Anti Androgen
Anti-androgens are the hormones essential for developing and maintaining male sexual characteristics. It is the name given to a diverse group of medicines that counteract the effects of the male sex hormones, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. These male sex hormones are also known as androgens. Anti-androgens are also called androgen receptor blockers. Among Americans, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death amongst males. About 1 in 8 men will develop during their lifetime. Treating cancer of the prostate can be complicated. There are different cancer stages and several types of treatment. Anti-androgen medicines can be utilized as hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer. These oral drugs are usually combined with other hormone therapies. Anti-androgens keep male sex hormones from adhering to androgen receptors proteins, normally present in normal prostate cells. Preventing this adherence blocks the effects of these hormones in the body. Anti-androgen therapy may keep prostate cancer cells from growing.
How does Anti Androgens work?
Androgens belong to a group that has male sex hormones. Testosterone is the most well-known androgen. Some forms of prostate cancer use testosterone hormone to grow. Stopping testosterone production and blocking its activity can cut off the supply to the abnormal cells and keep them from growing. There are six FDA approved anti-androgen medicines are available in the market currently. These include Apalutamide, bicalutamide, darolutamide, enzalutamide, flutamide, and nilutamide. Anti-androgens were some of the first medicines for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Anti-androgen medicines are a type of prostate cancer treatment. Buy anti-androgen medicines online to get great deals and discounts. They act by blocking the activity of androgen hormones in the body. Blocking androgen hormones can help stop prostate cancer cells from growing. Common side effects can also cause nausea, diarrhoea, and dizziness when used with other medications. But some of them discovered recently that others. Drugs such as darolutamide, apalutamide, and enzalutamide are considered newer anti-androgens.
What is the effect of Androgen on your body?
Blocking the action of testosterone can cause a change or loss in masculine characteristics. Testosterone hormone supports the development of the following characteristics
• Voice change
• Muscle and bone developmen
• The growth of pubic, facial, and body hair
• The growth and maturity of the prostat
• The development of the penis and testicles
• The ability to have erections and ejaculate
So, these changes in sexual characteristics are due to androgen’s effect on testosterone.
What is the dosing regimen for Anti Androgen?
Anti-androgens are oral medicines, and their dosing regimen is given below:
• Once daily dose: bicalutamide, apalutamide, nilutamide, and enzalutamide
• Twice daily dose: darolutamide
• Thrice daily dose: flutamide
Depending on the condition, you may be asked to swallow one or more pills with each dose. Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions. Carefully follow all the guidelines given on your prescription. Check with your doctor if you are unsure what time you should take medicine. Darolutamide is the only anti-androgen drug that needs to be taken with food. The others can be consumed before or after a meal. It is important to take your doses on time as instructed by your doctor. Androgen medicines are usually combined with testosterone-lowering treatments for prostate cancer. Buy anti-androgen medicines online at an affordable rate. These medicines don’t stop your body from producing testosterone, and high testosterone levels may also make anti-androgens less effective. So, doctors usually recommend other surgical procedures along with these medicines.
Other options of testosterone-lowering therapies that may be combined with anti-androgen medicines include:
• Orchiectomy: This involves the surgical removal of the testicles.
• Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LNRH) agonists are prescribed to stop the testicles from producing testosterone.
• Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LNRH) antagonists: These drugs work by stopping the brain from signalling the testicles to make testosterone.
What is the duration of treatment?
The treatment duration varies, depending on the type and stage of cancer. How long one should take an anti-androgen drug may differ from what is given in this patient leaflet.
In some cases, doctors prescribed these medicines for a few weeks when they first began treatment with the LNRH agonist. LNRH agonists cause a temporary increase in the testosterone level while the body gets used to them. The condition is often referred to as a testosterone flare that can cause pain or other adverse effects. It can also lead to the progression of cancer. Anti-androgens help to prevent the effects of that temporarily increased hormone levels.
Long term usage can improve survival in men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and nonmetastatic prostate cancer. Anti-androgens are well tolerated and have a well-established safety record over many years. However, cancer can become resistant to hormone therapies over time. This means the hormone therapy stops working. In some cases, this happens within a few months. At the same time, it may take up to years before this happens in others.
What happens if you stop the Anti-Androgen treatment?
As mentioned above, anti-androgen helps control adverse reactions of a testosterone flare. Early discontinuation could cause pain or make other symptoms worse. Some types of cancer become dependent on androgen receptor blockers. When this happens, discontinuing these medications can lower PSA levels for several months. The symptoms keep improving in 10 to 30% of people with prostate cancer who consider treatment discontinuation. This is often referred to as the anti-androgen withdrawal effect. But usually, the effects are temporary, and it doesn’t mean the cancer is cured. If these medicines are stopped, you will need to be extremely careful and follow your doctor’s advice, as most people’s cancer will continue. It is important to take your doctor's prescribed medicines for the best results. You should always speak to your doctor before stopping treatment with anti-androgens.
What are the known side effects of Anti-Androgens?
Most side effects from anti-androgen tablets are related to the blocked action of testosterone. Most patients experience side effects like an orchiectomy or other hormone therapies. Common side effects of anti-androgen medicines include rash, hot flashes, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, erectile dysfunction, loss of bone density, higher cholesterol levels, weight gain, breast growth and tenderness, trouble concentrating and possible memory problems.
The bottom line
Anti-androgens are hormonal therapy for patients with prostate cancer. They are prescribed to block the action of testosterone in the body. Doctors usually prescribe it with another treatment that can lower testosterone levels. This combination is extremely beneficial in preventing prostate cancer cells from growing. The duration of treatment one may take these medicines varies among individuals. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about anti-androgen medicines.
Anti-androgens are a treatment option in patients with prostate cancer. They block the effects of androgen hormones in the body.
Anti-androgen medications block the effects of androgens (hormones) such as testosterone. They can help prevent the hormone from adhering to the binding site within cancer cells. These medications are also called androgen receptor blockers.
Testosterone blocker pills are anti-androgens that belong to a class of medications that prevent testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from mediating their biological effects in the body.
Common side effects of anti-androgens include tiredness, hot flashes, and sexual problems in men. These medications can also cause nausea, dizziness, and diarrhoea when used with other medications.
Yes, anti-androgens are safe to use when used appropriately under a doctor’s supervision. Long term use of these medications can improve survival in men with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
A healthy diet and lifestyle are important for treating PCOS or Polycystic ovary syndrome. Women who have lots of testosterone develop PCOS. Starting an exercise or weight loss program can help because losing weight can improve symptoms.
Anti-androgens such as Cyproterone have been used with other medications to treat women with PCOS. The medicine has been shown to reduce testosterone levels and reduce acne-causing oil production. It may also be used to reduce masculine traits.
Anti-androgens such as Cyproterone can be used with other medications to treat women with PCOS. The medicine is also effective in decreasing testosterone levels.