Abiraterone Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Abiraterone Tablet (abiraterone acetate) is an antiandrogen and hormonal antineoplastic medicine used in men, together with the steroid prednisone, to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is usually given to patients who are not responding to other treatments. It works by lowering certain natural hormone levels in the body to help slow cancer cell growth, and it is taken as a tablet on an empty stomach.

What is Abiraterone Tablet

Abiraterone is an anticancer medicine used in men, together with a steroid called prednisone, to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is usually given to patients who are not responding to other treatments.

Abiraterone Tablet uses

• Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
• Treats metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
• Treats metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer
• Reduces androgen production that can stimulate prostate cancer growth

Benefits of Abiraterone Tablet

• Provides oral systemic treatment
• Reduces androgen production
• Can help slow progression of eligible metastatic prostate cancer
• Used as part of established combination cancer therapy

How Abiraterone Tablet works

Abiraterone works by lowering the levels of certain natural hormones in the body, which helps slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Abiraterone Tablet dosage

Take this medicine exactly as instructed by your doctor. Do not take more than what is prescribed.

Take it on an empty stomach — do not eat for at least 2 hours before and at least 1 hour after taking your dose.

Make sure to complete the full course of treatment and do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.

If you miss a dose, skip it and continue your normal dosing schedule from the next day. If you miss more than one dose, contact your doctor for instructions.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Abiraterone Tablet

Common

• Fatigue or tiredness
• High blood pressure
• Swelling of ankles or feet (fluid retention)
• Low potassium levels (can cause muscle weakness, cramps, or irregular heartbeat)
• Hot flashes and increased sweating
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation
• Joint and muscle pain
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Urinary tract infection
• Increased cholesterol and triglycerides
• Anemia
• Irregular heartbeat
• High blood sugar

Serious

• Liver function problems with elevated liver enzymes, which need regular blood test monitoring
• Severe allergic reaction (hypersensitivity)
• Irregular heartbeat or worsening heart problems

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause high blood pressure, low potassium levels, and fluid buildup in the body because it affects certain hormones.
• This medicine must not be used in pregnant women, as it can harm the unborn baby and cause loss of pregnancy.
• This medicine is not recommended for use in children and adolescents.
• Women who could become pregnant must use effective birth control while taking this medicine and for one week after stopping treatment.
• Caution is needed in people with a history of heart attack or fluid retention, as there is a higher risk of serious side effects like high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. Heart function, vital signs, and electrolyte levels should be monitored closely.
• Taking this medicine with food increases the risk of side effects such as high blood pressure, muscle weakness, paralysis, and breathing difficulties, so it should be taken on an empty stomach.
• This medicine is not recommended for use in women and can cause harm to an unborn baby.
• This medicine is not recommended for use in women who are breastfeeding.
• No routine renal dose adjustment is generally required, but overall kidney and electrolyte status should be monitored.
• This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with severe liver problems. 
• Liver function and liver enzymes need to be monitored closely, and dose changes or switching to another medicine may be needed depending on the patient's condition.
• It is not known how this medicine interacts with alcohol, so it's best to check with your doctor before drinking.
• This medicine does not cause sleepiness.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help or contact your doctor right away if you think you have taken too much of this medicine.
• Contact your doctor if you experience any troubling side effects, or notice significant swelling, weight changes, or signs of low potassium like muscle weakness, cramps, or an irregular heartbeat.

Alternatives

• Enzalutamide
• Apalutamide
• Darolutamide
• Cabazitaxel