This list of Frequently Asked Questions provides quick, basic answers about ZYTIGA® (abiraterone acetate), with links to sections of this site that provide additional information.
- What is ZYTIGA®?
- How does ZYTIGA® work?
- How was ZYTIGA® proven effective?
- What should I tell my doctor before taking ZYTIGA®?
- Who should not take ZYTIGA®?
- How do I take ZYTIGA®?
- What are the possible side effects of ZYTIGA®?
- What should I do if I miss a daily dose of ZYTIGA®?
- What are the options to help cover the cost of my medication?
What is ZYTIGA®?
ZYTIGA® is a prescription treatment for men who have castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic prostate cancer) and is resistant to medical or surgical treatments that lower testosterone, and who have received chemotherapy with docetaxel.
How does ZYTIGA® work?
ZYTIGA® works by interrupting the androgen-making process at an important step thereby reducing the amount of androgen being made.
ZYTIGA® blocks androgen production at three sources — the testes, the adrenal glands, and the tumor itself.
How was ZYTIGA® proven effective?
The safety and effectiveness of ZYTIGA® was established in a clinical study of patients with prostate cancer that had spread to other parts of the body, was resistant to medical or surgical treatments that lower testosterone, and had been treated with chemotherapy with docetaxel.
Results from the clinical trial showed that certain men with mCRPC who had received chemotherapy with docetaxel and were treated with ZYTIGA® plus prednisone lived longer than men who were treated with placebo plus prednisone.
The median survival for men in this study who were treated with ZYTIGA® plus prednisone was 15.8 months versus 11.2 months for men treated with placebo plus prednisone.
What should I tell my doctor before taking ZYTIGA®?
Before you take ZYTIGA®, tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart problems
- Have liver problems
- Have a history of adrenal and/or pituitary problems
- Have any other medical conditions
- Plan to become pregnant (See: "Who should not take ZYTIGA®?)
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZYTIGA® passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take ZYTIGA® and breastfeed. You should not do both. (See: "Who should not take ZYTIGA®?)
- Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ZYTIGA® can interact with many other medicines. You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with the doctor that prescribed ZYTIGA® .
Who should not take ZYTIGA®?
- Do not take ZYTIGA® if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. ZYTIGA® may harm your unborn baby. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not touch ZYTIGA® without protection, such as gloves.
How do I take ZYTIGA®?
- Take ZYTIGA® and prednisone exactly as your doctor tells you.
- The standard daily dose of ZYTIGA® is 1,000 mg (4 tablets) once daily. ZYTIGA® is used together with prednisone. The standard dose for prednisone is 5 mg twice daily. Both medications are taken by mouth.
- It's important to follow your doctor's dosing instructions and stay on the treatment schedule to give ZYTIGA® the best opportunity to work.
- ZYTIGA® is an oral, once-daily medication that can be taken at home or anywhere that is convenient for you.
- Take ZYTIGA® on an empty stomach.
- Do not take ZYTIGA® with food. No food should be eaten two hours before and one hour after taking ZYTIGA®. Taking ZYTIGA® with food may cause more of the medicine to be absorbed by the body than is needed and this may cause side effects.
- In addition to ZYTIGA®, you will be taking prednisone, 5 mg by mouth twice a day. Taking prednisone along with ZYTIGA® may help reduce the incidence and severity of some of the possible side effects of ZYTIGA®.
- Don't stop taking your prescribed dose of ZYTIGA® or prednisone without talking to your doctor first.
- Swallow ZYTIGA® tablets whole.
- Take ZYTIGA® tablets with water.
- If you miss a dose of ZYTIGA® or prednisone, take your prescribed dose the following day. If you miss more than one dose of ZYTIGA® or prednisone, tell your doctor right away.
- Your doctor will do blood tests to check for side effects. Your dose of ZYTIGA® may change based on the results of these tests.
What are the possible side effects of ZYTIGA®?
Before you take ZYTIGA®, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Have heart problems
- Have liver problems
- Have a history of adrenal and/or pituitary problems
- Have any other medical conditions
- Plan to become pregnant
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZYTIGA® passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take ZYTIGA® or breastfeed. You should not do both.
- Take any other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ZYTIGA® can interact with many other medicines.
If you are taking ZYTIGA®:
- Take ZYTIGA® and prednisone exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed.
- Do not stop taking your prescribed dose of ZYTIGA® or prednisone without talking to your healthcare provider first.
- ZYTIGA® is supplied as 250-mg tablets and the usual dose of ZYTIGA® is four tablets taken once daily.
- Take ZYTIGA® on an empty stomach. Do not take ZYTIGA® with food. Taking ZYTIGA® with food may cause more of the medicine to be absorbed by the body than is needed and this may cause side effects.
- No food should be eaten 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking ZYTIGA®.
- Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for side effects.
- Men who are sexually active with a pregnant woman must use a condom during and for one week after treatment with ZYTIGA®. If their sexual partner may become pregnant a condom and another form of birth control must be used during and for one week after treatment with ZYTIGA®. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about birth control.
ZYTIGA® may cause serious side effects including:
- High blood pressure (hypertension), low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia), and fluid retention (edema).
Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of the following symptoms:- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeats
- Feel faint or lightheaded
- Headache
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness
- Pain in your legs
- Swelling in your legs or feet
- Adrenal problems may happen if you stop taking prednisone, get an infection, or are under stress.
- Liver problems. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver before treatment with ZYTIGA® and during treatment with ZYTIGA®.
- The most common side effects of ZYTIGA® include:
- Joint swelling or pain
- Muscle aches
- Hot flushes
- Diarrhea
- Urinary tract infection
- Cough
- Irregular heartbeats
- Urinating more often than normal
- Need to get up at night to urinate
- Heartburn
- Cold-like symptoms
- Bone fractures
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
THESE ARE NOT ALL THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF ZYTIGA®.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OR PHARMACIST.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
ZYTIGA® can interact with other medicines.
You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with the healthcare provider that prescribed ZYTIGA®.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
What should I do if I miss a daily dose of ZYTIGA®?
- If you miss a dose of ZYTIGA® or prednisone, take your prescribed dose the following day. If you miss more than one dose of ZYTIGA® or prednisone, tell your doctor right away.
What are the options to help cover the cost of my medication?
There are several options for reducing your out-of-pocket costs for ZYTIGA®:
- If you have commercial insurance, and are eligible for an Instant Savings Card, you'll pay only $20 per month after you've activated your card. This is subject to a $6,000 annual program benefit, 12 months after activation or 12 monthly refills (one-year supply).
- If You Have Medicare, Medicaid, or TRICARE or Commercial Insurance for ZYTIGA®, ZytigaOne™ Support can direct you to alternate sources of funding.
- If You're Uninsured
If you meet certain requirements, you may be able to get funding assistance from the Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation.
Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc. is committed to providing access to uninsured patients that lack the financial resources to pay for their medicines. If you need ZYTIGA® (abiraterone acetate) and are uninsured and unable to pay for your medicine, please call the program at 800-652-6227 or visit the foundation website at http://www.jjpaf.org to see if you might qualify for assistance.
- Learn more about eligibility for the Instant Savings Program.
- Learn about your affordability options
- Learn more about the Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation
Print our Brochure, “Discover ZYTIGA®”
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