Androcur Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Androcur Tablet contains cyproterone acetate, an anti-androgen therapy. It blocks the actions of male sex hormones (androgens) and reduces the amount of male sex hormones the body makes. It is used in men to control sexual desire and in advanced prostate cancer, and in women—often together with an estrogen-progestogen product—to manage severe signs of excess androgens such as hirsutism, hair loss, and acne. It is not for use in people under 18 years old.

What is Androcur Tablet

Androcur is a medicine containing cyproterone acetate, belonging to the anti-androgen therapy class. It blocks the actions of male sex hormones (androgens) and reduces the amount of male sex hormones the body makes. It can also be used in women, often together with an estrogen-progestogen product, to manage severe signs of excess androgens.

Androcur Tablet uses

• Controlling sexual desire in men with increased sex drive (hypersexuality) and/or sexual deviation
• Antiandrogen treatment in inoperable prostate cancer, to help reduce pain from advanced prostate cancer
• In women, treating very severe hirsutism (excess facial and body hair)
• In women, treating severe androgen-related scalp hair loss (severe androgenetic alopecia)
• In women, treating severe acne and/or seborrhoea

Benefits of Androcur Tablet

• Reduces sex drive in men with hypersexuality or sexual deviation
• Slows growth of advanced prostate cancer by blocking androgen actions
• Reduces severe excess hair growth, scalp hair loss, and acne caused by high androgen levels in women

How Androcur Tablet works

Androcur blocks the effects of androgens (male sex hormones) in the body and reduces the amount of these hormones that the body produces.

Androcur Tablet dosage

Take the tablet after a meal (morning and evening) and swallow it whole with a drink of water. Do not change your dose or stop treatment unless your doctor tells you to. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue with your next dose as normal; do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Androcur is not for use in people under 18 years old.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet
• Injection (Androcur Depot solution)

Side effects of Androcur Tablet

Common

• Reduced sperm count
• Reduced volume of ejaculate
• Weight decrease or increase, sometimes with fluid retention
• Depressed mood
• Restlessness
• Breast swelling, sometimes with tenderness
• Hot flushes, sweating
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction
• Rash (less common)

Serious

• Liver problems, including hepatitis or liver failure (signs: feeling unwell, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, itching, yellowing of skin or eyes, pale stools, dark urine)
• Benign or malignant liver tumours that may cause life-threatening internal bleeding (signs: unusual upper abdominal pain that doesn't go away quickly)
• Blood clots (signs: swelling of calf or leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness, loss of coordination, slurred speech, temporary vision loss)
• Benign brain tumours (meningioma), especially with long-term or high-dose use (signs: vision changes, hearing loss or ringing in ears, loss of smell, worsening headache, memory loss, seizures, limb weakness)
• Suppressed adrenal gland function (signs: tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, dehydration, headache, irritability, depression, muscle aches, abdominal pain, salt cravings, nausea, diarrhea)
• Allergic reaction (rash, itching, or difficulty breathing/swallowing)
• Anaemia
• Osteoporosis (thinning of bones) with long-term use

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take Androcur if you have liver disease, any type of cancer other than prostate cancer, a history of meningioma, wasting diseases, blood clots, severe diabetes affecting circulation, sickle-cell anaemia, severe long-term depression, or if you are allergic to cyproterone acetate, under 18, or not yet fully developed physically.
• Liver tumours (benign or malignant) have very rarely occurred with this type of medicine and can cause life-threatening bleeding in the abdomen.
• Blood clots have been reported in people taking this medicine; tell your doctor if you have a history of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, cancer, sickle-cell anaemia, or severe diabetes affecting circulation.
• Benign brain tumours (meningioma) have been linked to long-term use of this medicine, especially at higher doses.
• This medicine can affect your blood sugar levels, so diabetics should monitor blood sugar closely and may need dose adjustments of their diabetes medicine.
• Your doctor will check your adrenal gland function, as it may become suppressed during treatment.
• This medicine reduces sperm count and can make more sperm abnormal in shape. Do not rely on it for contraception.
• Do not use in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have certain liver conditions, blood clot risk, or severe depression.
• Androcur must not be used during pregnancy.
• Androcur must not be used while breastfeeding.
• Use in renal impairment has not been well studied; specialist assessment is appropriate.
• Do not take Androcur if you have liver disease, including previous or existing liver tumours, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, or Rotor syndrome. Your doctor may do regular liver tests before and during treatment, since liver problems, sometimes severe or fatal, have been reported.
• Androcur does not work as well in men who regularly drink a lot of alcohol, and alcohol may reduce its effect on sex drive.
• You may feel tired and weak during treatment. If this happens, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that could be risky.

Storage

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment
• Store at or below 30°C. Keep blister strips in the original carton until use

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, as this could be a sign of a rare allergic reaction.
• Tell your doctor straightaway if you get new stomach discomfort or pain that doesn't go away quickly, as this could signal a liver tumour with internal bleeding.
• Tell your doctor immediately if you notice signs of liver problems such as feeling generally unwell, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, itching all over, yellowing of skin or eyes, pale stools, or dark urine.
• Seek immediate medical help for signs of a blood clot, such as swelling of the calf or leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden weakness.
• Tell your doctor straightaway if you notice vision changes, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, loss of smell, worsening headaches, memory loss, seizures, or limb weakness, as these may signal a brain tumour.

Alternatives

• Spironolactone
• Finasteride
• Dutasteride
• Other specialist-selected anti-androgen therapy