This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Flutamide (Chimax, Drogenil) which is used to treat prostate cancer. It stops testosterone getting to the receptors on the surface of the cancer cells, which slows or prevents growth. It is taken in tablet form, three times a day. It is one of a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-androgens. These drugs can be used as part of a combination treatment with one of the LHRH-agonists in a treatment called complete (combined), or maximal androgen blockade, CAB or MAB. It blocks the testosterone produced from the testicles, and the 5% or so thats produced by the adrenal glands and other parts of the body. You would use slightly lower doses in CAB.
Another way of using these drugs is to use an LHRH-agonist, and if that treatment starts failing, then the combined treatment is a recommended next step.
Side effects can include: decreased sperm count and volume of ejaculation, reduced sex drive, diarrhoea, nausea, tiredness, risk of liver dysfunction and occasionally blurred vision.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects
Other articles that you may find interesting are:
- A diet for Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy overview
- A to Z Guide to Complementary Therapies
Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list