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Apalutamide

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Apalutamide is used to treat prostate cancer which may or may not have spread to other parts of the body. Apalutamide works by blocking the effect of androgens (male sex hormones which increase the growth of prostate cancer cells).

How should I take or use this medication?

Take Apalutamide once a day
You can take it with or without food
Do not break or crush the tablet. Swallow the tablet whole.

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have difficulty swallowing

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Return to your normal schedule the next day. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication
Your partner becomes pregnant

You should use effective birth control during and for at least three months after stopping treatment

You have any other medical conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure or a history of seizures or epilepsy
You are taking or intend to take any other medications (e.g. warfarin), supplements, traditional medications or herbal remedies

What are some common side effects of this medication?

Feeling tired or weak

Be careful of falls and take measures to prevent them e.g. wear non-slip shoes, keep the house free of clutter, keep away from darkly-lit places

Increased blood pressure

Monitor your blood pressure regularly and record it down. Inform your doctor if you notice an increasing trend.

Increased cholesterol levels
Rash
Hot flushes (feeling of warmth)

If this affects you, take Apalutamide at bedtime. However if night sweats affect your sleep, take Apalutamide in the morning instead.
Take cool showers and where possible, stay in a cool place

Joint pain
Swelling of hands or feet

Lift up your feet when sitting down

Nausea, decreased appetite

Take small, frequent meals throughout the day

Diarrhea

Drink plenty of clear fluids to replace those lost (two litres everyday)

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

Symptoms of a drug allergy including one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Frequent falls
Chest pain, shortness of breath, fast or abnormal heartbeat
Seizures

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack Apalutamide into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on September 2022

This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, October 04, 2022