Warning: When taking Eulexin, you should watch for any signs of liver problems. Although rare, there are reports in which this drug has led to severe liver problems and in a few cases, death. Signs of problems with the liver are a yellowness around the eyes and the skin, chronic vomiting or nausea, pain in the muscles and joints, dark colored urine, continuous exhaustion, and continuous pain in the torso area. Although rare, taking Eulexin can lead to the development of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication. Any of these listed symptoms should be reported to your doctor immediately.
Indication: Prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone, the male hormone, to grow and spread. Eulexin works to prevent the testosterone from doing their job and, in effect, slows the growth. Known as a hormone therapy drug, this medication is given with other drugs and radiation treatment to stop the cancer from spreading.
The most common side effect of this drug is diarrhea so it is important to drink a lot of liquids—especially water so that you do not become dehydrated. There are other side effects that can occur but the effects are influenced by the other drugs or treatments that you may be taking. Some of these side effects include erectile dysfunction, nausea, vomiting, hot flashes, and breast enlargement. Severe side effects have been reported in rare instances but you should notify your doctor immediately if you experience the following: shortness of breath, chest pain, lower torso pain, mood/thought changes, trouble with comprehension, pale skin, blueness in lips, skin, or fingers, rapid heartbeat that would not be caused by exercise or exertion, lump in the breast.
Dosage: Eulexin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. The Usual dosage is 250 mg, which can be taken in combination with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRH).
As with any medication you are prescribed, you should always read the information given you by your doctor and pharmacist. Eulexin is taken as a pill, three times every day or in the manner as prescribed by your doctor. You should take the pill with water and you can choose to take it with food or without, although if you have a stomach that is sensitive, you will want to ask your doctor for advice.
Overdose: Overdosing chemotherapy drugs can lead to death. As with all drugs, overdose or accidental poisoning can be fatal, especially in elderly patients. In fact, even at normal doses, Eulexin can cause serious or life-threatening liver damage. If you think you have taken a Eulexin overdose, contact your doctor or an emergency medical center as soon as possible.
Missing dose: it is important to do your best to take the medication as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. If you miss a dose for less than 2 hours or so, take it right away. If it is almost time to take the dose, it is better to wait for the next dose. In any case, you should not double the dose; this can cause serious health problems.
Contraindication: You should never begin taking a new medication without consulting your doctor first. Eulexin is contraindicated or should be used with precaution in the following conditions:
- being a woman
- liver failure
- kidney failure
- allergy to Eulexin or any of its ingredients
- liver disease associated with anterior Eulexin
- Talk to your doctor if you intend to father during the treatment.
Mechanism of action (MOA): Certainprostate cancers are hormone-receptor-positive; the cancer cells need testosterone to grow and multiply. In combination with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRH), Eulexin reduces or inhibits the cellular utilization of androgens that stimulate the tumor development.
Interactions: While taking Eulexin, you should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice as this food has been shown to increase any side effects the drug may give you. If you are on a blood thinner, such as Coumadin, increased bleeding can occur, so it is important to make sure your doctor knows all the medications—prescribed and non-prescribed, herbs, and herbal treatments that you are taking. Failure to do so can cause severe problems.
Side effects: If you are being treated with Eulexin, you will most likely to develop at least one of the followingv side effects:
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See a health care provider immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:
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