Approved drugs
Approved drugs
Treatments may aim to cure prostate disease or to halt or alleviate symptoms. You may receive a single treatment or a combination of treatments depending on your specific disease or symptoms, your age, and your overall health. Regarding prostate cancer, treatment will be based on the stage and grade of the disease you have, in other words, on the extent and pace of cancer spread.
This section provides information on medications currently approved by Health Canada. We will update this page as Health Canada approves new molecules for the treatment of prostate-related diseases, including cancer.
Drugs used in hormone therapy
The most common LH-RH analogues are:
- Leuprolide (Lupron, Lupron Depot, Eligard)
- Goserelin (Zoladex)
- Buserelin (Suprefact)
- Triptorelin (Trelstar)
The LH-RH antagonists are:
- Degarelix (Firmagon)
- Relugolix (Orgovyx)
The most common anti-androgens are:
- Bicalutamide (Casodex)
- Flutamide (Euflex)
- Cyproterone acetate (Androcur)
- Nilutamide (Anandron)
New generation of hormone therapy
- Abiraterone acetate (Zytiga)
- Apalutamide (Erleada)
- Enzalutamide (Xtandi)
- Darolutamide (Nubeqa)
Medications used in chemotherapy
- Docetaxel (Taxotere)
- Cabazitaxel (Jevtana)
- Mitoxantrone (Teva)
- Prednisone or Prednisolone
Medications used to treat symptoms related to bone metastases
- Denosumab (Xgeva)
- Zoledronic acid (Zometa)
- Alendronate (Fosamax)
- Pamidronate (Aredia)
Targeted therapies
- Olaparib (Lynparza)
- Niraparib/Abiraterone acetate (Akeega)
- Radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo)
- Lutetium (177Lu) (Pluvicto)
Nuclear imaging
68Ga PSMA PET (Illuccix)
5-α-reductase inhibitors
- Finasteride (Proscar)
- Dutasteride (Avodart)
α-blockers
- Tamsulosin (Flomax)
- Alfuzosin (Xatral)
- Silodosin (Rapaflo)
- Terazosin (Hytrin)
- Doxazosin (Cardura)
Anticholinergics
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan®) & (Ditropan XL®)*
- (Oxytrol®)*
- (Uromax®)
- Oxybutynin chloride gel (Gelnique®)
- Tolterodine (Detrol LA®) & (Detrol®)*
- Trospium chloride (Trosec®)
- Solifenacin (Vesicare®)
- Darifenacin (Enablex®)
- OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®)
- Fesoterodine (Toviaz®)
- Mirabegron (Myrbetriq®)
Tricyclic antidepressants
- Imipramine (Tofranil®)
*Most prescribed medications
Fluoroquinolone – Quinolone
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®) & (Cipro XL®)
- Levofloxacin (Levaquin®)
- Norfloxacin (Norflox®)
- Ofloxacin (Oflox®)
- Ampicillin
Sulfonamide
- TMP-SMX (Septra DS®)
- TMP (Apo-Trimethoprim®)
Others
- Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid®)
- Nitrofurantoin (Novo-Furantoin®)
β-lactams
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate K (Clavulin®)
Cephalosporins
- Cefadroxil (Duricef®)
- Cefprozil (Cefzil®)
- Cephalexin (Cephalexin®)
Erectile dysfunction
Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 or PDE-5
- Tadalafil
- Vardenafil
- Sildenafil
Penile injections
- Caverject
- TriMix
- QuadMix
MUSE Applicator*
*Out of stock in Canada
Additional Information - Approved drugs
How I coped with prostate cancer
A man with prostate cancer shares the challenges of his cancer experience.
Urologist’s advice: Treatments and information on prostate cancer
Learn more about the role of the urologist and the importance for a patient to gather adequate information after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer: Tests, imaging and biomarkers
Discussion about the variety of approaches available to monitor this disease before, during, or after treatment.
Symptoms, risk and screening
Are you over 50 or experiencing urinary problems? Discover why early screening for prostate diseases is important.
Diagnosis and treatment
Recently diagnosed with cancer? Educate yourself to fully understand your situation.
The role of hormone therapy
Has your doctor recommended hormone therapy? This video is for you!
Only time will tell whether or not this approach was best for me
by Anonymous, 59 years old In 1996 at the age of 59, at an annual check-up, my PSA reading was found to be 4.3. My doctor referred me to a urologist who suggested a trans-rectal ultrasound and biopsies. The result indicated prostate cancer and a gleason score of 3/10, occupying roughly 10% of sample #3. […]
A prostate cancer odyssey
by J. C. (Jack) Lynch, 65 years old Things were going well in the early ’90s. Our team had won the Quebec Senior Men’s curling championship in 1992; I had helped to sell curling as an official Olympic sport to the International Olympic Committee and I was preparing to go the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 […]
Active surveillance in 5 points
As surprising as it may seem, your doctor may prefer to wait before starting treatment.
States of prostate cancer post-treatment
Gentlemen, you’re being treated for prostate cancer, and your latest blood tests show an increase in PSA levels?
Your role as a patient
Have you been diagnosed with prostate cancer? Your role as a patient is essential throughout your journey.
Sources and references
Last medical and editorial review: April 2024. See our web page validation committee and our collaborators by clicking here
