Olaparib
About Olaparib
Olaparib is an 'anti-cancer' drug used to treat various cancers, including ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate. Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can attack and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.
Olaparib contains Olaparib, a targeted drug called a PARP inhibitor. PARP (polyadenosine 5’-diphosphoribose polymerase) is a protein that helps damaged cells repair themselves. Olaparib stops PARP working. Some cancer cells rely on PARP to keep their DNA healthy. So, the cancer cells die when Olaparib stops PARP from repairing DNA damage.
Use this medicine as directed by your doctor. You may sometimes experience shortness of breath (dyspnoea), feeling very tired, pale skin or fast heartbeat, anaemia, feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), indigestion or heartburn (dyspepsia), loss of appetite, headache, changes in taste of foods (dysgeusia), feeling dizzy, cough and diarrhoea. Most of these side effects may gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, consult your doctor.
To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Olaparib for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Do not stop using the Olaparib midway. Talk to your doctor before taking Olaparib if you have severe allergic reactions to Olaparib or other medicines or suffer from severe infections, renal dysfunction, hepatic disorders and blood cell counts are too low. Avoid taking Olaparib if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because this Olaparib can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using this Olaparib should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. While on Olaparib treatment, you should avoid eating grapefruit, Seville oranges or consuming grapefruit juice since it can affect how the medicine works.
Uses of Olaparib
Medicinal Benefits
Olaparib belongs to a group of medicines known as 'anti-cancer' drugs used to treat various cancers, including Ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate. Olaparib contains Olaparib, a targeted drug called a PARP inhibitor. PARP (polyadenosine 5’-diphosphoribose polymerase) is a protein that helps damaged cells repair themselves. Olaparib stops PARP working. Some cancer cells rely on PARP to keep their DNA healthy. So, the cancer cells die when Olaparib stops PARP from repairing DNA damage.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Olaparib
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Feeling tired or weak (fatigue)
- Feeling very tired
- Indigestion or heartburn (dyspepsia)
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Changes in the taste of foods (dysgeusia)
- Feeling dizzy
- Cough
- Shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
- Diarrhoea
- Low white blood cell count (leukopenia or neutropenia)
- Rash
- Sore mouth (stomatitis)
- Upper abdominal pain (pain in the stomach area under the ribs)
- Blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg (venous thrombosis)
Drug Warnings
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or healthcare professional has told you. To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Olaparib for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Do not stop Olaparib midway. Talk to your doctor before taking Olaparib if you have severe allergic reactions to Olaparib or other medicines or suffer from any medical illness. Avoid taking Olaparib if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because this Olaparib can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using this Olaparib should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. Do not start Olaparib unless patients have recovered from haematological damage induced by previous chemotherapy (Grade 1). Check full blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly afterwards for clinically significant changes during treatment. For persistent haematological toxicity, discontinue Olaparib and monitor blood count weekly until recovery. Do not receive any immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking the Olaparib.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Olaparib interacts with medicines used in the treatment of HIV (e.g. amprenavir, darunavir), a medication used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (e.g. aprepitant), vaccinations (e.g. BCG, Dengue vaccine, mumps virus vaccine), Antibacterial drugs (e.g. ciprofloxacin), and anti-fungal medications (e.g. fluconazole, itraconazole).
Drug-Food Interactions: Do not drink Grapefruit juice, Seville oranges and Alcoholic beverages while treated with Olaparib. It can affect the way the medicine works.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor before taking the Olaparib if you suffer from illness. It requires close monitoring if you suffer from Infections (bacterial/fungal/protozoal/viral), severe renal or hepatic dysfunctions and low blood count.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Olaparib.
Pregnancy
unsafeOlaparib should not be used during pregnancy because it can harm your fetus (newborn baby). Both women of childbearing potential and men must use an effective contraception method while taking Olaparib and at least for six months later treatment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing this medicine.
Breast Feeding
unsafeDo not breastfeed during this treatment because the medicine may pass into your milk. Doctors normally advise against breastfeeding throughout this treatment and for one month after the final medication is taken.
Driving
cautionOlaparib may affect your reactions and your ability to drive. Do not drive and/or operate machines that require your alertness.
Liver
cautionIn patients with mild or moderate liver impairment, there is no need to alter the initial dose. There is no information available on patients with severe liver impairment.
Kidney
cautionIn patients with mild or moderate kidney impairment, there is no need to alter the initial dose. There is no information available on patients with severe kidney impairment.
Children
cautionThe safety and effectiveness of Olaparib in pediatric patients have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- De-stress yourself by meditating, reading books, taking a warm bubble bath or listening to soothing music.
- Performing yoga may also help in improving both physical and mental health.
- Maintain a healthy weight by performing regular low-strain exercises and eating healthy food.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.
- Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs.
- Get optimal sleep; rest well.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Avoid fast, fried, processed meats, refined carbs and added sugars.
Special Advise
- Pregnancy testing is recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment with Olaparib.
- Olaparib should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Olaparib.
- Monitor complete blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly for clinically significant changes during treatment.
- Your doctor may get routine blood tests done to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count in your blood.
- Peripheral blood counts should be frequently monitored during Olaparib treatment and, when appropriate, until recovery is achieved.
- Do not donate sperm during treatment with Olaparib for three months after your last dose.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cancer: Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one body part before spreading to other areas.
Ovarian cancer: Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries (one of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed).
Breast cancer: Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called estrogen. Breast cancer may form in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), and the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast. The tumour cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to lymph nodes, a primary pathway for the cancer cells to move to other body parts. Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or tissue thickening, which feels different than the normal surrounding tissues, breast pain, redness, swelling, and nipple discharge other than breast milk.
Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that only occurs in men and affects the prostate gland, a tiny gland under the bladder that produces semen. Inability to urinate easily, pain, numbness, or sexual issues are among the symptoms. For men, it is the most typical type of cancer. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, it may be brought on by family history, chemical exposure, or both. Prostate cancer risk factors include a family history of the disease, advanced age, obesity, and genetic changes.
FAQs
Olaparib is used to treat ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.
Olaparib contains Olaparib, a targeted drug called a PARP inhibitor. PARP is a protein that helps damaged cells to repair themselves. Olaparib stops PARP working. Some cancer cells rely on PARP to keep their DNA healthy. So, the cancer cells die when Olaparib stops PARP from repairing DNA damage.
If you are allergic to Olaparib or any other ingredients in this medication, are breastfeeding, or have too low blood cell counts, you should not use Olaparib.
Yes, Olaparib can cause low neutrophils levels, a type of white blood cells that help fight infections. If your white blood cells become low, you can be at higher risk for infections. Tell your doctor if you develop a fever or have an infection.
Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without talking to your doctor first. Also, avoid contact with people who recently had immunizations /vaccinations.
