taking Niraparib whilst having covid

[Jingles6]

Hi

I thought I read somewhere that if you are diagnosed with covid you should stop taking your PARP treatment? Anybody know if this is true?

J x

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Hi there Jingles6

Thank you for your post. I’m sure some of the forum community may be along shortly to share their experiences regarding your question shortly, however I just wanted to encourage you to speak with your clinical nurse specialist about this.

This is because niraparib and other PARP inhibitors can reduce the number of white blood cells in the blood which are important for fighting infection. It therefore may be necessary to pause niraparib temporarily if someone has tested positive for Covid or has another illness. Your clinical nurse specialist should be able to provide you with personalised guidance about the best course of action to take. You could also call the 24/7 chemotherapy helpline at your hospital for individualised advice.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to talk through anything. You can send us a message here on the forum, call us on 0800 008 7054 or email us via [e-mail]. We’re here Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm, to help with questions or just have a friendly chat.

If you’re currently unwell with Covid, I really hope you feel much better soon.

Best wishes

Annie – Ovacome support

[SopSinger]

You need to ask your team. If you have Covid they need to know that anyway. You shouldn't take advice for whether to continue or stop PARPs or any other cancer medication from anyone other than your doctor.

[Kjpip]

Hi Jingles, I had covid in December and wasn't told to stop taking my olaparib. Because of the Parp you are still classed as clinically vulnerable, so if you have reported your positive result you should be automatically contacted by the NHS within a couple of days. I was sent some anti-viral tablets which I had to take for a few days, along with a pulse oximeter to keep an eye on my oxygen levels.

Hope covid doesn't treat you too badly 🤞x

[babs1120]

Hi Jingles6,

I am on Niraparib, I had Covid at New year. I didn't know I had it and only went to A&E because my temperature had gone above 37.5. They did tests and found I had Covid, they did blood tests and found my Blood cell count was low and told me to stop taking the Naraparib and was put on IV antibiotics. I spent 3 days in hospital and had Sepsis. I still felt well with Covid I didn't have any symptoms.

I did let my team know who said not to take the Naraparib until I finished the oral antibiotics the hospital discharged me with and that I felt well enough to start taking it again. It is always best to get advice from you team if you are unwell.

I hope you are not too ill with it and recover soon.

[Lmcn]

I had covid and had to stop taking niraparb until I tested negative.

[Kaitlinsmum]

I didnt stop taking niraparib when i had covid. I had the IV drugs for covid offered to people who are clinically vulnerable.

[Casamimosa]

Hi, I have always been told to stop taking olaparib if I have an infection including covid on advice from my cancer nurse and oncologist. Don't worry it's benefits stay in your system a while anyway but stopping allows your immune system to work better I'm told.

[K95m]

Hi Jingles

I’ve had Covid twice now. First time was in March 2020 and I didn’t contact my team and continued taking my Niraparib. My Onc was a bit perturbed by this and said he would have stopped it to “ maximise your immune system”. I had researched Niraparib and Covid and there is some convincing evidence that PARPS actually help with Covid. This is because PARPs dampen down your immune system and it is now known that it’s your immune system going into overdrive that makes you very sick. In fact there is now some research to say that PARPs could be repurposed for sick Covid patients.

The second time I got Covid was in January this year, again I carried on with the PARP. I had a telephone consultation during my illness but I was on the mend and the Oncologist said not to stop but I would have been eligible for antivirals.

I’m not suggesting for one second that anyone continues with PARPs when they have Covid without taking advice from their Oncologist. It just makes for very interesting reading and to me makes a lot of sense. In fact when I talked to my CNS she said that she hadn’t read the research but anecdotally patients on Chemo with Covid tended to do well !

As I said earlier talk to your Oncologist but do a little reading up yourself, it’s about informed choices .

Best wishes

Kay

[Alice77]

I had Covid last summer. I reported my positive test and was almost immediately contacted by the NHS team. They contacted the hospital for me and I was asked to go in that day for an antiviral infusion which made me feel much better in a few hours. I was advised to stop taking the Niraparib as I have a history of neutropaenia since taking it . My oncologist says that since Niraparib stays so long in the system its effectiveness continues and a short break gives the immune system time to recover.

[Katmal-UK]

I had to stop Olaparib for a week and take antivirals. Speak to yr Onc asap.

[Pianoplayer731021]

I had Covid last year in May and was told to stop niraparib while going to a clinic for three days having intravenous anti viral infusions. Donna