Flutamide

Flutamide is an oral, non-steroidal antiandrogen drug primarily used to treat prostate cancer. It competes with testosterone and its powerful metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for binding to androgen receptors in the prostate gland. By doing so, it prevents them from stimulating the prostate cancer cells to grow. Flutamide has been largely replaced by a newer member of this class, bicalutamide, due to a better side-effect profile. Flutamide may also be used to treat excess androgen levels in women - especially those with PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). It is marketed by Schering-Plough under the brand name Eulexin. It is also known as Flutamin.