Information specific to: Cyproterone 50mg tablets when used in Prostate cancer.
Cyproterone acetate (Sip-roh-ter-rone ass-it-ate) is a medicine which is used in prostate cancer.
The information in this Medicine Guide for Cyproterone acetate varies according to the condition being treated and the particular preparation used.
Your medicine
Cyproterone acetate is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It blocks the effects of hormones that may worsen certain types of prostate cancer. Tablet forms of this medicine must not be taken by women.
Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.
The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often you should take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.
If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.
Whether this medicine is suitable for you
Cyproterone acetate is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.
Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:
- are allergic or sensitive to or have had a reaction to any of the ingredients in the medicine
- have a cancer other than prostate cancer
- have a wasting disease
- have depression
- have diabetes
- have Dubin-Johnson syndrome
- have liver disease
- have or have had a meningioma
- have or have had livertumours
- have or have had thromboembolic problems such as a heart attack, a stroke, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis
- have Rotor syndrome
- have sickle cell anaemia
Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for male children under the age of 18 years.
As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:
- to determine whether or not the medicine is suitable and whether it must be prescribed with extra care
- to check that this medicine is not having any undesired effects
Over time it is possible that Cyproterone acetate can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Cyproterone acetate has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.
Alcohol
Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.
In the case of Cyproterone acetate:
- there are no known interactions between alcohol and Cyproterone acetate
Diet
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.
In the case of Cyproterone acetate:
- there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when taking Cyproterone acetate
Driving and operating machinery
When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
In the case of Cyproterone acetate:
- this medicine could affect your ability to drive or operate machinery
Like all medicinesCyproterone acetate can cause side effects. You should see how this medicine affects you and then judge if you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt, talk to your prescriber.
Family planning and pregnancy
Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that has been reached when the medicine comes into contact with the developing baby.
In the case of Cyproterone acetate:
- Cyproterone acetate is a medicine which has implications for pregnancy because of its effects on sperm. If your partner could become pregnant, you must use effective contraception or abstain from penetrative sex. It is important that you do not father a baby while taking Cyproterone acetate. If you father a child, your partner must tell her doctor that the baby was conceived while you were taking Cyproterone acetate. If your partner becomes pregnant, or thinks she has become pregnant, she must contact her doctor
- tablet forms of this medicine must not be taken by women
Breast-feeding
Tablet forms of this medicine must not be taken by women so its effects on breast-feeding are not relevant.
Taking other medicines
If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.
The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.
Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.
The following medicines may interact with Cyproterone acetate:
- clotrimazole
- insulin
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- phenytoin
- pioglitazone
- rifampicin
- ritonavir
- rosiglitazone
The following types of medicine may interact with Cyproterone acetate:
- cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers
- cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitors
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
- oral antidiabetics
- statins
- thiazolidinediones
If you are taking Cyproterone acetate and one of the above medicines or types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.
Complementary preparations and vitamins
Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins.
Make sure you tell your prescriber the names of all the complementary preparations and vitamins that you are taking or are planning to take.
Your prescriber can then decide whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact.
In the case of Cyproterone acetate:
- this medicineinteracts with St. John's Wort
If you have been prescribed Cyproterone acetate you should only take something on the above list on the specific advice of your prescriber or pharmacist.
