Cyproterone

Cyproterone, an anti-androgen, is indicated in patients with prostate cancer and female hirsutism. It is also used to control libido in individuals with severe hypersexuality.

Cyproterone prevents male hormones, like androgen and testosterone, from exerting their functions, thereby reducing effects. This medication also decreased the serum blood level of these hormones.

It can be a stand-alone drug or used in conjunction with other medications. You can only buy this medication if you have a prescription. It is marketed as an injectable and a tablet.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make.

For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.

For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Pediatric Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing the use of cyproterone in children with use in other age groups.

Geriatric Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people.

There is no specific information comparing the use of cyproterone in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Breastfeeding. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.

In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur.

Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.

Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood clots (or history of) or Circulation disease (or history of) or Stroke (or history of). If these conditions already are already present, cyproterone may have a greater chance of causing blood clotting problems.
• Cardiac disease. May make the condition worse.
• Depressive tendencies. May cause depression to occur.
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus. May cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood and urine sugar.
• Liver disease. Effects of cyproterone may be increased because of its slower removal from the body.

Take cyproterone as directed by your physician. This medicine can cause weakness and energy loss in the first few months, but these symptoms eventually decrease over time.

It is essential that you continue taking cyproterone despite these. Abruptly discontinuing it may cause more harm than good. It has to be tapered down.

Dosage, timing, and treatment duration depend on individual factors. However, patients with prostate cancer who are taking tablets receive 100 to 200 mg a day given in 3 divided doses.

If they are receiving intramuscular injections, the dosage usually is 300 mg once a week. Take a missed dose on the next schedule. Double dosing is not recommended.

Keep your cyproterone in a safe place where children cannot reach it and do not expose it to temperature extremes.

Throw away expired medications. If you notice any discoloration, throw them away as well.

Do not miss your follow-up appointments. This is a way for your doctor to check your progress and make sure that side effects do not develop.

Also, get the appropriate laboratory and diagnostic exams are done as directed by your physician. As mentioned earlier, cyproterone can cause weakness, drowsiness, and dizziness.

You should not operate machines or drive while on cyproterone treatment. You need to take precautions against skin damage because this medicine will increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight.

Avoid direct sunlight exposure. Do not stay under the sun especially during peak hours like 10:00 to 3:00. Protect your skin with clothing. You need to wear sunglasses as well.

Apply a strong sunblock before going out. Sunblocks with at least SPF 15 are recommended. You may need a higher SPF depending on your complexion.

Your healthcare provider can provide more information on this. You should also protect your lips. You can use a sunblock lip balm or lipstick that has at least SPF 15.

Tanning is not recommended. So don’t use tanning beds, booths or sunlamps. Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you do get a skin reaction. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.

Cyproterone has several side effects although you may not experience all of them.

The most common ones are excess milk flow from breasts, erectile dysfunction, swelling of the breasts or breast soreness, and reduction in sexual desire. Get medical attention right away if you have allergic reactions like breathing and swallowing difficulty.

This medication can also cause:

• stroke
• heart attack
• hot flushes
• raised blood pressure
• ankle swelling
• thrombosis
• anemia
• adrenal gland function suppression
• temporary restlessness
• development of breasts in males
• breast lumps
• impotence
• sleepiness
• headache
• jaundice
• liver problems
• abdominal bleeding
• meningiomas
• sweating
• rash
• depression
• breathing problems
• hair loss
• lightening of hair color
• dry skin
• acne improvement
• weight changes
• osteoporosis

You need to call your doctor if you have:

• agitation
• blisters on the skin
• blurred vision
• chest pain
• fruit-like breath odor
• hallucinations
• hives
• inability to speak
• nausea and vomiting
• difficult urination
• seizures
• shortness of breath
• sudden loss of coordination
• slurred speech
• swollen and painful glands
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• wheezing

If you experience side effects that were not mentioned, consult your doctor right away.