FLUTAMIDE- flutamide capsule
Par Pharmaceutical Inc.
WARNINGS
Hepatic Injury
There have been postmarketing reports of hospitalization and rarely death due to liver failure in patients taking flutamide. Evidence of hepatic injury included elevated serum transaminase levels, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy and death related to acute hepatic failure. The hepatic injury was reversible after discontinuation of therapy in some patients. Approximately half of the reported cases occurred within the initial 3 months of treatment with flutamide.
Serum transaminase levels should be measured prior to starting treatment with flutamide. Flutamide is not recommended in patients whose ALT values exceed twice the upper limit of normal. Serum transaminase levels should then be measured monthly for the first 4 months of therapy, and periodically thereafter. Liver function tests also should be obtained at the first signs and symptoms suggestive of liver dysfunction, e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, �flu-like" symptoms, hyperbilirubinuria, jaundice or right upper quadrant tenderness. If at any time, a patient has jaundice, or their ALT rises above 2 times the upper limit of normal, flutamide should be immediately discontinued with close follow-up of liver function tests until resolution.
DESCRIPTION
Flutamide capsules contain flutamide, an acetanilid, nonsteroidal, orally active antiandrogen having the chemical name, ?,?,?-trifluoro-2-methyl-4?-nitrom-propionotoluidide.
Each capsule contains 125 mg flutamide. The compound is a buff to yellow powder with a molecular weight of 276.22 and the following structural formula:
This is the structural formula
C11 H11 F3 N2 O3
In addition, each capsule contains the following inactive ingredients: corn starch, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, povidone, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Gelatin capsule shells may contain gelatin, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, FDA/E172 Red Iron Oxide, FDA/E172 Yellow Iron Oxide, and black ink containing pharmaceutical glaze (modified) in SD-45, synthetic black iron oxide, N-butyl alcohol, SDA-3A alcohol, FD&C Blue No.2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red No.40 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue No.1 Aluminum Lake, and D&C Yellow No.10 Aluminum Lake.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
General
In animal studies, flutamide demonstrates potent antiandrogenic effects. It exerts its antiandrogenic action by inhibiting androgen uptake and/or by inhibiting nuclear binding of androgen in target tissues or both. Prostatic carcinoma is known to be androgen-sensitive and responds to treatment that counteracts the effect of androgen and/or removes the source of androgen, e.g., castration. Elevations of plasma testosterone and estradiol levels have been noted following flutamide administration.
