Erleada: Uses, Dosage, Side effects and Interactions

Overview

About Erleada

The use of apalutamide or Erleada in the treatment of certain forms of prostate cancer has been proven successful. Erleada is a potential treatment for this type of cancer, particularly in cases when other medical therapies have been found to be ineffective. The drug known as Erleada is from a class of pharmaceuticals called androgen receptor inhibitors.

A castration-resistant form of prostate cancer that has spread locally can be treated with apalutamide, which is part of the third generation of oral nonsteroidal antiandrogens. Although there is some evidence to suggest that Erleada may raise blood enzyme levels, there have been no reports of jaundice or any other clinically obvious signs of liver damage as a result of taking this medication.

Uses

Uses of Erleada

Apalutamide is licensed for the treatment of Prostate cancer in following conditions:

• In cases whose prostate cancer has spread and is castrate-susceptible (has reacted to treatments that lower testosterone levels).

• In cases whose cancer has not spread and is resistant to castration (has not responded to therapies that reduce testosterone levels).²Uses| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

How does Erleada bring about its effects?

• Apalutamide, the active ingredient in Erleada, blocks the activity of testosterone and other masculine hormones which are also called androgens. This is accomplished by inhibiting the targets to which these hormones bind. Because prostate cancer cells require testosterone as well as other male hormones to survive and expand, apalutamide delays the growth of cancer by inhibiting the hormonal effects.³Uses| Researched based study from Europa.eu

Dosage

Dosage and strengths

Dosage

• Once a day, four 60-milligram tablets should be taken in order to get the recommended daily dose of 240 milligrams.
• Take these pills in accordance with the directions provided. ERLEADA can be taken by the patient either with or without food,
• In addition, patients should also undergo bilateral orchiectomy or be taking a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog at the same time as their treatment.

Strength

• Tablet 240 mg: oval, bluish-gray to gray, film-coated, and debossed with “E240” on either side.
• Tablet 60 mg: faintly yellow to grayish green, oblong-shaped, film-coated, and debossed “AR 60” on either side.²Dosage| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

Common instructions

• Oral administration of apalutamide is possible in tablet form.
• It is typically taken once a day, irrespective of whether or not it is consumed with meals. A single dose of apalutamide should be taken daily.
• The tablets are to be taken in their entirety without being broken up, chewed on, or crushed in any way. Consult your healthcare provider or local pharmacy if you are having an issue swallowing the tablet(s).¹Dosage| Researched based study from Medlineplus.gov

Side effects

Potential side effects of Erleada

Typical side effects

These adverse effects occur in more than ten out of every hundred patients. You may possess one or multiple of these. They are as follows:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Joint pain & discomfort
• Rashes on the skin
• Appetite loss and weight loss
• Blood pressure that is too high
• Diarrhea ⁴Side effects| Researched based study from Cancerresearchuk.org
• Accidents and fragile bones
• Flushes of heat

Occasional adverse effects

These adverse effects impact 1 to 10 people out of every 100. They are as follows:

• A high proportion of lipids, like cholesterol and triglycerides, in the blood
• Low blood flow to a portion of the brain, resulting in a stroke or mini-stroke
• Symptoms such as drooping eyes, numbness or paralysis on either side of the body, confusion, and problem speaking.
• Low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) causes fatigue and difficulties getting out of bed in the morning.

Uncommon side effect

You may experience seizures (fits). This adverse effect affects less than one in every 100 people.

Other negative consequences are as follows:

• Alterations to the heartbeat as measured on an electrocardiogram (ECG)
• A severe skin reaction may begin as tender red areas and progress to peeling or blistering of the skin, with a broad rash, high temperature, and swollen lymph nodes.
• You may experience a fever and become more sensitive to light⁴Side effects| Researched based study from Cancerresearchuk.org

Apalutamide may also result in other unanticipated side effects. You need to inform your doctor about any unfavorable responses you have after using this drug.

Precautions

Precautions related to Erleada intake

Bone and muscle fragility

• If taking Erleada makes your bones and muscles more fragile, there is a greater probability that you will experience an elevated danger of fracturing a bone as a result of falling.⁵Precautions| Researched based study from Fda.gov

Seizure

• While you are taking Erleada, there is a possibility that your risk of having a seizure will increase. You should steer clear of potentially hazardous pursuits in which even a momentary slip in focus could put you or someone else in harm’s way. You need to get in touch with your physician as soon as possible if you have an episode of convulsions or if you pass out.

Sensitive skin reactions

• Some patients experienced skin responses that were either deadly or life-threatening after taking Erleada. If you are using Erleada and you encounter any of the following symptoms of a severe skin reaction, you should immediately seek medical treatment and stop using the product.

Flu-related symptoms

• A high temperature or symptoms similar to the flu, enlarged lymph nodes, blistering or peeling skin, and sores or blisters in the mouth, throat, nose, eyes, or genital area are all reasons for concern and should be reported right once.

Heart health

• Your family has a history of cardiovascular disease, and you have consistently high blood pressure despite this genetic predisposition. Patients who suffer from diabetes are more likely to have excessive blood levels of fat and cholesterol (a condition known as dyslipidemia).

Pregnancy

• The use of Erleada during pregnancy has been linked to severe risks, including an increased risk of spontaneous abortion and having a partner who is either already pregnant or who is able to become pregnant.
• During treatment with Erleada, both male patients and their female companions who are capable of carrying a pregnancy are required to use an effective method of birth control (contraception) and continue doing so for three months after the last dose has been administered.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

• When dispensed to a pregnant person, Erleada can cause fetal damage and loss of pregnancy due to its mechanism of activity. Therefore, appropriate contraception is recommended during treatment as well as three months post-treatment.⁵Precautions| Researched based study from Fda.gov

You should take your medication in the manner specified by your physician or pharmacist, and if you have any questions, you should get in touch with either of them. Do not make any adjustments to your dosage or the frequency of your administration before speaking with your healthcare provider.

Interactions

Which medications does Erleada interact with?

Your medical physician or pharmacist should be made aware of the potential medication interactions with this medicine if they are using it to treat your pain. Never adjust your treatment plan without first conferring with your medical examiner or pharmacist.

The following medications interact very poorly with apalutamide:

• Isavuconazonium sulfate
• Cabotegravir
• Doravirine
• Fostemsavir
• Lonafarnib
• Lorlatinib
• Mavacamten
• Nirmatrelvir
• Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir ⁵Interactions| Researched based study from Fda.gov

Because apalutamide hastens the elimination of other drugs from the body, it may lessen the effectiveness of other drugs like: ⁵Interactions| Researched based study from Fda.gov

• Artemether-lumefantrine
• Azole antifungals (such isavuconazonium, voriconazole)
• Cobicistat
• Lurasidone
• Nifedipine
• Ranolazine
• Rilpivirine
• Hepatitis C treatments (like asunaprevir, ledipasvir)

Storage

How should one store and dispose of Erleada?

Storage

• Do not allow children to get access to this drug under any circumstances.
• Keep it in a cool, dry area that is protected from direct sunlight.
• Many pharmaceutical containers are not child-resistant, so it’s crucial to store any drugs out of kids’ sight and access.
• Always ensure the child-resistant cap is safely attached before keeping the medication in a protected space, ideally out of the sight and contact of a child.¹Storage| Researched based study from Medlineplus.gov

Disposal

• It is important to properly dispose of unused drugs so that they are not ingested by animals, children, or other people.
• This drug, however, should not be disposed of in the toilet. Instead, you should consider participating in a drug take-back program.
• Find out about local take-back programs by talking to your pharmacist or calling your municipal trash/recycling office.

Takeaway

Takeaway

The prostate cancer drug apalutamide is used to treat male patients. This substance is an anti-androgen, which means it intercepts the influences of testosterone. Inhibiting testosterone’s effects is what makes this treatment effective against prostate cancer. Erleada is another name for apalutamide.

The frequency and strength of the negative effects may vary from one individual to the next. They are also affected by the various medical procedures the patient is undergoing during Erleada treatment.