I am five weeks in on Lynparza and it is kicking my rear. Fatigue is severe, almost as bad as chemo this past summer. No energy, muscle weakness and general malaise are prevalent.
Last meeting with onco doc she said we can reduce dose to help with that. Also know that this will reduce effectiveness.
I can say that overall bloodwork looked good. Did have low sodium and calcium and are working to improve those numbers. Low calcium kept me from getting edge a shot, but that’s ok. Can do that later.
I go tomorrow for first scan since November. That will help support decision to reduce dose or not, but in the quality vs. quantity debate I don’t think I can continue with current dose. Really enjoyed feeling better post chemo and pre Lynparza.
Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.
Fight on warriors.
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Pmann
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I have been on Lynparza for 14 months now. Only SE was intestinal discomfort. Lowered to 1/2 dose and worked well for a while then started to lose its effectiveness. Now, back at full dose. Seed MO in 2 weeks to see where we are at
Toxicity always comes with the cost of side effects. I think the first goal should be working with Kidney doctors for low sodium and finding out how to raise the calcium number.
Usually, doctors understand patients' side effects and play with dosing up and down or even do break time.
You don’t mention dosage but I assume you began on 600mg/day. I am BRCA2+ and began 8 months ago on 600 and was in bed at 3 months, had never suffered such SEs. Lowered to 200, then 300 and 400 which I find tolerable and effective (meaning PSA continues to go down while blood counts and scans are stable). Hope this helps, good luck.
There was nothing scientific about the timing when ramping up, only a matter of my ability to tolerate it. I stopped at 400 to see if it was being effective, which it is.
Tell me everything I want to know about LYNPARZA® (olaparib).
A I - ChatGPT said:
LYNPARZA® (olaparib) is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of cancer. It is a PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitor, which works by blocking an enzyme that helps cancer cells repair themselves, leading to their death.
Indications: What is LYNPARZA Used For?
LYNPARZA is used to treat several types of cancer, including:
Breast Cancer
For adults with HER2-negative, BRCA-mutated (germline) metastatic breast cancer who have been treated with chemotherapy.
For early-stage breast cancer (adjuvant therapy) in patients with germline BRCA mutations who are at high risk of recurrence.
Ovarian Cancer
Maintenance therapy for platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer in patients responding to chemotherapy.
For patients with BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with three or more prior chemotherapy regimens.
Pancreatic Cancer
Maintenance treatment for patients with germline BRCA-mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer who have responded to initial chemotherapy.
Prostate Cancer
For metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with BRCA1/2 or other homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations, either alone or in combination with other treatments.
How Does LYNPARZA Work?
LYNPARZA inhibits the PARP enzyme, which helps repair damaged DNA. Many cancer cells, especially those with BRCA mutations, rely on PARP to fix DNA damage. By blocking this repair mechanism, LYNPARZA causes cancer cells to die while sparing normal cells.
Dosage and Administration
Available as 150 mg and 100 mg tablets.
Typically taken twice daily, with or without food.
The recommended dose varies based on the condition being treated.
Patients may need dose adjustments for side effects or kidney function issues.
Common Side Effects
Nausea
Fatigue
Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Decreased appetite
Headache
Cough
Abdominal pain
Serious Risks and Warnings
Bone marrow suppression (anemia, low platelet counts, low white blood cells)
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Lung problems (pneumonitis)
Fetal harm – should not be used during pregnancy
Increased risk of infections
Who Should NOT Take LYNPARZA?
Pregnant women or those planning pregnancy
Patients allergic to olaparib or its ingredients
Patients with severe kidney or liver impairment (dose adjustments may be required)
Drug Interactions
Avoid strong CYP3A inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, ritonavir) and inducers (e.g., rifampin, phenytoin) as they may alter LYNPARZA levels.
Be cautious with drugs affecting bone marrow function.
Cost and Availability
LYNPARZA is a prescription medication and may be covered by insurance, including Medicare and private plans.
Financial assistance programs may be available through AstraZeneca and Merck.
Would you like specific details on clinical trials, costs, or alternatives?
Hi Pmann, My husband had added fatigue when he started Lynparza at 600 mg a day. So, after 2 and a half months he cut the dose in half to 300. PSA started to go up, so he went back to full dose. His fatigue seems to have leveled off. It's still there, but manageable. When he first started taking Lynparza he was also still taking Abi and prednisone. He stopped that and is now only on Zoladex and Lynparza. PSA continues to drop. Let us know how the scan goes and if Lynparza is lowering PSA for you.
Have been on Lynparza for about a year in addition to triple therapy with Nubeqa and Lupron (post Docetaxel). I had to reduce dose to 1x150 twice daily. The prior dose totally fatigued me. My Oncology believes that 1/2 dose is sufficient. PSA zero for last 1.5 years. I have PALB-2 defect.
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Our friend LYN-PARZA
Approved for Lynparza (Olaparib)
Lynparza? Mixed blessing.
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