Abiraterone (often as abiraterone acetate) is a prescription drug used mainly for advanced prostate cancer. It blocks an enzyme called CYP17, which tumors use to make testosterone. Less testosterone usually means slower cancer growth. If your doctor mentioned abiraterone, you’re likely dealing with metastatic or castration-resistant disease and looking for a next step.
Abiraterone reduces androgen production in the testes, adrenal glands, and the tumor itself. Doctors normally pair it with a low-dose steroid like prednisone to control side effects linked to mineralocorticoid buildup (high blood pressure, low potassium, fluid retention). Common dosing for adults is 1,000 mg once daily (four 250 mg tablets) plus prednisone 5 mg twice daily, but follow your prescriber—doses can change based on your situation.
Important: take abiraterone on an empty stomach—no food for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after the pill. Food can raise drug levels dramatically and increase side effects. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice because they change how the drug is processed.
Expect some common side effects: fatigue, joint pain, swelling or fluid retention, hot flashes, nausea, and diarrhea. More serious issues include raised liver enzymes, high blood pressure, and low potassium. Your care team will check liver tests before you start, then regularly—often monthly for the first three months, then less often if stable. They’ll also monitor blood pressure and potassium levels.
Got other meds? Tell your doctor about everything you take. Abiraterone interacts with drugs processed by the liver (CYP enzymes). That includes some heart meds, antifungals, and HIV drugs. If you take blood thinners, diabetes meds, or strong enzyme inhibitors/inducers, your provider may adjust doses or pick different drugs.
Practical tips from patients and pharmacists: always carry a list of your meds, contact your clinic if you notice new swelling or breathing trouble, and don’t stop the steroid without talking to your doctor. If nausea or muscle aches show up, simple supports—hydration, light exercise, or over-the-counter remedies cleared by your provider—often help.
Cost can be a hurdle. Ask about generic abiraterone acetate, insurance coverage, or manufacturer patient-assistance programs. Finally, if you’re a woman who is pregnant or could become pregnant, abiraterone is not safe—avoid exposure and consult your doctor right away.
Questions? Bring these points to your oncologist or pharmacist: timing with food, steroid plan, what labs to expect, and any drug interactions. That short conversation can make treatment safer and easier to live with.
