Olaparib is an oral prescription anticancer medicine belonging to the PARP inhibitor class. It is indicated only for specific cancer types and treatment settings in appropriately selected patients.
This page provides a general prescribing-information overview for olaparib 150 mg. It is intended to help readers understand the medicine and should not replace the current official prescribing information for the specific product, local regulatory requirements, or professional clinical judgment.
The featured products on this website are:
- Olanib 150 mg — Everest Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
- Olakin 150 mg — Ziska Pharmaceuticals Limited
Both contain olaparib 150 mg as the active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Active Ingredient
Generic name: Olaparib
Drug class: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor
Dosage form: Oral tablet
Featured strength: 150 mg
Olaparib inhibits PARP enzymes involved in DNA-repair processes and also produces PARP trapping. These activities contribute to its anticancer effects in appropriately selected tumors.
Clinical Indications
Olaparib has regulatory approvals for specific treatment settings. Approved indications can differ by country and may change as regulatory authorities review new evidence.
Current U.S. prescribing information includes selected indications involving:
Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer
Olaparib may be used as maintenance treatment in certain adults with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline or somatic BRCA-mutated advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have achieved a complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.
It may also be used with bevacizumab as maintenance treatment for selected advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers with homologous recombination deficiency, according to the applicable criteria.
For selected patients with BRCA-mutated recurrent disease, olaparib may also be used as maintenance treatment following response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Olaparib is indicated in selected adults with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer following neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy.
It is also indicated for selected adults with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer after appropriate chemotherapy.
Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Olaparib is used in selected patients with BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
In an applicable combination regimen, olaparib is administered with abiraterone and prednisone or prednisolone.
European and Other International Indications
Regulatory approvals outside the United States can contain additional or different treatment settings.
European regulatory information includes selected uses involving ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer; BRCA1/2-mutated HER2-negative breast cancer; selected metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma; metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer; and certain additional treatment combinations.
Therefore, prescribers should always consult the current regulatory information applicable to the patient’s country.
Recommended Dose
For several approved adult tablet indications, the recommended olaparib dose is:
300 mg twice daily
When using 150 mg tablets, this corresponds to:
Two 150 mg tablets per dose, twice daily.
The doses should generally be taken approximately 12 hours apart.
The prescribed regimen can differ according to the specific indication, adverse reactions, renal function, drug interactions, and other clinical circumstances.
Administration
Olaparib tablets are administered orally.
They may generally be taken with or without food.
Tablets should be swallowed whole with water.
Patients should not crush, chew, dissolve, or break tablets unless specifically directed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Dose Modification for Adverse Reactions
Olaparib treatment may require temporary interruption or dose reduction when clinically significant adverse reactions occur.
For patients receiving the standard 300 mg twice-daily tablet regimen, commonly used reduced dose levels include:
250 mg twice daily
and, when further reduction is necessary:
200 mg twice daily
Dose modification should be based on the nature and severity of the adverse reaction and the applicable prescribing information.
Treatment should not be modified solely on the patient’s own decision.
Renal Impairment
Renal function should be considered before and during olaparib treatment when clinically appropriate.
For patients with moderate renal impairment, defined in the U.S. prescribing information as creatinine clearance of 31–50 mL/min, the recommended dose for applicable tablet indications is:
200 mg twice daily.
Patients with more severe renal impairment require careful consideration and reference to the applicable product information.
Hepatic Impairment
Prescribers should assess patients with hepatic impairment according to the current prescribing information.
Patients should inform their healthcare team about known liver disease or abnormal liver-function results.
The specific dosing approach depends on the degree of hepatic impairment and the applicable regulatory product information.
CYP3A Drug Interactions
Olaparib is metabolized in part through the CYP3A pathway.
Consequently, medicines that strongly or moderately inhibit or induce CYP3A can alter olaparib exposure.
CYP3A Inhibitors
Strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors can increase olaparib concentrations and may increase toxicity.
Where possible, concomitant use should be avoided.
If use of a clinically important CYP3A inhibitor cannot be avoided, dose modification may be required according to the prescribing information.
CYP3A Inducers
Strong or moderate CYP3A inducers can reduce olaparib exposure and may reduce its anticancer activity.
Concomitant use should generally be avoided when clinically significant.
The prescriber should review the patient’s complete medication list before initiating therapy.
Important Food Interactions
Patients taking olaparib should avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice according to the prescribing information because these products can affect CYP3A activity and potentially increase olaparib exposure.
Hematologic Toxicity
Olaparib can cause significant bone-marrow suppression.
Common hematologic abnormalities include:
- Anemia
- Neutropenia
- Leukopenia
- Lymphopenia
- Thrombocytopenia
Complete blood counts should be obtained at baseline and monitored periodically during treatment.
More frequent monitoring may be appropriate when clinically indicated.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been reported in patients treated with olaparib.
These are serious conditions.
Patients with persistent or unexplained cytopenias should be evaluated appropriately.
If significant blood abnormalities do not resolve following treatment interruption, further hematologic investigation may be necessary.
Pneumonitis
Olaparib can cause pneumonitis, including severe or potentially fatal cases.
Patients who develop new or worsening respiratory symptoms such as:
- Dyspnea
- Cough
- Fever
- Other unexplained pulmonary symptoms
should undergo appropriate diagnostic evaluation.
If pneumonitis is confirmed, olaparib should be managed according to the applicable prescribing information.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Olaparib can cause fetal harm.
Prescribers should discuss reproductive risks with patients who can become pregnant.
Pregnancy testing and appropriate contraception recommendations should follow the applicable prescribing information and individual clinical circumstances.
Patients should be advised to notify their healthcare professional promptly if pregnancy occurs during treatment.
Lactation
Breastfeeding is not recommended during olaparib treatment and for the period specified in the applicable prescribing information after the final dose.
Patients who are breastfeeding should discuss treatment and feeding plans with their healthcare professional.
Common Adverse Reactions
Common adverse reactions associated with olaparib include:
- Nausea
- Fatigue or asthenia
- Anemia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Headache
- Neutropenia
- Leukopenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Dysgeusia
- Dizziness
- Cough
- Dyspnea
- Dyspepsia
The frequency and severity of adverse reactions can vary according to the indication, treatment combination, patient characteristics, and duration of therapy.
Serious Adverse Reactions
Important serious adverse reactions include:
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Pneumonitis
- Severe or clinically significant hematologic toxicity
- Embryo-fetal toxicity
Patients should be appropriately monitored and instructed to report concerning symptoms.
Laboratory Monitoring
Recommended monitoring may include:
Complete Blood Count
CBC monitoring is important because olaparib can affect blood-cell production.
Particular attention should be given to:
- Hemoglobin
- Neutrophils
- White blood cells
- Platelets
Renal Function
Kidney function can influence olaparib exposure and dosing.
Creatinine clearance or an appropriate measure of renal function should be assessed when clinically indicated.
Other Monitoring
Additional investigations should be performed according to the patient’s cancer type, treatment regimen, symptoms, and clinical circumstances.
Treatment Interruption
Temporary interruption may be appropriate when significant toxicity develops.
The prescriber should assess:
- Severity of the reaction
- Duration
- Laboratory findings
- Potential alternative causes
- Patient’s overall condition
- Expected treatment benefit
Treatment can subsequently be resumed or dose-adjusted when clinically appropriate.
Treatment Duration
Treatment duration depends on the approved indication and individual clinical circumstances.
Olaparib may be used as maintenance therapy for an extended period in selected patients.
Treatment may continue while there is clinical benefit and the patient tolerates therapy appropriately, subject to the requirements of the specific indication.
Some treatment settings have specific duration recommendations.
Prescribers should follow the current indication-specific prescribing information rather than applying one universal treatment duration to every patient.
Missed Dose
Patients should be instructed not to take an additional dose to compensate for a missed olaparib dose.
The next scheduled dose should generally be taken at the regular time according to the applicable prescribing instructions.
Overdose
If a patient takes more olaparib than prescribed, appropriate medical advice should be sought.
Patients should not wait for symptoms before contacting a healthcare professional after a significant accidental overdose.
The medicine packaging should be retained so that healthcare professionals can identify the product and strength.
Patient Counseling
Patients prescribed olaparib should receive appropriate counseling about:
- Correct dosing
- Twice-daily administration where applicable
- Taking tablets with or without food
- Swallowing tablets whole
- Missed-dose instructions
- Potential drug interactions
- Avoidance of grapefruit and Seville oranges
- Pregnancy precautions
- Breastfeeding restrictions
- Blood-count monitoring
- Important symptoms requiring medical attention
- The importance of treatment adherence
Product Strength Information
The featured products on Olaparib150mg.com are 150 mg tablets:
| Product | Active Ingredient | Strength | Associated Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olanib 150 mg | Olaparib | 150 mg | Everest Pharmaceuticals Ltd. |
| Olakin 150 mg | Olaparib | 150 mg | Ziska Pharmaceuticals Limited |
The 150 mg tablet should not be confused with the patient’s total prescribed daily dose.
Important Prescribing Principle
A prescriber should select olaparib only when the patient’s clinical characteristics meet the requirements of the relevant treatment indication.
Important considerations may include:
- Cancer type
- Disease stage
- Previous treatment
- Platinum sensitivity where applicable
- BRCA1/2 status
- Germline versus somatic mutation status
- HRD-related findings where applicable
- HER2 status in breast cancer
- Kidney function
- Concomitant medicines
- Previous adverse reactions
- Overall treatment objectives
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Generic | Olaparib |
| Class | PARP inhibitor |
| Featured strength | 150 mg tablet |
| Route | Oral |
| Common applicable adult dose | 300 mg twice daily |
| Moderate renal impairment | 200 mg twice daily for applicable indications |
| Food | With or without food |
| Important interaction pathway | CYP3A |
| Avoid | Grapefruit and Seville oranges according to prescribing information |
| Key monitoring | CBC and renal function |
| Important serious risks | MDS/AML, pneumonitis, embryo-fetal toxicity |
Final Prescribing Reminder
Olaparib is a specialized prescription medicine that requires appropriate patient selection and monitoring.
The 150 mg tablet is a dosage strength, not a universal daily dose.
For several approved adult tablet indications, 300 mg twice daily is the standard recommended dose, while dose reductions may be necessary because of renal impairment, adverse reactions, or clinically important drug interactions.
Prescribers should always consult the current official product information applicable to their jurisdiction and the specific clinical indication.
Patients should follow the prescription exactly and should not change their dose without medical supervision.