What is Zytiga?
Zytiga is a prescription medication that comes in the form of a tablet for oral administration. Each tablet contains 250mg of the anti-androgen drug called Abiraterone. Zytiga uses the acetate form of Abiraterone to increase the medications effectiveness, called Abiraterone Acetate. Once the drug is metabolized in the body, it converts into Abiraterone and remains in the system for up to 5 days. We carry the brand-name medication at My Drug Center.
What is Zytiga used for?
Zytiga is used along with a corticosteroid for the treatment of prostate cancer when it spreads to other areas of the body. This can include two conditions; metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which is prostate cancer that has spread and is no longer responsive to hormone therapy; or metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC), which is prostate cancer that has spread but can still respond to hormone therapy. Zytiga is generally prescribed to patients with prostate cancer who cannot be treated with surgery or other medicines. Using Zytiga can help slow the growth of the cancer.
How does Zytiga work?
Zytiga works by slowing the growth of the cancer tumor. Though the cause of prostate cancer is unclear, it is thought that an androgen called testosterone, which is a natural male sex hormone, may promote the growth of cancer cells. Researchers Charles Brenton Huggins and Clarence Hodge discovered in 1940 that when a man’s testosterone levels drop, their prostate cancer also stops growing and vice versa. Zytiga is able to stop the growth of the cancer tumor by reducing the amount of testosterone production in the body.
How long does Zytiga prolong life?
Zytiga has shown to effectively prolong the lifespan of those with prostate cancer however; the exact amount of time it will prolong life by will vary from man to man. To give you an idea, here are a few results from clinic trials showing the effectiveness of the drug and how long it can prolong life for:
- Men with CRPC taking Zytiga with Prednisone in addition to standard hormone therapy found life to be prolonged by roughly 4.5 month.
- Men with CSPC with drug therapy including Zytiga found a lowered of risk of death by 34% over a 52 month period (4.3 years).
- Men with either CRPC or CSPC starting hormone therapy for the first time: those who took Zytiga has a survival rate of 83% over the course of 36 months (3 years) compared to those who did not take Zytiga which had a survival rate of 76%.
How long can you take Zytiga?
Zytiga is typically used as a long-term treatment; many patients use Zytiga for 2-3 years, usually for as long as treatment continues to be effective. However, there are many factors that may influence the amount of time you can use this particular medication for. It is best to discuss with your doctor if you have further questions on how long you can use this medication, based off your personal factors, you doctor may have a more personalized and accurate answer for you.
How much does Zytiga cost without insurance?
Zytiga is an expensive medication in general but especially for those without insurance. In the United States, the brand-name product isn’t generally covered by Medicare, so vast majority of patients are stuck paying the entire amount; and though the generic form is usually covered by Medicare, not everyone has that advantage, and many are still forced to pay a high cost for the generic medication without insurance coverage. However, the price of most medications, including Zytiga, will fluctuate depending on the location of the pharmacy. For example, international prices at My Drug Center can be found for much lower than prices found in the United States. At My Drug Center, we offer the brand-name product for $4,733.00 when you buy a supply of 120 tablets. This price is much cheaper when compared to local pharmacies in the United States; a supply of 120 brand-name tablets would cost close to 3 times as much and a supply of 120 generic tablets would cost almost double as much.
Who makes Zytiga?
Zytiga was developed by the Ortho Biotech Oncology Research & Development unit of Cougar Biotechnology, Inc., and is marketed by Centocor Ortho Biotech. However, you may notice that Janssen Biotech markets Zytiga; to clear up any confusion, in June of 2011, Centocor Biotech announced that it changed its name to Janssen Biotech, Inc.
How long does it take for Zytiga to work?
Zytiga will begin to work for patients likely at different times due to the fact that our bodies respond to medication differently. For some men, Zytiga may begin to work within a few days, for others, it could take up to a week or two. In general, this medication should begin working within a few days to a few weeks for most patients. Your doctor will likely monitor you throughout treatment to ensure your medication is working properly (see below).
How do you know if Zytiga is working?
One way to check if Zytiga is working is by having a PSA test. A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that your doctor will likely require you to take every 2-3 months during treatment to monitor if it is working. If your PSA levels fall, it’s usually a good indication that treatment is working; the exact amount of time it takes and the amount that PSA levels falls will vary between man to man. However, sometimes a PSA test isn’t enough alone to determine if Zytiga is working, so you may also require other blood tests along with discussing with your doctor how you’re feeling to determine if the medication is working. Additionally, some men won’t have a decrease in PSA levels, but that doesn’t necessarily mean treatment isn’t working. If your PSA levels don’t fall or if they begin to rise, your doctor may ask about your symptoms and may need to run certain scans, such as an MRI or CT scan. Depending on what your doctor believes, you may continue to take Zytiga or other treatment plans may be brought into discussion.
How to take Zytiga?
When your doctor prescribes Zytiga to you, they will go over exactly how to use it; follow only your doctor’s directions. Do not take more or less of a dose or for a longer duration than instructed. Most patients are required to take one Zytiga dose per day, typically with a steroid like Prednisone which is taken once or twice per day. Take your dose on an empty stomach unless your doctor has directed otherwise. Avoid chewing, crushing, or breaking the tablet in half; swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Ask your health care professional about any questions you may have before starting treatment.
Why is Prednisone needed with Zytiga?
One reason that doctors prescribed Prednisone with Zytiga is to help lessen the possible side effects of treatment. Zytiga, while having benefits, also presents some downsides; Zytiga can lower blood levels of cortisol in many patients. Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex and has a wide range of vital processes. Side effects can occur due to a decrease in this hormone, which is why Prednisone is prescribed along with Zytiga. Prednisone works as a “replacement” for the steroid hormone so the body does not suffer side effects as a result of low cortisol levels.
What are the side effects of Zytiga?
Side effects of Zytiga include indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, painful or difficult urination, and feeling weak or very hot. Keep in mind, side effects are a normal response of the body and should not alarm you. However, you should notify your doctor if your side effects do not go away over time or become intolerable. Keep in mind, not all side effects have been listed here.