Medical Oncologist
Living with enzalutamide
Work, Travel and Daily Life — on Enzalutamide
Most men on enzalutamide continue with ordinary life, adjusted rather than stopped. Fatigue is real, hot flashes are real, and there is one driving question you need to settle with your oncologist before you get behind the wheel.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Oral tablet, taken at home — Enzalutamide is a once-daily tablet — no infusion, no hospital stays for the medication itself.
- Work is usually possible — Most men continue working, sometimes with adjusted hours or lighter duties in the first few weeks.
- Driving needs a conversation — Enzalutamide carries a seizure risk that must be discussed with your oncologist before driving.
- Travel is manageable with planning — A doctor's letter, enough tablets, and a restful itinerary make most trips achievable.
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Enzalutamide is a once-daily tablet most people take at home and continue working through, with adjustments for fatigue. It carries a small seizure risk that you must discuss with your oncologist before driving. Travel is manageable with a doctor's letter and enough supply for the trip.
Can you keep working on enzalutamide?
Most men on enzalutamide continue to work. Fatigue is the most common reason people reduce hours or adjust their schedule, and it is usually most noticeable in the first few weeks.
Desk work and light responsibilities are generally manageable. Physical work — construction, operating machinery, work at heights — needs a direct conversation with your oncologist, because fatigue and dizziness both increase the risk of falls.
If fatigue is worst in the morning, ask your team whether taking your tablet in the evening is an option for you. Some men find their peak drowsiness shifts to overnight, which makes daytime work easier.
What to keep in place day to day on enzalutamide
- Take your tablet at the same time each day — consistency matters more than whether it is morning or evening.
- Keep a water bottle with you. Fatigue and hot flashes are both worse when you are dehydrated.
- Wear loose, breathable cotton clothing. Hot flashes can arrive without warning.
- Save your oncology team's contact number where you can reach it quickly — dizziness can occur after a dose.
- Do not stop taking your tablets without telling your team, even if you feel well.
How do you prepare for a trip on enzalutamide?
Get a doctor's letter
Ask your oncologist for a letter that names your diagnosis, your medication, and your dose. Airport security and customs officials may ask for it, and it removes uncertainty at borders.
Pack tablets in your hand luggage
Carry all your enzalutamide in your cabin bag, not in checked baggage. Luggage can be delayed or lost, and missing doses is an avoidable problem.
Take more than you need
Pack enough tablets for your full trip plus several extra days. Flights are delayed, connections are missed, and a buffer prevents a manageable inconvenience from becoming a medical one.
Store tablets correctly
Enzalutamide should be kept at room temperature and away from direct sunlight and moisture. In hot climates, check the storage conditions at your hotel before you travel.
Know where to get help if you need it
Ask your CION team to suggest a contact or hospital at your destination for domestic travel. For international trips, keep your oncologist's number accessible and note the nearest oncology centre before you leave.
Build rest into your itinerary
Long journeys are more tiring on treatment than they were before. Plan shorter travel days, avoid tight connections, and do not fill every day with activity.
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Is it safe to drive while taking enzalutamide?
The prescribing information for enzalutamide lists seizure as a known risk. A seizure at the wheel is dangerous not only to you but to everyone on the road — which is why this is the most important conversation to have with your oncologist before you continue driving.
Dizziness is a separate and more common side effect that also affects driving safety. If you notice dizziness after a dose, do not drive until you have spoken to your team and been assessed.
Many men continue to drive throughout treatment without problems. The point is not to assume it is safe — it is to have an honest conversation with your oncologist so you know exactly where you stand.
How does enzalutamide affect your social life?
Hot flashes are the most socially visible side effect. Sudden warmth and sweating can happen in a meeting, at a wedding, or at the dinner table. Loose cotton clothing, a small hand fan, and cold water nearby all help.
Fatigue may mean you arrive, stay for a few hours, and leave earlier than you used to. That is a reasonable adjustment, not a failure. Telling your family what to expect helps them support you rather than worry.
Some men notice changes in mood, concentration, or their usual interest in activities. If this is affecting your relationships or daily function, tell your oncology team. It is not something you need to manage alone.
Other questions about daily life on enzalutamide
Can I fast for religious observances such as Ramadan or Navratri?
Enzalutamide can be taken with or without food, so fasting does not automatically mean missing your dose. However, fasting can worsen both fatigue and dehydration, which are already side effects of this treatment. Tell your oncology team about any planned fast before it begins — not afterwards — so they can advise on timing, fluid intake, and what to watch for. Many patients manage fasting periods well with the right preparation in place.
Can I exercise on enzalutamide?
Gentle, regular activity — walking, yoga, light stretching — is generally encouraged. It can help with fatigue over time, even though it feels counterintuitive to exercise when you are tired. Avoid heavy lifting or activities with a high fall risk, particularly in the first weeks while you are learning how dizziness affects you. If you are unsure where to start, ask your team about a referral to a physiotherapist with experience in cancer care.
What about alcohol?
Alcohol worsens both dizziness and fatigue — two side effects enzalutamide already causes. Occasional small amounts may be manageable for some people, but it is worth discussing your usual habits with your oncologist rather than assuming it is fine. How this applies to you depends on your overall health, your other medications, and your liver function. That is a conversation worth having before your next social occasion rather than after.
What should I do if I miss a dose while travelling?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day, then return to your usual schedule the following day. Do not take two doses to make up for the one you missed. If a time-zone change has made the schedule genuinely confusing, call your oncology team before adjusting rather than guessing. Missing one dose rarely causes harm; doubling up is not the right way to compensate.
Do I have to tell my employer?
You are not required to disclose your diagnosis or treatment to your employer. Many men choose to tell a trusted manager or HR contact so that practical adjustments can be made — a later start time, flexibility around appointments, or the option to work from home on difficult days. Whether and how much to share is entirely your decision, based on your own comfort and your relationship with your workplace. You can say as little or as much as you choose.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride a two-wheeler or motorbike on enzalutamide?
The prescribing information for enzalutamide lists seizure as a known risk, and a seizure on a motorbike or scooter at any speed is a serious danger to your life and to others. Dizziness is a separate, more common side effect that also affects balance and reaction time. Before you ride, have a direct conversation with your oncologist about whether it is safe for you specifically. Do not assume it is fine because you feel well — the risk does not give a warning in advance.
What should I do if fatigue is making it impossible to work?
Tell your oncology team — do not simply push through or stop working without speaking to them first. Fatigue on enzalutamide is a known and often manageable problem. Your team can review whether the timing of your dose is contributing, check for other causes such as anaemia, and connect you with support services. If you need documented time off, your oncologist can provide that. Adjusting your hours or duties is often more sustainable than stopping work entirely.
Can I travel internationally on enzalutamide?
International travel is possible with preparation. Ask your oncologist for a letter confirming your diagnosis, medication, and dose before you go. Carry all your tablets in your hand luggage with enough for the trip plus several extra days. Check whether enzalutamide is classified differently at your destination — your oncologist or the CION team can advise. If your time zone changes significantly, ask your team before you travel how to adjust your dose timing.
Can I take enzalutamide with food?
Yes. Enzalutamide can be taken with or without food — either is fine. What matters most is taking it at roughly the same time each day. Some men find that taking it with a small meal reduces any nausea, while others prefer to take it on an empty stomach. Try what works for you, keep it consistent, and mention any nausea to your team so they can help.
Will I be able to attend family events and ceremonies?
Most men on enzalutamide can attend family events and ceremonies. Fatigue may mean you sit rather than stand, or leave earlier than you used to. Hot flashes may mean you prefer to sit near a door or a fan. These are adjustments, not reasons to withdraw from family life. Letting the people closest to you know what to expect — that you may need to step away, that you may look flushed — often reduces everyone's anxiety, including your own.