Abiraterone Acetate

Abiraterone Acetate is a type of medicine known as an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor or an androgen. This is used for prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Abiraterone Acetate has a dosage strength of 125 mg. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved this prescription. 

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that creates the seminal fluid. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Usually, cancer grows slowly and is initially confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. More advanced prostate cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:

  • Trouble urinating
  • Blood in semen
  • Decreased force in the stream of urine
  • Discomfort in the pelvic area
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Bone pain

You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:

1. Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables

Avoid high-fat foods and instead focus on choosing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health. Whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet has yet to be conclusively proved. But eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health.

2. Choose healthy foods over supplements

No studies have shown that supplements play a role in reducing your risk of prostate cancer. Instead, choose foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals so that you can maintain healthy levels of vitamins in your body.

3. Exercise most days of the week

Exercise improves your overall health. It helps you maintain your weight and improves your mood. Try to exercise most days of the week. If you’re new to exercise, start slow, and work your way up to more exercise time each day.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

Work to maintain your healthy weight by exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, add more exercise, and reduce the number of calories you eat each day. 

5. Talk to your doctor about the increased risk of prostate cancer

Men with a high risk of prostate cancer may consider medications or other treatments to reduce their risk.

Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells’ DNA cause the cells to grow more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue living when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can also break off and spread to other parts of the body.

How does Abiraterone Acetate work?

Prostate cancers are sensitive to testosterone and their growth is increased in the presence of this hormone. Testosterone is produced by the testicles, the adrenal glands, and by cells in the prostate tumor itself. 

Abiraterone Acetate works by preventing the action of an enzyme called cytochrome P17. The enzyme is also involved in the production of testosterone. This enzyme is found in the testicles, the adrenal glands, and the tissues of the prostate tumor. By inhibiting the activity of this enzyme in all these places, the amount of testosterone in the body is reduced more than by medical castration. This helps decrease the growth of prostate cancer cells. 

Standard treatment for prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland involves stopping the production of testosterone by the testicles. It is to slow the growth of the cancer cells. This is usually achieved with medicines called LHRH or gonadorelin analogs or with surgery to the testicles. 

How to use Abiraterone Acetate?

Abiraterone Acetate is to be taken by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after food. This is usually taken once a day or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your mei9dcal condition and response to the treatment. Taking this medicine with food greatly increases the amount of the drug in your body and increases the risk of side effects as well. 

You need to swallow the whole medicine and don’t chew or break it. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. Do not stop any prescription that has given for the treatment of prostate cancer unless your doctor tells you to do so. Stopping the medications will allow cancer to spread more quickly. 

What are the side effects of Abiraterone Acetate?

  • Joint swelling or discomfort
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough
  • Edema
  • Bruising
  • High blood pressure
  • Urinary tract infection 

If these side effects persist or get worse, call your doctor right away. 

Warnings 

  • This drug may cause liver problems. For this reason, your doctor will want you to have blood tests to monitor your liver function. 
  • Your blood pressure and the level of potassium in your blood should also be checked every month. You should tell your doctor if you have any signs of fluid retention. 
  • Women who are or could be pregnant should wear gloves if they need to touch or handle Abiraterone Acetate. 
  • Use this with caution in people with decreased liver function, severely decreased kidney function or high blood pressure. For people with a history of heart disease, with a low level of potassium in their blood, and on a low sodium diet, this medication should also be used with caution. 
  • This is not for use in women and men with severely decreased liver function. 
  • Abiraterone Acetate should not be taken by people with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance or glucose-galactose malabsorption. 
  • This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor right away.