Key takeaways
- Lynparza is approved by the FDA to treat certain types of metastatic breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
- It is available as an oral tablet, and the typical dose is 300 mg taken twice daily.
- Common side effects of Lynparza may include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and blood disorders such as anemia.
Here are some quick facts about Lynparza:
- active ingredient: olaparib
- generic available: no
- drug class: poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors
- prescription required: yes
Side effects of Lynparza may vary depending on whether the drug is being used alone or in combination with other medications. Possible side effects of Lynparza can include:
- nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
- diarrhea or constipation
- altered taste in your mouth
- headache
- fatigue
- dizziness
- respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold or the flu
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- blood disorders, such as anemia (low red blood cell level)
- pneumonitis (inflammation in your lungs)
- blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- allergic reaction
Note: This list does not include all possible side effects. For more information on the possible side effects of Lynparza, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or refer to the drug’s prescribing information.
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Experiencing side effects? After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews its side effects. If you develop a side effect while taking this medication and want to report it to the FDA, you can visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lynparza to treat certain types of prostate cancer, metastatic breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
| Type of cancer | Specific types |
|---|---|
| prostate cancer | • Metastatic: Metastatic prostate cancer means that the cancer has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body. • Castration-resistant: Castration-resistant means that the cancer isn’t improving with medication that lowers testosterone levels in your body or after surgery to remove your testicles. • Has worsened: For this type, the cancer has worsened after being treated with either enzalutamide (Xtandi) or abiraterone (Zytiga). |
| metastatic breast cancer | • BRCA-positive. BRCA-positive cancer has a mutation (abnormal change) or is thought to have a mutation in the BRCA gene. These mutations are passed down in families, and they’re involved in cancer growth and spread. • HER2-negative. HER2-negative cancer has normal levels of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). (In comparison, cancer that has increased levels of HER2 is called HER2-positive.) • Prior treatment with chemotherapy. The cancer has been treated in the past with chemotherapy. In these cases, chemotherapy was used to keep the cancer from coming back after treatment or to treat metastatic cancer. • Prior treatment with hormone therapy. The cancer has been treated in the past with endocrine (hormone) therapy. However, this would only be done if hormone therapy were an appropriate treatment, and if the cancer were considered hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive). (Cancer that is HR-positive needs hormones in order to grow.) |
| ovarian cancer | • BRCA-positive: It can be used for advanced ovarian cancer that is BRCA-positive or thought to be BRCA-positive. • HRD-positive: Specifically, it is used for advanced ovarian cancer that is homologous recombination deficiency-positive (HRD-positive). |
| pancreatic cancer | • Metastatic: Metastatic means that it has spread from your pancreas to other parts of your body. • BRCA-positive or thought to be BRCA-positive: With BRCA-positive cancer, you have a gene mutation in the breast cancer (BRCA) gene. • Hasn’t gotten worse: Specifically, it can be used if the cancer hasn’t gotten worse after being treated for at least 16 weeks with a first-line chemotherapy drug that’s made with platinum. |
Key terms defined
- The BRCA gene increases your risk for certain types of cancer.
- Chemotherapy refers to traditional drugs used to treat cancer. It is a systemic (affects your whole body) treatment.
- HRD-positive cancers are a specific type of cancer that can be caused by the BRCA mutation or other mutations.
- First-line treatment is the first treatment given for a certain condition.
Lynparza and children
Lynparza isn’t approved for use in children. It’s only approved for use in adults with certain types of cancer.
The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.
AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Lynparza, offers a program called Access 360 that may help lower the cost of Lynparza. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-ASK-A360 (844-275-2360) or visit the program website.
The typical dose of Lynparza is 300 mg twice daily. For each dose, you’ll take two 150-mg tablets or three 100-mg tablets. The total daily dose (total amount taken each day) is 600 mg.
You’ll usually take a dose once in the morning and once in the evening. It’s recommended that you take the doses about 12 hours apart.
Lynparza overdose
Using more than the recommended dosage of Lynparza can lead to serious side effects. However, there haven’t been any studies done to show what would happen if someone overdosed on Lynparza.
What to do in case of overdoseIf you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call Poison Help at 800-222-1222 or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Lynparza.
Weight gain wasn’t reported in people taking Lynparza during clinical trials.
However, peripheral edema (fluid retention in your hands, legs, or feet) was seen in some people in these trials. This condition may cause changes in body weight, which is commonly called “water weight.”
No, Lynparza isn’t typically considered chemotherapy.
Lynparza is considered a targeted therapy. This means that it targets and attacks only parts of specific cells, such as cancer cells, instead of affecting all rapidly multiplying cells. Because Lynparza only attacks certain cells, it’s thought to do less damage to your healthy cells. This can often lead to different, and sometimes fewer, side effects than chemotherapy drugs cause.
Yes, you will. Your doctor will order blood tests for you before, during, and after your treatment with Lynparza. These blood tests will check the level of your red blood cells and white blood cells. Checking these tests lets your doctor make sure that your blood cell levels are within a healthy range.
For people with certain types of ovarian cancer, doctors order a blood test called CA-125. They can use this test to monitor for worsening of certain ovarian cancers.
Yes, it is. Current studies are testing Lynparza’s effectiveness in treating kidney cancer, lung cancer, and other conditions.
If you’d like to know more about participating in clinical trials of Lynparza, talk with your doctor.
Yes, some people may need treatment with Lynparza after they’ve had a mastectomy. With a mastectomy, surgery is done to remove breast tissue.
If you’re planning on having a mastectomy, or if you’ve already had this surgery, talk with your doctor about breast cancer treatment options. They can recommend therapies to help lower the risk of your cancer coming back.
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Lynparza, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
| Type of cancer | Alternatives |
|---|---|
| prostate cancer | • rucaparib (Rubraca) • enzalutamide (Xtandi) • abiraterone (Zytiga) • sipuleucel-T (Provenge) • cabazitaxel (Jevtana) • radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo) |
| pancreatic cancer | • erlotinib (Tarceva) • larotrectinib (Vitrakvi) • capecitabine (Xeloda) • oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) • gemcitabine (Gemzar, Infugem) • fluorouracil • leucovorin • nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) • irinotecan (Camptosar) |
| breast cancer | • talazoparib (Talzenna) • carboplatin • cisplatin • doxorubicin (Doxil) • paclitaxel (Abraxane) • gemcitabine (Gemzar, Infugem) • capecitabine (Xeloda) • vinorelbine • eribulin (Halaven) |
| ovarian cancer | • niraparib (Zejula) • rucaparib (Rubraca) • bevacizumab (Avastin, Mvasi, Zirabev) • carboplatin • gemcitabine (Gemzar, Infugem) • doxorubicin (Doxil) • paclitaxel (Abraxane) • cisplatin • etoposide • topotecan (Hycamtin) |
Below are some things to consider before starting Lynparza treatment.
Lynparza interactions
Lynparza can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements and foods. Examples include:
- certain antifungals, such as ketoconazole (Extina, Nizoral A-D)
- certain cancer drugs
- certain HIV drugs, such as atazanavir (Reyataz)
- certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- certain seizure drugs, such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
- modafinil (Provigil)
- St. John’s wort
- grapefruit
- Seville oranges
Note: This is not a full list of interactions with Lynparza. Talk with your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements, before starting treatment with Lynparza.
Lynparza and pregnancy
There aren’t any studies that have looked at using Lynparza during human pregnancies.
However, animal studies have found that Lynparza does cause harm to a growing fetus when it’s given to a pregnant female. Because these studies have shown possible serious and harmful effects to fetuses, taking Lynparza during pregnancy is not recommended. But keep in mind that animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.
If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor will likely have you take a pregnancy test before you start using Lynparza. This testing is done to make sure that you aren’t pregnant before you start taking this drug.
Lynparza and birth control
Because Lynparza may cause serious and harmful effects to a developing fetus, pregnancy should be avoided during treatment with this drug. Effective birth control should be used.
Effective birth control methods include birth control pills, patches, injections, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and condoms. Talk with your doctor about the best form or forms of birth control for you and your partner.
Birth control for females using Lynparza
If you’re a female who’s able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while you’re taking Lynparza. And you should continue using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose of the drug.
Birth control for males using Lynparza
If you’re a male who has a female sexual partner who’s able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control (such as condoms) while you’re taking Lynparza. You should continue to use birth control for least 3 months after your last dose of the drug. You should also avoid donating sperm while you’re taking Lynparza. And you should continue to avoid donating sperm for at least 3 months after your last dose of the drug.
Note: The use of binary terms such as “male” and “female” or “men” and “women” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Lynparza and breastfeeding
It’s not known if Lynparza passes into human breastmilk. It’s also not known what effects the drug might have on a child who’s breastfed.
Because of the serious nature of Lynparza’s side effects, you shouldn’t breastfeed while taking this drug. You should also avoid breastfeeding for at least 1 month after your last dose of Lynparza.
If you have questions about the safety of breastfeeding while using Lynparza, talk with your doctor.
Lynparza warnings
Before taking Lynparza, talk with your doctor about your health history. Lynparza may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:
- blood disorders
- pneumonitis (inflammation in the lungs)
- blood clots
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- previous allergic reaction to Lynparza or any of its ingredients
Lynparza is a prescription drug that can be used to treat certain cancers. It is available as an oral tablet that is taken twice daily.
Talk with your doctor to see if Lynparza is right for you.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.
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