The pharmacological action of bicalutamide can cause the following side effects:
- very often (> 10%): gynecomastia (can persist even after cessation of therapy, especially in case of taking the drug for a long time), tenderness of the mammary glands, hot flashes;
- often (≥1% and <10%): diarrhea, nausea, transient increase in the activity of "liver" transaminases, cholestasis and jaundice (described changes in liver function were rarely evaluated as serious, transient, completely disappeared, or decreased with continued therapy or after drug withdrawal), itching, asthenia: when applied drug in a daily dose of 150 mg - alopecia or hair regrowth, decreased sexual desire, sexual dysfunction, weight gain.
- rarely (≥0,1% - <1%): hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema and hives, interstitial lung diseases; when using the drug in a daily dose of 150 mg - abdominal pain, depression, dyspepsia, hematuria;
- rarely (≥0,01% - <0,1%): vomiting, dry skin (with the use of the drug in a daily dose of 150 mg, dry skin is often observed), liver failure (the cause-and-effect relationship with bicalutamide is not established reliably).
With the simultaneous use of bicalutamide and GnRH analogues, the following adverse events with a frequency of ≥ 1% can also be observed (the cause-and-effect relationship with the drug administration has not been established, some of the noted side effects have been observed in elderly patients):
From the cardiovascular system: heart failure.
From the gastrointestinal tract: anorexia, dry mouth, indigestion, constipation, flatulence.
From the central nervous system: dizziness, headache, insomnia, increased drowsiness.
From the respiratory system: dyspnea.
From the genitourinary system: sexual dysfunction, nocturia, polyuria.
From the hematopoietic system: anemia.
From the skin and its appendages: alopecia, skin rash, excessive sweating, hirsutism.
Other: diabetes, hyperglycemia, increased or decreased body weight, abdominal pain, chest pain, pelvic pain, chills.