Do not take Casodex:

• if you are allergic to bicalutamide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you are already taking a medicine called cisapride or certain anti-histamine medicines (terfenadine or astemizole).
• if you are a woman.

Do not take Casodex if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Casodex.

Casodex must not be given to children.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Casodex:

• if you have any of the following: any heart or blood vessel conditions, including heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia), or are being treated with medicines for these conditions. The risk of heart rhythm problems may be increased when using Casodex.
• if you are taking blood thinners or medicines to prevent blood clots.
• if you have problems with your liver.
• if you have diabetes and are already taking an ‘LHRH analogue’. These include goserelin, buserelin, leuprorelin and triptorelin.
• if you go into hospital, tell the medical staff that you are taking Casodex.
• if you are taking Casodex, you and/or your partner should use birth control while you are taking Casodex and for 130 days after stopping Casodex. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about birth control.

Other medicines and Casodex

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Casodex can affect the way other medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Casodex works.

Do not take Casodex if you are already taking any of the following medicines:

• Cisapride (used for some types of indigestion).
• Certain anti-histamine medicines (terfenadine or astemizole).

Casodex might interfere with some medicines used to treat heart rhythm problems (e.g. quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol) or might increase the risk of heart rhythm problems when used with some other drugs [e.g. methadone (used for pain relief and part of drug addiction detoxification), moxifloxacin (an antibiotic)], antipsychotics used for serious mental illnesses.

Also, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Medicines taken by mouth to prevent blood clots (oral anti-coagulants) e.g. warfarin. Blood thinners or medicines to prevent blood clots.
• Ciclosporin (to suppress your immune system).
• Calcium channel blockers (to treat high blood pressure or some heart conditions).
• Cimetidine (for stomach problems).
• Ketoconazole (to treat infections caused by a fungus).

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

Casodex must not be taken by women, including pregnant women or mothers who are breast-feeding their babies.

Casodex may have an effect on male fertility which could be reversible.

Driving and using machines

Casodex is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.

However, if you feel sleepy take care with these activities.

Casodex contains lactose

Lactose is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

Casodex contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.