Side effects of zytiga

[Ptripp2]

Does zytiga or prednisone tend to cause back pain or metallic taste? And if so does anyone know any tricks or recommendations that can help?

My dad is experiencing this and isn’t really sure if old age or the meds are causing the back pain and is pretty sure metallic taste is from prednisone.

[6357axbz]

I had been on lupron for awhile before starting Zytiga (abiraterone)/prednisone. No additional SEs, no funny tastes, no pains. DO NOT let the prednisone dissolve at all in your mouth cause it tastes awful. Gulp it down with plenty of water.

[dhccpa in reply to 6357axbz]

How long were you on Lupron before starting Zytiga? Why did you then start Zytiga?

I have been on Lupron for 3.5 years. PSA has been under 1.0, with low of 0.5 a year ago, with a two month exception in mid-2029, when it jumped to 1.4 then retreated. My MO recommends against starting Zytiga at present, not wanting to rock the boat.

Any specifics of your scan/PSA history would be helpful. Thanks.

[6357axbz in reply to dhccpa]

Lupron from dx 7/2018. PSA to undetectable and T minimal within about 6 months, added Zytiga 4/2019 due to both advice from TA and Schwah and my RO. Continued to be undetectable till an ADT holiday starting in 11/2019 which was part of a Phase 2 CT. When my PSA rose to 0.5 I had a GA68 PSMA PET-CT scan at UCLA 6/2020. Been on Lupron/Zytiga ever since with PSA remaining undetectable. There is more info in my profile. Had Mets zapped (2 in ribs, 1 in illium and my para-aortic lymph node string) in fall of 2019.

[dhccpa in reply to 6357axbz]

Thanks very much. My MO and I discuss this every three months.

I'll read your profile. On zapping your Mets, I may have another question, but let me read profile first.

[dhccpa in reply to 6357axbz]

OK, about your Mets. I had 3-10 back in mid-2018 (some places too small to know). I was told more than five, no radiation. Were you advised differently? Or were you having pain issues? As nd how are Mets today?

Thanks!

[6357axbz in reply to dhccpa]

I believe mine were zapped as part of the trial I mentioned. Never had any pain. As far as I know no new Mets.

[dhccpa in reply to 6357axbz]

Thanks. Yes, Lupron has reduced mine to 3, but no radiation. Thanks for the response.

[nicecity]

Yes, I still have metallic taste, I started Zytiga on 3/05/2022. I had very bad rib Cage pain For two weeks and now it is getting better.

[mrscruffy]

6 years on both, never had that experience. Doesn't mean that isn't the cause though.

[Chrisbaird]

Been on both for 18 months Only side effects I find is fatigue slight bloating in stomach but my MO said could be acidity from other tablets I take for other problems

[spencoid2]

My back pain varies so much from day to day that I never figured out how to avoid it. I thought exercise was the key but right now I am visiting my Father, getting little exercise and sleeping on a less than perfect bed and I have no back pain at all. Go figure.

However with Zytiga (and ADT) you will have many if not all of the symptoms caused by low T and need to do a lot right to not fall apart completely. Exercise is critical, eating well also as well as other things depending on your interests and motivation.

When I do have back pain (which is quite minimal now) I just take an oxycodone or two in a day or at night. Unfortunately anti inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs have the side effect of making urination more difficult so I only take them when I can't sleep due to the pain but prefer oxy which also helps with other minor pains.

I am convinced that my infrequent use of narcotics is not a problem.

[Rogersw]

Been on Zytiga and prednisolobe for three weeks no metallic taste (make sure he swallows it whole otherwise disgusting taste)some days fatigue set in like your dad put odd aches down to old age

[ishitasen]

Yes, you got it right the metallic taste is due to the prednisone. Although Zytiga causes few side effects, back pain is not one of them. The back pain may be due to the painful skeletal metastasis, which might be he suffering from. Please consult your treating physician.

[Izas in reply to ishitasen]

Good afternoon from Spain, my father has been with Zytiga for 3 months and his psa has dropped from 35 to 15 in the last check-up a month ago so we will see the next one... but what worries me now are the side effects he is suffering: he started with pain in the hip that is already disappearing that they have indicated that it will be hip wear although they are going to do a bone scan and after this he has horrible fatigue that does not allow him to walk and 2 months ago he walked between 2 or 3 hours a day. Since the start of treatment, he hardly sleeps and gets up several times during the night. His memory has also been affected dramatically and these last 5 days he has quite a lot of phlegm due to a cold that along with fatigue causes him to barely breathe. I imagine it will be side effects... but will it be like this the whole time you are in treatment? Is there no way to mitigate them? Thank you very much and good luck ♥️

[ishitasen in reply to Izas]

Yes, these are the side-effects of Zytiga. If the side effects are of severe intensity as described by you, then most probably your father might not be able to tolerate Zytiga. In such scenario, I would like to change the drug or therapy regimen.

In your case, Lu-177 therapy appears to be the best alternative. Which has minimal side effects as compared to the other drugs.