Zytiga

[hysir]

I have been on zytiga for approx 2 years. I was curious as to why the dosing instrutions said to take on empty stomach and do not take with food. I came across a study on zytiga dosing and it stated to take fewer pills with a meal.I am presently taking 2 pills with breakfast daily, instead of 4 on an empty stomach. Has anyone have any positive or negative comments on this. I told my oncologist what I am doing and will see him in 3 months.

[Tall_Allen]

healthunlocked.com/advanced...

[Canoehead]

My oncologist (Szmulewitz) is the principle researcher in the Zytiga with food study. I’m seeing him Friday. He is mostly a standard of care guy, but his own study results are obviously not yet the standard of care. I have lots of questions for him, including my own usage of Zytiga, and will report to you all after my appointment.

[hysir in reply to Canoehead]

Will be awaiting your reply. I have been trying this for approx 2 weeks, 2 pills with breakfast.

[Mkeman in reply to Canoehead]

I think every Zytiga user will appreciate any information you can share after your appointment. It will be interesting to hear if he is putting his patients on the one pill and light breakfast regimen. Also...what constitutes a light breakfast? I had Zytiga added to Trelstar two months ago. I started Trelstar and Casodex seven months ago with the Casodex dropped when I started the Zytiga. Bone scan yesterday showed improvement in the Mets I have on L3, right hip and shoulder. PSA is currently undetectable. Given that I am 80 and was diagnosed with a Gleason 9 score following a HoLEP procedure last August, I consider myself very fortunate. I hope your appointment goes well;

[TommyTV]

As I’ve been taking Zytiga for the last 6.5 years, 4 tablets 2 hours after eating and 1 hour before a meal (11am daily), and it’s kept my PSA immeasurable, there’s no way I’m upsetting the apple cart and changing dosage. PSA at dx was 571.

[npaulson1]

Twice I took Zytiga too close to a meal: Both times I spiked a fever shortly afterward (102 degrees, in one case) and had discomfort and severe and strange muscle cramps. I'm more careful now, though I take this as a sign that mixing it with food isn't wise and the protocol of which you speak has me puzzled. The usual dose of 1,000 mgs too much for my liver, so I've been taking 500 mgs (two tablets) for seven months. PSA, which was 24 at dx in July, 2017, is down to .08 and continues to drop incrementally.

[Litlerny]

Interesting replies, and the source of a lot of confusion for PCa patients. According to an online article this morning from CTA (Cancer Therapy Advisor), research has shown that Zytiga should always be taken with food, which increases it’s bioavailability and efficacy exponentially compared to taking it on an empty stomach. Furthermore, taking it with a high fat meal is even more effective than With a low fat meal. However,, neither the manufacturer nor the FDA has put this information on the instructions for use. The implication is that there is a profit motive behind their dosing instructions, which state the drug should be taken on an empty stomach, because the research has shown that you could potentially cut your dose in half by taking it with a high fat meal, which would cut their profits in half.

You can read this article by going into the Cancer Therapy Advisor website. The article is titled “Diet and Dosage: How Much Could Patients Save.”

[leo2634]

Hello all I have been on Zytiga for going on three months and exactly how my Doctors told me to take them on an empty stomach at 6:00 AM with at least 12 oz. Of water the water helps with any discomfort the pill may cause believe me it works. The reason I researched the food consumption with Zytiga is that certain foods will increase its power and cause it to react as a stronger dose besides why go to a specialist to save my life and not do what he tells me. I've only been on it three months and my PSA went from 14 to 0.1 and along with my Eligard shot every six months I feel better then I have in years. So what I say to you all my Brothers in arms is to seek what's best for you but for God sake please let your Doctor know before experimenting. Best to all of you and God Bless us all.

[joancarles]

Hello! I am in Zytiga since 09/2017. They advised me to take it on an empty stomach. I have followed the instructions of the doctor. At this moment I am working with the PSA and all the other markers. The only effects are hot flashes and less energy. For the moment satisfied. I will consult with my oncologist. I have decided not to do, at the moment, any experiment on my own.

[sgrama]

I read on their website the reason for taking on an empty stomach is because if you take with food it absorbs more of the medicine than you need.

This is directly from their website:

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®.

My husband took exactly as it said and never had any side effects whatsoever.

Hope this answered your question and good luck in your journey.

[hysir in reply to sgrama]

Waiting for official results of efficacy of lowering the dosage if taken with a meal.

[Stelle]

Interesting. My specialty pharm. instructions are to take it with or without out food with a full glass of water the same time each day.

[hysir in reply to Stelle]

How many pills per day.

[Stelle]

four 40mg at the same time. Stelle

[Canoehead]

I met today with my oncologist, Dr. Russell Szmulewitz, who did the recently published study on Zytiga dosage and food. Since he prescribed Zytiga for me, we talked about his study. He indicates that the measurement criterion in the study was PSA change and not survival, and accordingly a bigger, longer study is needed in order to get a definitive answer. What he is telling his patients is to follow label dosing directions, but if any of them have insurance/co-pay/financial problems, they are most likely OK to reduce dosage and take the pills with a meal. His study had i pill per day taken with a low fat meal compared with the label dosage of 4 pills on an empty stomach. He says he believes in the result, but it is not yet sufficiently established to be considered the new standard of care.

For now I am going to follow label dosing instructions.

[hysir in reply to Canoehead]

Thanx for the info.