OK to switch from 750mg abi without food to 250mg with food?

[JazzMan42]

The program that allowed me to get Zytiga without copay has been discontinued as of 12/31/22. My research into the cost even with Medicare is substantial. I had been taking 750mg Zytiga without food and have heard that 250mg of abi with some fatty food is as effective. If so, it would lessen the high copay if I can safely drop the dosage. Could I take the abi at breakfast with toast, butter or bagel with cream cheese?

[Tall_Allen]

CostPlus has the lowest prices I've seen. $158.40/month for the full dose (1000 mg) without food.

costplusdrugs.com/medicatio...

If you can afford that, it eliminates the guesswork.

[JazzMan42 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thank you TA! I had looked at CostPlus last week and it seemed that they were back ordered on Abi. Today it looks like they have it again.

[noahware]

There is more variability in absorption when a lower dose is taken with food. But studies have shown the 250 w/ food is safe and effective, as a rule, and should be okay according to many docs. Some docs of course disagree and prefer to stick to the 1000 on an empty stomach.

[tango65]

You can try and see what happens with your PSA. In a couple of months or less you will have an answer.

[Lettuce231]

Hi, 3 years taking 500mg of zytiga at breakfast, egg on toast and yoghurt, sometimes even 🥓 bacon. Undetectable. Absorption is my way of thinking 🤔.

I wish you good luck 👍

[spencoid2]

It seems to be mainly "rich" countries where the full dose is most common and doctors are made to feel like they are taking a risk prescribing anything other than full does. I think this is total bullshit. It should be possible to come up with a standard meal to be taken with ABI and it would be less of a pain to fit the dose in just the right time with respect to a meal. I know it was a pain when I was on it.

In countries like India where they are just as smart as we are and have plenty of good doctors but seem to be less under the thumb of big pharma they do it regularly. Take a nice little trip to India and see a doctor there. I would love to go to India but not for ABI because I no longer take it. I considered one pill with food even though my copay was something like $10

[Concerned-wife]

The “with food “ method is LOWfat. You can Research University of Chicago study of this. And you can search for some suggested diets developed for this. For one instead of four pills. Sounds like you were on three pills

[HikerWife in reply to Concerned-wife]

Hi - My husband is starting low dose this week. I have searched and searched for specific, portioned diet plans - there is nothing (at least that I have found with hours of different search terms). Just vague suggestions. I have laboriously come up with some ideas for the 300 cal, 9 g fat. Do you have a source or link? Thanks so much.

[Concerned-wife in reply to HikerWife]

cinj.org/sites/cinj/files/d...

[HikerWife in reply to Concerned-wife]

Thank you, I have seen this already. It is not specific about portions or how to combine them. You're really on your own.

[reichel]

GoodRx worked for me. Medicare plan switched to CVS Caremark and copay was quoted at$2300. Good Rx 161.

Have ro shop it. Great system here.