What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
Zytiga™ (
abiraterone acetate) if you have:
- Heart problems, including heart failure
- An abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Had a recent heart attack
- Liver disease, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure
- A history of problems with your adrenal or pituitary gland
- Any allergies, including to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Precautions and Warnings With Zytiga
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking this medicine include the following:
- People taking prednisone may develop adrenal insufficiency during times of infection or stress. The side effects of Zytiga can make it more difficult to recognize signs of adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, your healthcare provider may need to closely monitor you, and possibly adjust your prednisone dose, if you have an infection or are under stress.
- Your healthcare provider will monitor your liver function, using blood tests, before you start Zytiga and at least monthly thereafter (more often in the first three months of treatment). If your liver enzymes become too elevated, which could be a sign of liver damage, your healthcare provider will tell you to stop Zytiga and restart you at a lower dose once your liver enzymes return to normal. If your liver enzymes do not return to normal, you will not be restarted on Zytiga.
- Zytiga can cause high blood pressure (hypertension), low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia), and fluid retention (edema). Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these problems at least once a month. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms such as:
- Dizziness
- Feeling faint or lightheaded
- A rapid heartbeat
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness
- Leg pain or cramps
- Swelling in the legs and feet.
- Zytiga is a pregnancy Category X medication. This means that it should not be used in women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant (see Zytiga and Pregnancy).
- It is unknown if Zytiga passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Zytiga and Breastfeeding).
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