How long can medication be interrupte... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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How long can medication be interrupted without serious effects?

Pinkyboy profile image
19 Replies

There have been news stories recently about ‘shortages’ in prescription drugs, including some cancer medications. Makes me wonder how long can daily medication be interrupted without serious effects?

I am presently on Nubeqa and it has been quite effective, but I wonder how many days could be missed with little to no effect on my treatment.

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Pinkyboy profile image
Pinkyboy
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19 Replies
KocoPr profile image
KocoPr

do you have a link to the news stories?

Pinkyboy profile image
Pinkyboy in reply toKocoPr

This should get you started …

google.com/search?q=drug+sh...

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr in reply toPinkyboy

Nice link! I like that it is .org but nubeqa or darolutamide is not on the list

Pinkyboy profile image
Pinkyboy in reply toKocoPr

Yes, I know... but my question is a "what if," and I would really like to know. I hope you are having a nice weekend!

carbide profile image
carbide in reply toPinkyboy

What If? You should stay cool.What ifs never end.

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr

You have enough to worry about! You don’t need to worry about hypothetical scenarios that most likely won’t happen. Jeez we have enough to worry about.

I read your bio and you should try exercising with bands. That’s what most of us use as free weights can be a little dangerous for our weakened bones, tendons and muscles.

I use cable, bands and light free weights.

Your knee injury is perfect for bands! Watch some youtube on band exercises for injured knee.

Pinkyboy profile image
Pinkyboy in reply toKocoPr

No “worry” here … my question is a "what if," and I would really like to know.

Thanks for the heads up about bands; we actually have some of these 😊

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr in reply toPinkyboy

If nubeqa was running low I believe priority would be to trials then existing patients. I would also imagine the doctors could prescribe other AR inhibitors like enzalutamide or appalutamide.

The biggest issue is the Bayer would lose millions of dollars per day so some heads would roll. It won’t happen as long as big money could be lost.

Pinkyboy profile image
Pinkyboy in reply toKocoPr

Yep, I get it. My question is not yet answered.

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr in reply toPinkyboy

Ok i see. It takes about 6 days for Nubeqa to lose its effectiveness.

When i get off Nubeqa and Orgovyx i have to wait till the 6th day before starting high Testosterone.

Pinkyboy profile image
Pinkyboy in reply toKocoPr

Now, *that’s* helpful. Thanks.

dhccpa profile image
dhccpa in reply toKocoPr

There was a months long Lupron shortage back in 2020; it does happen, although it is sometimes possible to find alternatives (Eligard in that case).

I've seen some similar articles, maybe one in the NYT.

leebeth profile image
leebeth

How long a medication can be interrupted is variable, based upon each drug’s pharmacokinetics. There is no blanket answer. Also, many meds have similar drugs within the same class, so I wouldn’t worry too much.

WisdomSeeking profile image
WisdomSeeking

You may look for the halflife of the drugs and the halflife calculator: drugs.com/article/drug-half...

KocoPr profile image
KocoPr in reply toWisdomSeeking

Thanks for the link!

Nubeqa

Metabolism

Darolutamide is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4, as well as by UGT1A9 and UGT1A1. Ketodarolutamide total exposure in plasma is 1.7‑fold higher compared to darolutamide.

Excretion

After a single radiolabeled dose as an oral solution, a total of 63.4% of darolutamide‑related material is excreted in the urine (approximately 7% unchanged) and 32.4% (approximately 30% unchanged) in the feces. More than 95% of the dose was recovered within 7 days after administration

drugs.com/pro/nubeqa.html#s...

also from same link above

Absorption

Darolutamide Cmax is reached approximately 4 hours after administration of a single 600 mg oral dose.

The absolute bioavailability is approximately 30% following oral administration of a NUBEQA tablet containing 300 mg darolutamide under fasted conditions.

Food Effect

Bioavailability of darolutamide increased by 2.0- to 2.5‑fold when administered with food. A similar increase of exposure was observed for the active metabolite ketodarolutamide.

SteveTheJ profile image
SteveTheJ

No one can answer that. You should get tested regularly and be prepared to restart the medications if there is an issue.

swwags profile image
swwags

Priced @ $15k per month - they won't be running out. Too big of a money maker.

EchoII profile image
EchoII

I stopped for 2 years. Now i have to start again due to scans and psa rise

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

I just worry about running out of chocolate chip ice cream (two scoops)..even for just one day.....Lordy Lordy....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

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