Lynparza

Lynparza is used to treat advanced ovarian cancer. This medication is intended for women with defects in a certain gene called 'BRCA'.

Lynparza Overview

Reviewed: December 19, 2014
Updated: 

Lynparza is a prescription medication used to treat women with advanced ovarian cancer associated with defective BRCA genes, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Lynparza is a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that blocks enzymes involved in repairing damaged DNA. Is is through this mechanism that Lynparza kills cancer cells.

This medication is intended for women with heavily pretreated ovarian cancer that is associated with defective BRCA genes.

This medication comes in capsule form and is taken 2 times a day. Do not chew, divide, or break Lynparza capsules. Swallow the capsules whole.

Common side effects of Lynparza include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Lynparza can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lynparza affects you.

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Lynparza Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautions

Uses of Lynparza

Lynparza is a prescription medication used to treat women with advanced ovarian cancer associated with defective BRCA genes as detected by an FDA-approved test.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Manufacturer

Lynparza Drug Class

Lynparza is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Lynparza

Serious side effects have been reported with Lynparza. See the “Lynparza Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Lynparza include:

  • nausea
  • fatigue
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • distorted taste (dysgeusia)
  • indigestion (dyspepsia)
  • headache
  • decreased appetite
  • common cold-like symptoms (nasopharyngitis)
  • cough
  • joint paint (arthralgia)
  • musculoskeletal pain
  • muscle pain (myalgia)
  • back pain
  • rash (dermatitis)
  • abdominal pain

This is not a complete list of Lynparza side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Lynparza Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • amprenavir (Agenerase)
  • aprepitant (Emend)
  • atazanavir (Reyataz)
  • boceprevir (Victrelis)
  • bosentan (Tracleer)
  • carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, Carbatrol, Epitol)
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cetraxal, Ciloxan)
  • clarithromycin (Biaxin)
  • crizotinib (Xalkori)
  • darunavir (Prezista)
  • diltiazem (cardizem, Dilt-CD)
  • efavirenz (Sustiva)
  • erythromycin (Ilotycin, Ery-Ped, Staticin, Ery-tab, Erythra-Derm, Pce, T-Stat, Akne-mycin, Eryc, Ery)
  • etravirine (Intelence)
  • fluconazole (Diflucan)
  • fosamprenavir (Lexiva)
  • imatinib (Gleevec)
  • indinavir (Crixivan)
  • itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
  • ketoconazole (Xolegel, Extina, Nizoral)
  • lopinavir/ritinovir (Kaletra)
  • modafinil (Provigil)
  • nafcillin
  • nefazodone (Serzone)
  • nelfinavir (Viracept)
  • phenytoin (Phenytek, Dilantin, Dilantin-125)
  • posaconazole (Noxafil)
  • rifampicin (Rifadin)
  • ritonavir (Norvir)
  • saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
  • St. John’s Wort
  • telaprevir (Incivek)
  • telithromycin (Ketek)
  • verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan)
  • voriconazole (Vfend)

This is not a complete list of Lynparza drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Lynparza Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Lynparza, including the following:

  • myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition where the bone marrow is unable to produce enough functioning blood cells, and acute myeloid leukemia, a bone marrow cancer. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia:
    • weakness
    • weight loss
    • fever
    • frequent infections
    • blood in urine or stool
    • shortness or breath
    • feeling very tired
    • bruising or bleeding more easily than normal
  • lung inflammation. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of lung inflammation:
    • shortness of breath
    • fever
    • cough
    • wheezing

Lynparza can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Lynparza affects you.

Do not take Lynparza if you are allergic to Lynparza or to any of its ingredients.

Lynparza Food Interactions

Grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and Seville oranges (sometimes used in marmalade) may interact with Lynparza and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products and Seville oranges with your doctor.

Inform MD

Before taking Lynparza, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Lynparza or to any of its ingredients
  • have lung or breathing problems
  • have liver problems
  • have kidney problems
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Lynparza and Pregnancy

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Lynparza falls into category D. It has been shown that use of Lynparza in pregnant women caused some babies to be born with problems. However, in some serious situations, the benefit of using this medication may be greater than the risk of harm to the baby.

Lynparza and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Lynparza crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Lynparza.

Lynparza Usage

Take Lynparza exactly as prescribed.

Lynparza comes in capsule form and is taken 2 times every day. Do not chew, divide, or break Lynparza capsules. Swallow capsules whole.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of Lynparza at the same time.

Lynparza Dosage

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

  • the nature of the condition being treated
  • how you respond to this medication

The recommended dose of Lynparza is 400 mg twice daily.

Lynparza Overdose

If you take too much Lynparza, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Lynparza is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Other Requirements

  • Store Lynparza at room temperature.
  • Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.