Abirapro 250mg Tablet

Abirapro 250mg Tablet contains Abiraterone Acetate 250mg and comes from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Oncologists prescribe it along with a steroid such as prednisone or prednisolone to treat advanced prostate cancer. It works by cutting down the male hormones that help prostate cancer cells grow. As a result, it can slow the disease and help control symptoms.

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What is Abirapro 250mg Tablet?

Abirapro 250mg is a hormone therapy medicine for prostate cancer. Its active ingredient, abiraterone acetate, belongs to a group called androgen biosynthesis inhibitors. In simple words, it stops the body from making testosterone and other androgens. Since many prostate cancers need these hormones to grow, lowering them helps keep the cancer under control.

Each bottle contains 120 tablets, which usually covers one month of treatment at the standard dose.

Uses of Abirapro 250mg Tablet

Doctors prescribe Abirapro 250mg, together with a steroid, for:

• Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): cancer that has spread and keeps growing even after other hormone treatment
• Metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC): cancer that has spread but still responds to hormone therapy

Patients usually continue their regular hormone injections or other androgen deprivation therapy while they take Abirapro, unless their oncologist says otherwise.

How Does Abiraterone Acetate Work?

Abiraterone blocks an enzyme called CYP17. This enzyme helps the testes, adrenal glands and even the tumour itself make androgens. Therefore, when the enzyme stops working, androgen levels fall sharply. In turn, the cancer cells lose the hormone signal they need to grow.

However, blocking CYP17 also raises some other hormones in the body. For this reason, doctors always give a low-dose steroid with abiraterone to prevent side effects like high blood pressure and low potassium. You can read more about how abiraterone works and its safety precautions on MedlinePlus.

Dosage and How to Take It

Your oncologist will decide the right dose for you. As a general guide:

• Usual dose: 1000 mg (4 tablets of 250mg) once a day
• Along with: prednisone or prednisolone, in the dose your doctor prescribes

How to take it

• First, take all 4 tablets together, once a day, at about the same time.
• Also, take them on an empty stomach. Do not eat for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after the dose, because food can raise the amount of drug in your blood a lot.
• Then swallow the tablets whole with water. Do not crush or chew them.
• If you miss a dose, take the next one at the usual time the next day. Do not double the dose.
• Finally, do not stop the medicine or the steroid on your own.

Possible Side Effects

Like other cancer medicines, Abirapro 250mg can cause side effects. Some common ones include:

• Swelling in the legs or feet due to fluid build-up
• Low potassium levels, which can cause muscle weakness or cramps
• High blood pressure
• Joint pain or muscle discomfort
• Hot flushes
• Diarrhoea or indigestion
• Urinary tract infection

In addition, abiraterone can affect the liver. So, tell your doctor right away if you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe tiredness, pain in the upper right side of your stomach, chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or sudden breathlessness.

Precautions and Warnings

Before you start Abirapro 250mg, tell your doctor if you have:

• Liver disease
• Heart problems, high blood pressure or a past heart attack
• Low potassium levels
• Adrenal or pituitary gland problems
• Diabetes, since abiraterone may affect blood sugar control

During treatment, your doctor will check your liver function, blood pressure, potassium and fluid levels regularly. Usually, liver tests happen every 2 weeks for the first 3 months and then once a month.

Also, keep these points in mind:

• Abirapro is for men only. Women who are or may become pregnant should not handle the tablets without gloves.
• Use a condom and effective birth control during treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose if your partner can get pregnant.
• Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially seizure medicines, rifampicin, some heart medicines and herbal products, because they can interact with abiraterone.

Storage

• Store the bottle below 30°C in a cool, dry place.
• Also, keep the cap tightly closed to protect the tablets from moisture.
• Above all, keep it out of reach of children.

Product Details

• Brand Name: Abirapro 250mg
• Generic Name: Abiraterone Acetate
• Strength: 250mg
• Form: Oral tablet
• Pack Size: Bottle of 120 tablets
• Therapeutic Class: Androgen biosynthesis inhibitor (hormone therapy)
• Marketer: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
• Prescription: Required

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to take a steroid with Abirapro 250mg?

Abiraterone can raise certain hormones that cause high blood pressure, swelling and low potassium. Therefore, a low-dose steroid like prednisone keeps these side effects in check.

Can I take Abirapro 250mg with food?

No. Food can greatly increase how much drug your body absorbs, which raises the risk of side effects. So, always take it on an empty stomach.

How long will I need to take Abirapro 250mg?

Most patients take it for as long as it keeps working and they tolerate it well. Your oncologist will review your PSA levels and scans to decide.

Is Abirapro the same as other abiraterone brands?

Yes. It contains the same active ingredient, abiraterone acetate. However, always check with your doctor before you switch brands.

For full prescribing details, see the DailyMed abiraterone acetate prescribing information and the European Medicines Agency product information.

Disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only, so it does not replace medical advice. Please use this medicine only under the care of an oncologist.