In patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with bicalutamide in combination with an LHRH analog, the most frequent adverse reaction was hot flashes (53%).
In the multicenter, double-blind, controlled clinical trial comparing bicalutamide 50 mg once daily with flutamide 250 mg three times a day, each in combination with an LHRH analog, the following adverse reactions with an incidence of 5% or greater, regardless of causality, have been reported.
Table 1. Incidence of Adverse Reactions (≥ 5% in Either Treatment Group) Regardless of Causality| Body System: Adverse Reaction | Treatment Group Number of Patients (%) |
| Bicalutamide Plus LHRH Analog | Flutamide Plus LHRH Analog |
| (n = 401) | (n = 407) |
| Body as a Whole | | |
| Pain (General) | 142 (35) | 127 (31) |
| Back Pain | 102 (25) | 105 (26) |
| Asthenia | 89 (22) | 87 (21) |
| Pelvic Pain | 85 (21) | 70 (17) |
| Infection | 71 (18) | 57 (14) |
| Abdominal Pain | 46 (11) | 46 (11) |
| Chest Pain | 34 (8) | 34 (8) |
| Headache | 29 (7) | 27 (7) |
| Flu Syndrome | 28 (7) | 30 (7) |
| Cardiovascular | | |
| Hot Flashes | 211 (53) | 217 (53) |
| Hypertension | 34 (8) | 29 (7) |
| Digestive | | |
| Constipation | 87 (22) | 69 (17) |
| Nausea | 62 (15) | 58 (14) |
| Diarrhea | 49 (12) | 107 (26) |
| Increased Liver Enzyme Test
| 30 (7) | 46 (11) |
| Dyspepsia | 30 (7) | 23 (6) |
| Flatulence | 26 (6) | 22 (5) |
| Anorexia | 25 (6) | 29 (7) |
| Vomiting | 24 (6) | 32 (8) |
| Hemic and Lymphatic | | |
| Anemia
| 45 (11) | 53 (13) |
| Metabolic and Nutritional | | |
| Peripheral Edema | 53 (13) | 42 (10) |
| Weight Loss | 30 (7) | 39 (10) |
| Hyperglycemia | 26 (6) | 27 (7) |
| Alkaline Phosphatase Increased | 22 (5) | 24 (6) |
| Weight Gain | 22 (5) | 18 (4) |
| Musculoskeletal | | |
| Bone Pain | 37 (9) | 43 (11) |
| Myasthenia | 27 (7) | 19 (5) |
| Arthritis | 21 (5) | 29 (7) |
| Pathological Fracture | 17 (4) | 32 (8) |
| Nervous System | | |
| Dizziness | 41 (10) | 35 (9) |
| Paresthesia | 31 (8) | 40 (10) |
| Insomnia | 27 (7) | 39 (10) |
| Anxiety | 20 (5) | 9 (2) |
| Depression | 16 (4) | 33 (8) |
| Respiratory System | | |
| Dyspnea | 51 (13) | 32 (8) |
| Cough Increased | 33 (8) | 24 (6) |
| Pharyngitis | 32 (8) | 23 (6) |
| Bronchitis | 24 (6) | 22 (3) |
| Pneumonia | 18 (4) | 19 (5) |
| Rhinitis | 15 (4) | 22 (5) |
| Skin and Appendages | | |
| Rash | 35 (9) | 30 (7) |
| Sweating | 25 (6) | 20 (5) |
| Urogenital | | |
| Nocturia | 49 (12) | 55 (14) |
| Hematuria | 48 (12) | 26 (6) |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 35 (9) | 36 (9) |
| Gynecomastia | 36 (9) | 30 (7) |
| Impotence | 27 (7) | 35 (9) |
| Breast Pain | 23 (6) | 15 (4) |
| Urinary Frequency | 23 (6) | 29 (7) |
| Urinary Retention | 20 (5) | 14 (3) |
| Urinary Impaired | 19 (5) | 15 (4) |
| Urinary Incontinence | 15 (4) | 32 (8) |
Other adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 2%, but less than 5%) reported in the bicalutamide-LHRH analog treatment group are listed below by body system and are in order of decreasing frequency within each body system regardless of causality.
Body as a Whole: Neoplasm; Neck Pain; Fever; Chills; Sepsis; Hernia; Cyst
Cardiovascular: Angina Pectoris; Congestive Heart Failure; Myocardial Infarct; Heart Arrest; Coronary Artery Disorder; Syncope
Digestive: Melena; Rectal Hemorrhage; Dry Mouth; Dysphagia; Gastrointestinal Disorder; Periodontal Abscess; Gastrointestinal Carcinoma
Metabolic and Nutritional: Edema; BUN Increased; Creatinine Increased; Dehydration; Gout; Hypercholesteremia
Musculoskeletal: Myalgia; Leg Cramps
Nervous: Hypertonia; Confusion; Somnolence; Libido Decreased; Neuropathy; Nervousness
Respiratory: Lung Disorder; Asthma; Epistaxis; Sinusitis
Skin and Appendages: Dry Skin; Alopecia; Pruritus; Herpes Zoster; Skin Carcinoma; Skin Disorder
Special Senses: Cataract specified
Urogenital: Dysuria; Urinary Urgency; Hydronephrosis; Urinary Tract Disorder
Abnormal Laboratory Test Values:
Laboratory abnormalities including elevated AST, ALT, bilirubin, BUN, and creatinine and decreased hemoglobin and white cell count have been reported in both bicalutamide-LHRH analog treated and flutamide-LHRH analog treated patients.