Abiraterone is used together with other medicines to treat cancer of the prostate that has spread to other parts of the body.
This medicine slows down the growth of prostate cancer by stopping the production of testosterone in your body.
Take Abiraterone exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about whether you should take this medicine with or without food. Different brands of this medicine may be taken differently.
Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not cut, crush, or break the tablets.
Abiraterone must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose, and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you have missed more than 1 day, immediately report it to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have severe liver disease as Abiraterone may not be suitable for you.
Men should not father a child while being treated with this medicine. Both men and women must use proven birth control methods during Abiraterone therapy and for 3 weeks after stopping the treatment. You may wish to discuss other reliable methods of birth control with your doctor.
Do not take Abiraterone with certain medicines used as radiation therapy. Please see the section "Can I take this with other medicines?" below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- active or history of heart disease e.g. heart failure, severe or unstable chest pain, recent heart attack, irregular or abnormal heartbeat
- diabetes
- active infection
- kidney disease
- moderate liver disease
Do not switch brands unless instructed by your doctor. This is because different brands of Abiraterone are used for specific indications and may have slightly different ways of working in your body.
If a pregnant woman is handling this medicine, make sure that you let them wear gloves when handling Abiraterone particularly when it is accidentally crushed. Do not let it touch their bare hands. Do not reuse the gloves.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine tests (e.g. liver function, sugar or electrolyte levels) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Your blood pressure may rise to unsafe levels without you noticing it. Monitor your blood pressure before, during, and after treatment.
- Regular monitoring of water retention and signs of a weak adrenal gland may also be needed.
Abiraterone may cause any of the following side effects: diarrhoea, indigestion, muscle weakness, chest pain, and rash.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following: yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles.
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Abiraterone with Radium-223 (medicine used as radiation therapy).
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for TB, an infection known as tuberculosis e.g. rifampicin, rifapentine, rifabutin
- medicines for fits or seizures e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital
- medicines for diabetes e.g. pioglitazone, repaglinide
- ketoconazole (medicine for fungal infection)
- dextromethorphan (medicine for cough)
- medicines for mood disorders e.g. thioridazine, venlafaxine, risperidone
- haloperidol (medicine to treat depression)
- strong pain killers e.g. codeine, oxycodone, tramadol
- metoprolol (medicine for high blood pressure)
- medicines for irregular or abnormal heartbeat e.g. quinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide
- certain antibiotics e.g. moxifloxacin
- spironolactone (water pill or medicine for water retention)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Abiraterone.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
It is important to adhere to the diet prescribed by your doctor.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As Abiraterone is a cancer medicine, always return any unused medicine to the clinic, hospital or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
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