Regarding Olaparib

[Laikaa]

I have been on Olaparib for last two months and I feel nauseated most of the time and there’s some weird taste in my mouth. Is it normal ? I am also gaining weight no matter how much I eat. I do exercise also but not so regularly though. Also do I have to avoid lime and other citrus fruits? Can anyone please highlight on this. Thank you

[Jacky5]

HiI think nausea is a common side effect. Pretty sure I was offered anti sickness tablets with every prescription but luckily I've never needed them.

If you're given them try taking them regularly rather than just when you feel nauseous....iys easier to prevent nausea than relieve it apparently.

I'm not sure about the strange taste but it wouldnt surprise me.

The leaflet in the box has a long list of all the possible side effects .

It's still very early days and I've read a lot if posts from ladies saying the side effects reduce the longer you are on the medication.

I have gained weight too. I'm on Olaparib and Anastrazole and dont know if its the tablets or just me being greedy as my appetite has improved so much since I started feeling well.

Your oncology team are the best ones to help so I would say ask them at your next review as they may be able to help with medication. They may reduce your dose too if problems continue and they will be interested in any side effects as they keep a record of and report anything unusual.

I think its certain oranges you have to avoid, the type usually found in marmalade. Again I think it's in the information leaflet or ask your team .

Sorry,that's such a long post!

Hope it gets better for you very soon.

L. X

[Laikaa in reply to Jacky5]

Thank you so much

[Esmerelda101]

Hi There, I found I got Olaparib nausea in the morning more than the evening and also had strange taste and sensation but it did get better after a few months, found if I took anti sickness first thing it helped. Hope you get it sorted xx

[Shrek1609]

Hi Just done two years on Olaparib; unfortunately side effects are common

Nausea

Fatigue

Joint pain

Dry skin

Weight gain

Hair loss/thinning

Lack of taste

All can and do happen; some come and go, some are ever present.

It’s a rough ride, especially at the beginning BUT drinking lots of water, and I mean LOTS, helps. Also make sure you have eaten when you take your meds helps combats the nausea.

Two years on I’ve come off, as that’s how long you get them for after first line chemo, and within weeks all the above has almost gone away and I feel like a new woman and am walking 5 miles a day again and loving being able to taste things properly. God I love fruits again.

There is a “PARP inhibitors drugs a d trials” Facebook group which is really useful and people will share their experiences

Good luck

[Maldive]

LaikaaThis is my first post, but reading about you, I thought I’d posted in my sleep.

I’m getting towards the end of my Olaparib, December 2021 and my 2 years are up. I’ve spent the last 2 years feeling sick almost every day, some days worse than others, bright side I’ve never actually been sick. The taste in my mouth is also there every day and I can’t give you a bright side. As for weight don’t even go there I started all this at a nice respectable size 12 with 6 litres of fluid in my abdomen, I dropped to a fabulous size 8 at my worst, took it as a bright side new clothes and all that, I’m now size 18 and 30 kilos heavier which all seemed to go on really quickly at the beginning, I to tried exercise, 100 miles a week on the exercise bike and I’d put 4lb on in a week, on the bright side there’s no point killing yourself exercising especially when you feel sick. I’m guessing you’ve discovered it’s grapefruit and Seville oranges that we have to stay away from.

It’s been a tough couple of years but you find ways to manage, and the really big BRIGHT SIDE is, we are STILL HERE

I hope thing’s improved for you and you are doing well