The Basics

Official Names: Flutamide and Bicalutamide
Popular Brand Names for Flutamide: Flutamin and Eulexin.
Popular Brand Names for Bicalutamide: Casodex and Calutide.
Type of Treatment: Rx Medication – Androgen Inhibitor.

How it Works: Flutamide and Bicalutamide work by preventing androgen hormones (eg. testosterone and DHT) from activating the androgen receptor. Inhibiting the effects of androgen hormones may improve acne symptoms in some patients by slowing the growth of the sebaceous glands.

Flutamide and Bicalutamide Background

Bicalutamide (Casodex) and Flutamide (Flutamin) Molecules

Many different kinds of cells in the body can be stimulated by androgen hormones, like testosterone and DHT.  Androgen hormones bind to specialized sensors in cells called Androgen Receptors.  The binding of androgen hormones to androgen receptors triggers a cascade of signals that are essential for many functions, primarily those associated with male characteristics.

Both Flutamide and Bicalutamide prevent androgen hormones from binding to androgen receptors through a process known as “competitive antagonism.”  Both Flutamide and Bicalutamide bind tightly to Androgen Receptors, but do not activate them.  The bound Flutamide and Bicalutamide molecules then block androgen hormones from interacting with the Androgen Receptors, which prevents them from becoming activates.

Both medications were originally developed to treat prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) and androgen-dependent prostate cancer.  Flutamide and Bicalutamide are not routinely used in the treatment of acne vulgaris.  Flutamide and Bicalutamide are generally only available as oral medications.

Additional Names for Flutamide: Andraxan, Asoflut, Curestat, Cytomid, Dedile, Drogenil, Elbat, Etaconil, Euflex, Eulexine, Flimutal, Flucinom, Flumid, Fluprosin, Fluprost, Flutabene, Flutam, Flutamid, Flutamida, Flutamidum, Flutamin, Flutan, Flutaplex, Flutasin, Flutastad, Flutepan, Fugerel, Odyne, Oncosal, Profamid, Prostacur, Prostadex, Prostadirex, Prostica, Tafenil, Tecnoflut, Tremexal.
Additional Names for Bicalutamide: Androblock, Androcal, Androxinon, Baculamyl, Bica, Bicadex, Bicalan, Bicalinn, Bicalox, Bicalupel, Bicaluplex, Bicalustad, Bicalut, Bicalutagen, Bicalutamid, Bicalutamida, Bicalutamidum, Bicalutin, Bicalutyrol, Bicamed, Bicamide, Bicatin, Bicatleon, Bicatlon, Bicavan, Bickam, Bictamid, Bicusan, Bidrostat, Bilumid, Biluta, Bimedacol, Calumid, Calutide, Casomide, Cosamide, Cosudex, Finaband, Glanuta, Kalumid, Lutamidal, Nycolutamid, Ormandyl, Praxis, Procalut, Zolacos.

Flutamide and Bicalutamide in the Treatment of Acne

Patient Reviews of Flutamide and Bicalutamide

Flutamide @ Acne.org
Bicalutamide Reviews @ Drugs.com
Flutamide Reviews @ WebMD
Bicalutamide Reviews @ WebMD
Flutamide Reviews @ DrugsInfo.org
Bicalutamide Reviews @ RXlist.com
Flutamide @ DrugLib.com

Cost and Availability of Flutamide and Bicalutamide

If possible, Flutamide and Bicalutamide should be obtained through consultation of a physician.  Both medications are most commonly used for the treatment of prostate cancer.  Neither medication has been approved for use in the treatment of acne vulgaris (in most countries, at least).  Both medications are tend to be moderately expensive to very expensive. Some formulations may be available as generics.

Flutamide and Bicalutamide Price Comparison

Important Note: The information provided above is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement. The Science of Acne encourages you to adhere to all applicable legal regulations in your jurisdiction. Before ordering pharmaceutical medications online, please read our overview: A Guide to Buying Prescription Medications on the Internet.

The following pharmacies carry flutamide and/or bicalutamide and can be used as sources to compare prices. The laws regarding prescription medications in most countries in North America and Europe require that a pharmacy receive a valid doctor’s prescription for all antibiotics and other non-narcotic prescription medications. However, pharmacies in many other countries (eg. India, Turkey and Mexico) classify antibiotics and other non-narcotic medications as “Over The Counter” and may not require a doctor’s prescription to dispense these products.

Pharmacies for Price Comparisons

4Rx.com (India)
CanadaPharmacy.com (Canada)
Drugstore.com (Rite-Aid) (USA)
Freedom-Pharmacy.com (Vanuatu/Turkey)
Generic4All.com (India)
ThePharmacyExpress.com (Vanuatu/Turkey)

Related Articles from the Science of Acne

Avoiding Negative Drug Interactions
A Guide to Buying Prescription Medications on the Internet
Prescription Medications Used in Acne Treatment
What causes acne?

Side Effects of Flutamide and Bicalutamide

Both Flutamide and Bicalutamide can interfere with normal bodily functions that depend on the activity of androgen hormones.  Bicalutamide has largely replaced Flutamide because it tends to have fewer adverse effects.  The most common side effect is a decrease in libido, which often occurs with associated problems such as impotence and ejaculatory dysfunction.  Both Flutamide and Bicalutamide are teratogens (cause birth defects) because androgen hormones play an essential role in the development of the fetus.  These medications should never be used by women who are pregnant, or may be pregnant.  People who are taking these medications are generally prohibited from donating blood. For more in-depth information about these medications and their adverse effects, refer to the Additional Information section below.  For more information about contraindications in general, refer to Avoiding Negative Drug Interactions.

References and Sources

Books

PDR Staff Writers. 2011. 2011 Physicians’ Desk Reference
Habif. 2009. Clinical Dermatology
Goodheart. 2006. Acne For Dummies
Griffith. 2012. Complete Guide to Prescription & Nonprescription Drugs 2012
Gardner, et al. 2011. Greenspan’s Basic and Clinical Endocrinology
Redmond. 2006. It’s Your Hormones: The Women’s Complete Guide to Soothing PMS, Clearing Acne, Regrowing Hair, Healing PCOS, Feeling Good on the Pill, Enjoying a Safe … Recharging Your Sex Drive . . . and More!

Online Resources

Flutamide on PubMed Health (The National Institute of Health – US)
Bicalutamide on PubMed Health (The National Institute of Health – US)
Flutamide on Wikipedia
Bicalutamide on Wikipedia
Physician’s Insert for Flutamide
Physician’s Insert for Bicalutamide

Scientific Research Articles

1. Carmina, et al. 2002.  A comparison of the relative efficacy of antiandrogens for the treatment of acne in hyperandrogenic women.
2. Wang, et al. 1999.  Low dose flutamide in the treatment of acne vulgaris in women with or without oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea.
3. Katsambas, et al. 2010.  Hormonal therapy for acne: why not as first line therapy? facts and controversies.
4. Pizzo, et al. 2008.  Low-dose flutamide in the treatment of hyperandrogenism in adolescents.
5. Tan, et al. 2004.  Hormonal treatment of acne: review of current best evidence.
6. Lutsky, et al. 1975.  The Effects of a Nonsteroid Anti-Androgen, Flutamide, on Sebaceous Gland Activity.