How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
Capivasertib belongs to the group of cancer-fighting medications known as antineoplastics. More specifically, it is in the class of medications called protein kinase inhibitors. It is an antitumour medication that works directly on cancer cells to slow down their growth and to slow down the growth of the tumour. It is effective against breast cancer that is hormone receptor (HR) positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) negative, and has one or more changes in PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN genes.
Capivasertib is used in combination with the anti-estrogen medication fulvestrant, to treat breast cancer that is locally advanced or has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body) while being treated with medications that affect the action of estrogen. It is also used to treat breast cancer that has returned within 12 months of completing treatment.
This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
160 mg
Each round, biconvex, beige, film-coated tablet, debossed with "CAV" above "160" on one side and plain on the reverse, contains 160 mg of capivasertib. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium hydrogen phosphate, copovidone, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, iron oxide black (E172), iron oxide red (E172), iron oxide yellow (E172), macrogols 3350, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, purified water, titanium dioxide, and triglycerides (medium chain).
200 mg
Each capsule shaped, biconvex, beige, film-coated tablet debossed with "CAV 200" on one side and plain on the reverse, contains 200 mg of capivasertib. Nonmedicinal ingredients: calcium hydrogen phosphate, copovidone, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, iron oxide black (E172), iron oxide red (E172), iron oxide yellow (E172), macrogols 3350, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, purified water, titanium dioxide, and triglycerides (medium chain).
How should I use this medication?
The usual adult dose of capivasertib is 400 mg (2 x 200 mg tablets) taken by mouth twice daily for 4 days in a row, followed by 3 days of taking no medication. Capivasertib should be taken approximately 12 hours apart, with or without food.
Swallow the tablet whole with some water. Do not crush, break, divide, or chew the tablets. Tablets that are cracked or broken should be safety discarded. Do not take them.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible if it is within 4 hours of the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. If it is more than 4 hours since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. There should be at least 8 hours between doses. If you vomit after taking a dose, do not take another dose, and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to capivasertib or any ingredients of the medication.
What side effects are possible with this medication?
Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.
The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- bloating
- decreased appetite
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- dry skin, itchiness
- fever
- headache
- heartburn
- inflammation or redness of inside of nose, eyes, vagina
- mouth sores
- nausea
- reddened skin
- stomach pain
- strange taste in the mouth
- tiredness
- vomiting
Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- signs of anemia (low red blood cells; e.g., dizziness, pale skin, unusual tiredness or weakness, shortness of breath)
- signs of dehydration (e.g., decreased urine, dry skin, dry and sticky mouth, sleepiness, dizziness, headache, thirst, confusion)
- signs of infection (fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers)
- skin redness with flaking/peeling or rash
- symptoms of hand-foot syndrome (e.g., reddening and/or swelling, peeling on the palms or soles, tingling sensation and burning foot pain)
- symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
- symptoms of kidney damage (e.g., confusion, itchiness or rash, puffiness in face and hands, decreased urine production, swelling, fatigue, weight gain)
- symptoms of a urinary tract infection (e.g. pain when urinating, urinating more often than usual, low back or flank pain)
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- raised red or purple skin patches, with or without blisters, itching, burning sensation
- signs of a severe skin reaction such as blistering, peeling, or rash covering a large area, spreads quickly, or is combined with fever or discomfort
- signs of ketoacidosis (e.g., confusion, extreme thirst, loss of appetite, stomach pain, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, or unusual tiredness)
- the body,
- symptoms of a severe skin reaction that may affect organs (e.g., fever, rash, swollen glands, yellowing of the skin or eyes, cough, chest pain, thirst, decreased urination)
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Diabetes: Capivasertib may cause an increase in blood sugar levels (may cause a loss of blood glucose control) and glucose tolerance may change. Severely increased blood sugar levels causing diabetic ketoacidosis are possible.
If you develop symptoms of high blood sugar levels such as difficulty breathing, feeling very thirsty, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, confusion, and unusual tiredness, seek urgent medical attention.
People with diabetes may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar more frequently while using this medication.
Diarrhea: Capivasertib can cause severe diarrhea. Your doctor may recommend that you take a medication to reduce or prevent diarrhea. If you experience frequent or watery bowel movements, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit, star fruit, pomegranates, Seville oranges, and their juices can affect how capivasertib is removed from the body. Consuming these foods and juices may cause too much of the medication to build up in the body and cause possibly harmful side effects. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid these foods while taking this medication.
Hypersensitivity syndrome: A severe allergic reaction called hypersensitivity syndrome has occurred for some people with the use of capivasertib. This reaction involves a number of organs in the body and may be fatal if not treated quickly. Stop taking the medication and get immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, including fever, swollen glands, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or flu-like symptoms with skin rash or blistering.
Kidney function: Kidney disease or reduced kidney function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately. People who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking this medication and for 4 weeks after the last dose.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if capivasertib passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding and taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
For a full list of interactions, use the Drug Interaction Checker available on the Drugs.com website.
If you are taking other medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
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