur?

Cyproterone is used to treat cancer of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is present only in males; therefore, females do not get prostate cancer. This medicine blocks the effect of the male hormone testosterone in the body. This decreases the amount of testosterone produced in the body and is one way of treating this type of cancer.

Always read the patient information and instructions carefully before using this medication.

• Cyproterone is available as an oral tablet. Take 100 to 200mg as prescribed by your doctor a day.
• Take Androcur after meals.
• Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications.
• < If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice./li>
• This medication should not be discontinued even if improvement of the disease occurs.
• Keep out of the reach of children. Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. Keep the medicine from freezing.

Make sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist:

• If you have any drug allergies.
• Which other prescription and non-prescription medications you currently take.
• If you have ever had blood clots, strokes, cardiac disease, depressive tendencies, type 2 diabetes or liver disease.

Also be aware that:

• At first, cyproterone often causes loss of strength and energy or tiredness. However, these effects are lessened after about the third month of treatment and it is very important that you continue to receive this medication.
• This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert .
• Cyproterone may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:
• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible. Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses. Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional. Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips. Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.
• While you are taking cyproterone, be careful to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
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Common side-effects may include but are not limited to:

• Decreased interest in sexual intercourse; inability to have or keep an erection; increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance; increased interest in sexual intercourse; loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance; swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males; unexpected or excess milk flow from breasts.
• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, or discoloration of skin; change in walking and balance; clumsiness or unsteadiness; hair loss; inability to move legs or arms; increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight; increase in bowel movements; loose stools; loss of strength or energy; muscle pain or weakness; paralysis of one side of the body; redness or other discoloration of skin; severe sunburn; soft stools; tiredness or weakness; unusual increase in hair growth; weight gain.

Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following side-effects:

• Abdominal pain or tenderness; agitation; back pain; black, tarry stools; blisters on skin; bloody urine; blurred vision; chest pain; chills; clay colored stools; confusion; cough; dark urine; decreased appetite; decreased urine output; difficulty swallowing; dilated neck veins; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fainting or light-headedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position; fast heartbeat; fatigue; fever; flushed, dry skin; fruit-like breath odor; general feeling of discomfort or illness; hallucinations; headache, sudden and severe; hives; inability to speak; increased blood pressure; increased hunger; increased thirst; increased urination; irregular breathing; irregular heartbeat; itching; loss of consciousness; lower back/side pain; mood or mental changes; nausea and vomiting; painful or difficult urination; pains in chest, groin, or legs, especially calves of legs; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; red, thickened, or scaly skin; seizures; shortness of breath; skin rash; slurred speech; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; sore throat; stiff neck; stomachache; sudden loss of coordination; sweating; swelling of feet or lower legs; swollen and/or painful glands; temporary blindness; tightness in chest; unexplained weight loss; unusual bleeding or bruising; vision changes; weakness in arm and/or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe; wheezing; yellow eyes or skin
• Any symptoms of an allergic reaction. These could include rashes or itching, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, severe dizziness or troubles with breathing.

Q: What is the generic alternative for Androcur?

A: The generic alternate to Androcur is Cyproterone Acetate and may offer even better savings.

Q: What strengths are available for Androcur?

A: Androcur is available in 50mg and 100 strengths. The generic alternative Cyproterone Acetate is also available in 50mg.