Zytiga how does it work

A generic version of the mg tablet of abiraterone acetate is available. Zytiga can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that you may have while taking Zytiga.

This list does not include all possible side effects. For more information on the possible side effects of Zytiga, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any side effects that may be bothersome. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Your doctor will monitor you for these side effects at regularly scheduled office visits.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug, or whether certain side effects pertain to it. Liver damage, severe liver toxicity when harmful levels of the drug build up in your liver , and liver failure were reported as side effects in clinical studies of Zytiga.

Liver damage typically occurs during the first three months after starting Zytiga. Six percent of people who took Zytiga in clinical trials had serious liver damage, based on liver function tests. Your doctor will test your liver function before you start taking Zytiga and during your treatment. If these levels are too high, you may need to take a lower dose of Zytiga or stop treatment.

If you have moderate liver damage before you begin taking Zytiga, your doctor will start you on a lower dose of Zytiga. Symptoms of a UTI include feeling a burning sensation when you urinate, having to urinate often, and feeling that you have to urinate right away. If you have these symptoms, tell your doctor. You may need an antibiotic to help prevent the infection from spreading.

Some people in clinical studies of Zytiga had side effects involving their kidneys, including:. Some of these kidney effects may be related to a UTI, but they may not.

If you have any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor about possible treatment options. But some people may lose weight because of some of the side effects of Zytiga, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach.

These side effects may prevent these people from eating on a regular schedule. These side effects may also prevent their bodies from taking in enough nutrients. Weight loss is commonly one of the first signs of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. During cancer treatment, people may lose weight for many reasons, including medication side effects, depression, and loss of appetite.

Also, unexplained weight loss and muscle loss, called cachexia, is often seen during late-stage cancer due to poor food intake or poor food absorption. Lastly, weight loss can be a symptom of liver damage or liver failure, which has been reported as a side effect in Zytiga clinical studies. They can help create a diet plan that provides all the vitamins, minerals, and calories you need. They can also refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist specially trained to help people with cancer. As with all medications, the cost of Zytiga can vary.

To find current prices for Zytiga in your area, check out WellRx. The cost you find on WellRx. Your actual cost will depend on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use. If you need financial support to pay for Zytiga, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Janssen Biotech, Inc. Typically, your doctor will start you on the usual dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.

The usual recommended dose for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is 1, mg of Zytiga taken once a day. The dosage may be taken as two mg tablets or four mg tablets. With your Zytiga dose, you will also take 5 mg of prednisone by mouth twice a day. The usual recommended dose for metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer is 1, mg of Zytiga taken once a day. This dosage may also be taken as two mg tablets or four mg tablets. With your Zytiga dose, you will also take 5 mg of prednisone by mouth once a day.

If you have moderately severe liver disease, the recommended dosage is mg of Zytiga taken once a day. If you miss a dose of Zytiga or prednisone, take a dose the next day at the regular time. Taking more than one dose of Zytiga or prednisone can increase your risk for side effects. It depends. Your doctor may want you to continue your Zytiga treatment on a long-term basis if the drug is effective works well and safe for you.

Zytiga may also be used off-label for other conditions. Metastatic prostate cancer is cancer that has spread from the prostate to other areas in the body. For either type of cancer, Zytiga is used with prednisone, a corticosteroid that helps lessen certain side effects. Zytiga is also taken with other hormone therapy called androgen deprivation therapy ADT , which further reduces male hormone levels. Examples of ADT options include:. An alternative to ADT medication is bilateral orchiectomy surgical removal of the testicles , which also lowers testosterone levels.

Zytiga may be used off-label for other uses. But the American Urological Association recommends Zytiga as an option for people if all of the following apply:.

But people with nonmetastatic prostate cancer did go longer without having a significant change in cancer growth or needing to change therapy. There are other drugs available that can treat your condition.

Some may be better suited for you than others. You may wonder how Zytiga compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Zytiga and Xtandi are alike and different.

Both drugs decrease the activity of male hormones but work in slightly different ways. Zytiga blocks the production of certain male hormones. Xtandi helps prevent male hormones from attaching to their receptors proteins on prostate cancer cells. In both cases, the drugs help stop the spread of prostate cancer. Castration-resistant cancer continues to spread despite the use of drugs that lower male hormone levels.

Metastatic prostate cancer has spread from the prostate to other areas in the body. CSPC still responds to hormone therapy. Nonmetastatic prostate cancer has not spread to other parts of the body yet.

Both drugs are taken along with other hormone therapy or following surgery to remove your testicles. This helps further reduce the effects of androgens male hormones such as testosterone on cancer cells.

The usual dosage is 1, mg once a day. You should take Zytiga without food on an empty stomach. You take Zytiga along with prednisone, a corticosteroid that helps reduce certain side effects.

Xtandi comes as a mg capsule. The usual dosage is mg once a day. You can take it with or without food. You may also need a lower dose of Zytiga if you have liver disease. Zytiga and Xtandi work in slightly different ways, so they have some similar and some different side effects.

Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Zytiga, Xtandi, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Zytiga, Xtandi, or with both drugs when taken individually. Zytiga and Xtandi are both brand-name drugs. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. According to estimates from WellRx. The actual price you pay will depend on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Below are comparisons between Zytiga and several medications. Both drugs decrease the activity of male hormones, but they work in different ways. Zytiga prevents the production of certain male hormones. Casodex blocks male hormones from attaching to their receptors proteins on prostate cancer cells. Both actions help stop the spread of prostate cancer. Both Zytiga and Casodex are used to treat metastatic prostate cancer.

Metastatic prostate cancer has spread from the prostate to other areas of the body. Metastatic CRPC continues to grow despite the use of drugs that lower male hormone levels. Zytiga is also approved to treat metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer. This type of prostate cancer still responds to drugs that lower male hormone levels. Casodex is FDA-approved to treat stage D2 metastatic prostate cancer.

Stage D2 prostate cancer has metastasized spread to more distant bones, like the spine or ribs. Zytiga comes in two strengths: a mg tablet and a mg tablet. You should take the drug without food on an empty stomach.

You take Zytiga with prednisone a corticosteroid to reduce certain side effects. Both drugs must be taken with either additional hormone therapy or after surgery to remove your testicles. This helps further reduce the effects of androgens male hormones such as testosterone on prostate cancer cells. Zytiga and Casodex work in different ways in the body. Therefore, they have some similar and some different common and serious side effects. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Zytiga, Casodex, or with both drugs when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Zytiga, Casodex, or with both drugs when taken individually. Zytiga and Casodex are both brand-name drugs. But you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Contact your health care provider immediately , day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:. The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not an emergency. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:. Periodic blood work will be obtained to monitor your complete blood count CBC as well as the function of other organs such as your kidneys and liver , as deemed necessary by your doctor.

Hormones are chemical substances that are produced by glands in the body, which enter the bloodstream and cause effects in other tissues. The use of hormone therapy to treat cancer is based on the observation that receptors for specific hormones that are needed for cell growth are on the surface of some tumor cells.

Hormone therapy can work by stopping the production of a certain hormone, blocking hormone receptors or substituting chemically similar agents for the active hormone, which cannot be used by the tumor cell.

Disclaimer Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia develops materials based on best available evidence and takes advice from recognised experts in the field in developing such resource; however it cannot guarantee and assumes no legal responsibility for the currency or completeness of the information.

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