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Abiraterone Coupon - Abiraterone 250mg tablet

abiraterone

Generic Zytiga
Used for Prostate Cancer
Used for Prostate Cancer

Abiraterone (Zytiga) is an oral medication used to treat certain types of prostate cancer. It's taken by mouth once a day. But you'll also have to take it with a steroid, which is typically taken once or twice a day. You might also need to take another medication that targets GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone), unless you’ve had surgery to remove both testicles (bilateral orchiectomy). Some common side effects caused by abiraterone (Zytiga) include high blood pressure and swelling from fluid build up. Zytiga is available as lower-cost generics, but Yonsa currently isn't.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Lauren Morton, PharmD, BCPS
reviewer
Connie Zheng, PharmD
Last reviewed on August 23, 2022
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsCostAlternativesLatest newsImagesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Abiraterone (Zytiga)?

What is Abiraterone (Zytiga) used for?

Prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, in combination with a corticosteroid:

  • Cancer that needs testosterone to grow (Zytiga only)

  • Cancer that can still grow when there’s not much testosterone (Yonsa and Zytiga)

How Abiraterone (Zytiga) works

Most prostate cancer cells need testosterone to grow and spread. Testosterone is a type of male sex hormone called an androgen.

Abiraterone (Zytiga) is an androgen synthesis inhibitor, a type of hormone therapy. It works by lowering the amount of testosterone your body makes. Without testosterone, prostate cancer cells won’t have the fuel they need to grow or spread.

Are you looking for information on Erleada (apalutamide), Xtandi (enzalutamide), or Zydelig (idelalisib) instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsZytiga, Yonsa
Drug ClassAndrogen synthesis inhibitor
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Abiraterone (Zytiga)?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Tiredness (39%)
  • High blood pressure, with or without symptoms such as dizziness and headache (up to 37%)
  • Joint swelling or discomfort (30%)
  • Muscle discomfort (26%)
  • Swelling in your body from fluid buildup (edema) (27%)
  • Constipation (23%)
  • Diarrhea (up to 22%)
  • Hot flash (up to 22%)

Other Side Effects

  • Heartburn
  • Fever
  • Runny nose, sore throat, and other cold-like symptoms
  • Trouble breathing
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Fall, broken bone, or bruising
  • Groin pain
  • Urinating more (especially at night), bloody urine, or other symptoms of urinary tract infection
  • Rash
  • Headache
  • Changes in heart rhythm, chest pain, or heart failure

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Liver damage: nausea, vomiting, right-sided stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • Dangerously low levels of stress hormone: fast heartbeat, feeling faint, headache, confusion, muscle weakness, and pain or swelling in your legs

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Bladder pain

bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet

bloody or cloudy urine

blurred vision

bone fracture

bone pain

chest pain or discomfort

decreased urine

difficult, burning, or painful urination

dry mouth

fainting

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

feeling of warmth

frequent urge to urinate

headache

increased thirst

increased urge to urinate during the night

lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting

loss of appetite

lower back or side pain

mood changes

muscle pain or cramps

nausea

nervousness

numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips

pain or swelling in the arms or legs without any injury

passing urine more often

pounding in the ears

rapid weight gain

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

seizures

slow heartbeat

sudden sweating

swelling

swelling with pits or depressions on the skin

trouble breathing

unusual tiredness or weakness

unusual weight gain or loss

vomiting

waking to urinate at night

Less common

Arm, back, or jaw pain

chest tightness or heaviness

clay-colored stools

cool, sweaty skin

dark urine

decreased urine output

difficulty with breathing

dilated neck veins

extreme tiredness or weakness

fever

irregular breathing

itching skin or rash

light-colored stools

stomach pain or tenderness

sweating

weakness

weight gain

yellow eyes or skin

Rare

Darkening of the skin

diarrhea

mental depression

Incidence not known

Anxiety

chills

cold sweats

coma

confusion

cool, pale skin

cough

difficulty swallowing

general feeling of discomfort or illness

hives

increased hunger

irregular heartbeat, recurrent

muscle pain, spasms, stiffness, tenderness, wasting, or weakness

nightmares

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

shakiness

slurred speech

stomach pain, continuing

thickening of bronchial secretions

unpleasant breath odor

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting of blood

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Belching

body aches or pain

difficulty with moving

ear congestion

heartburn

indigestion

joint pain

loss of voice

runny or stuffy nose

sneezing

sore throat

stomach discomfort or upset

swelling or stiffness of the joints

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Abiraterone (Zytiga)

thumbs-up

Pros

Oral pill, taken once daily

Recommended option for certain types of prostate cancer

Zytiga is available as a lower-cost generic

thumbs-down

Cons

Must be taken with a steroid

Can raise your blood pressure or cause fluid buildup

Zytiga needs to be taken on an empty stomach

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Abiraterone (Zytiga)

pharmacist

  • Take Zytiga on an empty stomach. Don’t eat food 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking abiraterone (Zytiga). Swallow tablets whole. Don’t cut, crush, or chew the tablets. Yonsa can be taken with or without food.

    • If you miss a dose of abiraterone (Zytiga) or your steroid, don’t try to make up that dose. Skip the missed dose, and take your next dose at your next regularly scheduled time. Don't take two doses at the same time. Let your provider know if you miss more than one dose.

      • Certain medications, such as rifampin (Rifadin), can interact with abiraterone (Zytiga), which can change the levels of abiraterone (Zytiga) in your body. This can affect how well abiraterone (Zytiga) works to treat prostate cancer or raise your risk of side effects. Tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medications. Before starting any new medications, make sure your provider knows you're taking abiraterone (Zytiga).

        • Abiraterone (Zytiga) isn't meant to be taken alone to treat prostate cancer. Typically, you should be taking it at the same time as a medication that targets a hormone called GnRH (e.g. Lupron Depot (leuprolide) or Firmagon (degarelix)), unless you’ve had surgery to remove both testicles. Check with your provider if you aren’t receiving a GnRH-targeting medication. Don’t stop taking these medications without talking to your healthcare provider first.

          • If your partner is able to become pregnant, use appropriate birth control measures, such as condoms or birth control pills, while you’re taking abiraterone (Zytiga), and for 3 weeks after your last dose. It’s possible for abiraterone (Zytiga) to cause birth defects or pregnancy loss in female partners of males who are taking this medication. Talk with your provider if you have questions about birth control options for you and your partner.

            • Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to handle and dispose of this anticancer medication. These medications can be very harmful to people who handle or come into contact with them, so you need to get rid of them safely.

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Abiraterone (Zytiga)

              What’s the difference between Zytiga and Yonsa?
              Zytiga (abiraterone) and Yonsa (abiraterone) both contain the same active ingredient and are taken once a day by mouth. They’re also both approved for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. But there are some differences. One difference between these medications is the steroid they're recommended to be taken with. Zytiga should be taken with prednisone and Yonsa should be taken with methylprednisolone. The medications also have different dosing. Zytiga is dosed at 1000 mg and Yonsa is dosed at 500 mg. Another important difference is that Zytiga shouldn’t be taken with food. This is important because food changes how much medication is absorbed in the body. This isn’t a problem with Yonsa, as Yonsa can be taken with or without food.
              Why do I need to take abiraterone (Zytiga) with a steroid?
              You'll need to take steroids, like prednisone and methylprednisolone, with Zytiga or Yonsa to help replace the cortisol (stress hormone) lost during treatment with either medication. While abiraterone (Zytiga) does a good job at lowering the amount of testosterone your body makes, a side effect is that it also causes your body to make less of another hormone called cortisol. This isn't good — if you don't have enough cortisol, your body can get in trouble. You can experience side effects of low cortisol, such as dizziness, weakness, and changes in your mood. In addition, you might notice other problems, such as swelling from fluid build up, changes in your heart’s rhythm, and high blood pressure — these are results of changes in other hormone levels caused by low cortisol. Be sure to take your steroid as your provider prescribes to lower your risk for these side effects.
              Why can’t I take Zytiga (abiraterone) with food?
              It’s important that you take Zytiga (abiraterone) on an empty stomach because food affects how much Zytiga (abiraterone) gets absorbed in your body. If you take it with food, your body might absorb too much medication. This means that Zytiga (abiraterone) can cause more side effects.
              Is abiraterone (Zytiga) a kind of chemotherapy?
              Abiraterone (Zytiga) isn’t a chemotherapy medication. Chemotherapy is a class of medication that targets and kills cancer cells in your body. Abiraterone (Zytiga) doesn’t kill cancer cells. Instead, it’s a form of hormonal therapy called an antiandrogen. It works by lowering the amount of testosterone your body makes. Most prostate cancer cells need testosterone to grow and spread. By lowering the amount of testosterone, abiraterone (Zytiga) there is less “fuel” for cancer cells to grow or spread.
              Can taking abiraterone (Zytiga) affect my fertility (ability to have children)?
              It's possible that abiraterone (Zytiga) can affect your ability to have children. While there isn't enough research done in people, animal studies show that abiraterone (Zytiga) can lower the amount of sperm you make and damage your sperm. Talk to your provider if you have concerns about fertility.
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              What are the risks and warnings for Abiraterone (Zytiga)?

              Abiraterone (Zytiga) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

              risk-warning

              Swelling from fluid buildup, heart problems, and low potassium levels

              • Risk factors: Blood pressure that’s not controlled | Low potassium levels | Heart problems

                Abiraterone (Zytiga) can cause changes in certain hormone levels that can lead to problems like low potassium, fluid buildup, changes in your heart’s rhythm, and high blood pressure. These problems can be serious, especially in people that have other heart problems, like heart failure or a recent heart attack. Your provider will monitor your blood pressure, as well as potassium levels through lab work. They’ll also monitor you for symptoms of fluid build up (e.g., pain or swelling in your arms or legs). Your provider will prescribe a steroid to take with abiraterone (Zytiga) to lower your risk of these side effects. Let your provider know if you experience dizziness, fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, confusion, or pain or swelling in your legs or arms. These could be symptoms of side effects related to abiraterone (Zytiga).

                risk-warning

                Low stress hormone levels

                • Risk factors: Interruption or dose change of steroid therapy | Infection | Stress

                  Taking abiraterone (Zytiga) causes your body to produce less stress hormone. Your provider will prescribe you a steroid, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone (a man-made version of your stress hormone), to make up for the loss. But if you suddenly stop taking your steroid or when you experience too much stress, your body isn't able to make enough of its own stress hormones to meet your needs. Let your provider know right away if you experience symptoms of low stress hormones, such as weight loss, tiredness, confusion or stomach pain

                  risk-warning

                  Liver damage

                  abiraterone (Zytiga) can cause liver damage, especially in the first 3 months of you starting this medication. Not everyone experiences symptoms with liver damage. Sometimes, your provider can only tell you have problems with your liver by looking at your lab work. Because of this, you'll probably get bloodwork done weekly in the beginning, then less frequently after that, so your provider can check the health of your liver. Let your provider know right away if you experience symptoms of liver damage, such as tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dark urine, right-side stomach pain, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

                  risk-warning

                  Harm to unborn baby

                  Based on animal studies, abiraterone (Zytiga) can harm an unborn baby or raise the risk for miscarriage (pregnancy loss). If your partner is able to get pregnant, you should use birth control measures, such as condoms, while taking abiraterone (Zytiga), and for 3 weeks after your last dose. To reduce their risk of exposure to the medication, your partner should also not touch the tablets. Let your provider know right away if your partner becomes pregnant during this time.

                  risk-warning

                  Low blood sugar

                  • Risk factors: High blood sugar that’s treated with certain medication

                    Low blood sugars were seen when abiraterone (Zytiga) was taken by people with high blood sugar (diabetes) who were taking certain medications (like pioglitazone (Actos) and repaglinide) to control their blood sugars. If you have diabetes your provider might monitor your blood sugars more closely while you’re taking abiraterone (Zytiga). They might need to adjust the dose of your other medications treating your diabetes. Let your provider know if you experience any symptoms of low blood sugar, like sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, or dizziness.

                    dosage

                    Abiraterone (Zytiga) dosage forms

                    Typical dosing for Abiraterone (Zytiga)

                    Zytiga (abiraterone) and its generics:

                    • The typical dose is 1,000 mg taken by mouth once daily. In addition, you’ll also take prednisone 5 mg by mouth, either once or twice daily, depending on your prostate cancer type.

                    Yonsa (abiraterone):

                    • The typical dose is 500 mg taken by mouth once daily. In addition, you’ll also take methylprednisolone 4 mg by mouth twice daily.

                    Your dose might differ if you’re taking other medications that interact with abiraterone (Zytiga) or if you have liver problems.

                    interactions

                    Interactions between Abiraterone (Zytiga) and other drugs

                    Abiraterone (Zytiga) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Abiraterone (Zytiga). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

                    • Dasabuvir
                    • Eliglustat
                    • Selexipag

                    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                    Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

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                    How much does Abiraterone (Zytiga) cost?

                    To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
                    Zytiga (brand)
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                    Abiraterone (Zytiga) (generic)
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                    alternatives

                    What are alternatives to Abiraterone (Zytiga)?

                    There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Abiraterone (Zytiga). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                    Abiraterone (Zytiga)
                    Used for:

                    Prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, in combination with a corticosteroid:

                    • Cancer that needs testosterone to grow (Zytiga only)

                    • Cancer that can still grow when there’s not much testosterone (Yonsa and Zytiga)

                    $90.00 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Erleada (apalutamide)
                    Used for:

                    • Advanced or metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that've spread to other areas)

                    View Prices
                    Nubeqa (darolutamide)
                    Used for:
                    View Prices
                    images

                    Abiraterone (Zytiga) images

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