abiraterone
Other Name: Zytiga®
in various colours and strengths
- For treating prostate cancer along with another medication such as prednisone.
- Tell your doctor if you have/had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
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High blood pressure,
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Low potassium levels,
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Heart problems including irregular heartbeats,
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Liver or adrenal gland problems,
- Diabetes, or
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Any allergies
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- This drug contains a small amount of lactose. If you cannot have lactose, talk to your healthcare team.
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
Talk to your health care team about:
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How this medication may affect your sexual health.
- How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
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Symptoms such as hot flashes.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if your partner becomes pregnant during treatment.
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If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 1 week after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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This medication is usually taken once a day by mouth. Talk to your health care team about how and when to take your medication.
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Swallow whole with a glass of water.
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Take abiraterone on an empty stomach. Do not eat any solid or liquid food for at least 2 hours before and at least 1 hour after taking your dose.
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You may need to take more than 1 tablet to get the right dose.
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This medicine is often used together with another medication such as prednisone. Take these medications as instructed by your health care team. Check with your health care team before stopping any medications.
- If you forget to take a dose of your abiraterone:
- If you forget to take a dose, take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take extra (double up) to make up for the missed dose.
- If you forget to take a dose for more than 1 day, talk to your health care team about what to do.
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If you vomit (throw up) after taking your medication, talk to your health care team about what to do.
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If you take too much of your medication by accident, or if you think a child or a pet may have swallowed your medication, you must call the Ontario Poison Control Center right away at: 1-800-268-9017.
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Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?
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This medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make the treatment not work as well or cause severe side effects.
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Tell your health care team about all of your:
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prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)
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natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
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Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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What to DO while on this medication:
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now.
What NOT to DO while on this medication:
- DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
How to safely touch oral anti-cancer medications
If you are a patient:
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Wash your hands before and after touching your oral anti-cancer medication.
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Swallow each pill whole. Do not crush or chew your pills.
If you are a caregiver:
- Wash your hands before and after touching the oral anti-cancer medication.
If there is a chance your partner may become pregnant:
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Wear nitrile or latex gloves when touching tablets, capsules or liquids.
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Wash your hands before putting on your gloves and after taking them off, even if your skin did not touch the oral anti-cancer medication.
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Throw out your gloves after each use. Do not re-use gloves.
What to do if oral anti-cancer medication gets on your skin or in your eyes
If medication gets on your skin:
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Wash your skin with a lot of soap and water.
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If your skin gets red or irritated, talk to your health care team.
If medication gets in your eyes:
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Rinse your eyes with running water right away. Keep water flowing over your open eyes for at least 15 minutes.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting abiraterone. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on abiraterone.
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Liver problems (May be severe) Your health care team may check your liver function with a blood test. The liver changes do not usually cause any symptoms.
If you have any symptoms of liver problems, get emergency medical help right away. |
Get emergency medical help right away |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information.
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Constipation What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent constipation:
To help treat constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Changes to your hormone levels Your treatment causes changes in the levels of testosterone in your body. This can affect your mood, energy levels or physical appearance, among other things. You may have many of these symptoms or none at all. Your symptoms may also change at different times in your treatment. What to look for? Hot flashes:
Other symptoms of having low testosterone levels:
What to do? To help prevent hot flashes:
If you have hot flashes:
Hot flashes may improve over time. Talk to your health care team if this or any symptoms of low testosterone are bothersome for you. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Diarrhea What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
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Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) |
Too much or too little salt in your body What to look for?
What to do? Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms |
High blood pressure What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Infection What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do?
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. |
If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Trouble Sleeping Your medications may cause trouble sleeping. It may get better once your body gets used to the medication or when your treatment ends. What to look for?
What to do? Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
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Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe |
Anemia (low red blood cells) What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have anemia (low red blood cells):
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Heartburn; stomach upset; bloating What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Bladder problems or infections What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms |
Since abiraterone is usually used with a corticosteroid (for example, prednisone), you may also experience the following. Talk to your health care team about these:
- stomach upset or ulcers
- weight gain
- mood changes; trouble falling asleep
- high blood sugar
- muscle weakness
- cataracts
- thinning of the bones or fractures
Refer to the prednisone patient information sheet for more details.
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- flushing, itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, wheezing, chest and throat tightness
- irregular heartbeat, chest pain, fainting, swelling in legs/ankles/belly
- severe or unusual bone pain especially in your back, hips and wrist
- severe tiredness, darkening of skin, weight loss, loss of appetite
- severe muscle pain or weakness, dark-coloured pee
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
____________________________________________________________________________
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April 2024 Updated/revised information sheet
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.