How to Take Olaparib
Olaparib is a prescription medicine that should be taken exactly as directed by your oncologist or other qualified healthcare professional.
The appropriate dose and treatment schedule depend on the cancer being treated, previous therapies, kidney function, other medicines, and the specific approved indication.
Do not change your dose or treatment schedule without medical advice.
Olaparib 150 mg Tablets
The products featured on this website are:
- Olanib 150 mg — Everest Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
- Olakin 150 mg — Ziska Pharmaceuticals Limited
Both contain olaparib 150 mg as the active ingredient.
The 150 mg designation refers to the strength of each tablet. It does not necessarily mean that one 150 mg tablet is the complete dose for an individual patient.
How Often Is Olaparib Taken?
For many approved treatment settings, olaparib tablets are taken twice daily, with doses approximately 12 hours apart.
However, the exact prescribed dose can vary according to:
- Cancer type
- Treatment indication
- Kidney function
- Other medicines
- Side effects
- Previous treatments
- Specific regulatory labeling
Follow the schedule written on your prescription.
Do not take olaparib more frequently or in a larger amount than prescribed.
When Should You Take Olaparib?
Try to take your doses at approximately the same times every day.
For a twice-daily regimen, patients may commonly take one dose in the morning and another in the evening, following the schedule provided by their healthcare professional.
Maintaining a consistent routine can make it easier to remember each dose.
With or Without Food
Olaparib tablets may generally be taken with or without food.
You do not normally need to coordinate the tablet with a particular meal unless your healthcare professional has given you different instructions.
Taking the medicine at consistent times can help establish a routine.
Swallow the Tablets Whole
Swallow olaparib tablets whole with water.
Do not crush, chew, dissolve, or break the tablets unless your healthcare professional specifically tells you to do so.
The tablet formulation is designed to be administered according to the product’s instructions.
Do Not Substitute Formulations
Different olaparib formulations may have different strengths or dosing instructions.
Do not substitute one olaparib formulation for another without medical advice.
If your pharmacy provides a different package, strength, or formulation from what you normally receive, confirm the product and instructions with your pharmacist before taking it.
Taking Your First Dose
Before taking your first dose, confirm:
- The medicine was prescribed for you
- The product name is correct
- The active ingredient is olaparib
- The tablet strength is correct
- The package is intact
- The expiry date has not passed
- You understand the prescribed schedule
- Your healthcare team knows about your other medicines
If any information appears inconsistent, ask a pharmacist or your healthcare professional before taking the medicine.
If You Miss a Dose
If you miss an olaparib dose, follow the instructions provided with your prescription or product information.
Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose unless your healthcare professional specifically instructs you to do so.
Taking additional tablets can increase exposure to the medicine and may increase the risk of adverse reactions.
If you frequently forget doses, discuss practical strategies with your pharmacist or healthcare team.
If You Vomit After Taking Olaparib
If you vomit after taking a dose, do not automatically take another tablet.
Contact your healthcare professional or follow the specific instructions provided with your olaparib product.
Whether another dose is appropriate can depend on the circumstances.
Taking an additional dose without guidance may result in excessive medicine exposure.
Do Not Double the Dose
Never take two doses together to compensate for a missed dose unless specifically instructed by your healthcare professional.
If you are unsure whether you already took your dose, check your medication routine or packaging and ask your pharmacist or healthcare team if necessary.
Taking Olaparib With Other Medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you use.
This includes:
- Prescription medicines
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Vitamins
- Herbal products
- Dietary supplements
- Medicines taken occasionally
Some medicines can significantly affect the amount of olaparib in your bloodstream.
Medicines That Affect CYP3A
Olaparib is metabolized in part through the CYP3A pathway.
Medicines that strongly or moderately inhibit CYP3A can increase olaparib exposure.
Medicines that strongly or moderately induce CYP3A can decrease olaparib exposure and potentially reduce treatment effectiveness.
Examples can include certain:
- Antifungal medicines
- Antibiotics
- Antiepileptic medicines
- HIV medicines
- Other medicines affecting CYP3A
This is not a complete list.
Your healthcare professional should review your medication list before treatment begins and whenever a new medicine is added.
Avoiding Certain Foods
Grapefruit and Seville oranges can affect CYP3A activity.
Depending on the applicable product labeling, your healthcare professional may advise you to avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during olaparib treatment.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about a particular food or drink.
Taking Olaparib During Cancer Treatment
Olaparib is used in specific treatment settings for certain cancers.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Olaparib alone
- Olaparib as maintenance treatment
- Olaparib following previous cancer treatment
- Olaparib in combination with another medicine in selected approved settings
The appropriate treatment strategy depends on your cancer and applicable regulatory indication.
Do not add or remove another anticancer medicine without your oncology team’s direction.
Take Olaparib for the Prescribed Duration
Do not stop taking olaparib simply because you feel well.
Cancer treatment can continue even when there are no obvious symptoms.
Likewise, do not continue treatment longer than prescribed.
Your oncologist will determine the appropriate duration based on your disease, treatment response, safety, and the applicable treatment protocol.
Dose Adjustments
Your olaparib dose may need to be changed if:
- You develop significant side effects
- Your kidney function changes
- You begin taking a medicine that interacts with olaparib
- You have difficulty tolerating treatment
- Your doctor determines that another dose is clinically appropriate
Dose changes should always be made by your healthcare professional.
Do not split tablets or independently change the number of tablets you take.
Kidney Function and Taking Olaparib
Patients with reduced kidney function may require dose adjustment.
For example, the applicable prescribing information includes dose recommendations for patients with moderate renal impairment.
Your doctor may use kidney-function measurements to determine whether your prescribed dose should be changed.
Do not adjust your dose based on a laboratory result without medical guidance.
Blood Tests During Treatment
Your healthcare professional may arrange regular blood tests during olaparib therapy.
Blood monitoring can help identify changes that may not produce obvious symptoms.
Your doctor may monitor:
- Hemoglobin
- White blood cells
- Neutrophils
- Platelets
- Other blood-count parameters
Additional tests may be performed depending on your health and treatment plan.
Taking Olaparib and Alcohol
Ask your healthcare professional about alcohol use while taking olaparib.
There may not be a simple recommendation that applies to every patient because alcohol intake can be affected by the individual’s cancer treatment, liver function, other medicines, nutritional status, and general health.
If you are unsure, discuss alcohol use with your oncologist or pharmacist.
Pregnancy and Olaparib
Olaparib can cause harm to an unborn baby.
If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or could become pregnant, tell your healthcare professional before starting treatment.
Appropriate contraception should be discussed with your healthcare team.
If pregnancy occurs during treatment, contact your healthcare professional promptly.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is generally not recommended during olaparib treatment and for the period specified in the applicable prescribing information after treatment.
Discuss breastfeeding with your doctor before beginning therapy.
Fertility
Patients concerned about fertility should discuss this with their oncology team before treatment.
Cancer itself and previous or concurrent cancer treatments may also affect reproductive health.
Where appropriate, fertility-preservation options can be discussed before treatment begins.
Taking Olaparib When You Feel Unwell
If you develop an illness while taking olaparib, contact your healthcare professional if symptoms are significant or persistent.
Particular attention should be given to:
- Fever
- Signs of infection
- Persistent vomiting
- Severe diarrhea
- Significant weakness
- Unusual bleeding
- New cough
- Shortness of breath
Some symptoms may indicate complications requiring medical assessment.
Taking Olaparib With a History of Blood Problems
Tell your doctor if you have previously experienced:
- Anemia
- Low white-blood-cell counts
- Low platelet counts
- Bone-marrow disorders
- Other significant blood abnormalities
Olaparib can affect blood-cell production, so previous blood problems may be relevant to treatment planning and monitoring.
Taking Olaparib With Lung Problems
Tell your healthcare professional if you have a history of lung disease or unexplained respiratory symptoms.
New or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath during treatment should be reported promptly because pneumonitis is a recognized serious adverse reaction associated with olaparib.
What to Do if You Take Too Much Olaparib
If you accidentally take more olaparib than prescribed, contact your doctor, pharmacist, poison-information service, or emergency medical service for advice as appropriate.
Do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking advice about a significant overdose.
Do not take another dose until you have received appropriate instructions if you have taken substantially more medicine than prescribed.
Keeping Track of Your Doses
A consistent medication routine can help reduce missed or repeated doses.
You may find it useful to:
- Take the medicine at the same times every day
- Use a medication schedule
- Record each dose
- Keep the medicine in its original package
- Ask a family member to assist if appropriate
- Use reminders approved for your daily routine
Do not leave the medicine where children or other people can accidentally take it.
Storage and Handling
Keep olaparib according to the storage instructions provided with the specific product.
Keep tablets in their original packaging whenever possible.
Protect the medicine from inappropriate storage conditions and keep it out of reach of children.
Do not use tablets that are damaged, unusually discolored, or otherwise appear abnormal without consulting a pharmacist.
Traveling With Olaparib
If you need to travel while receiving treatment, plan ahead so that you have enough medicine for the trip.
Keep the medicine in its original labeled packaging.
Carry relevant prescription or medical documentation when appropriate, particularly when traveling internationally.
Do not transfer unlabeled tablets into another container for travel unless your healthcare professional has advised you how to do so safely.
Never Share Olaparib
Olaparib is prescribed according to an individual patient’s cancer diagnosis and medical circumstances.
Do not give your tablets to another person, even if they have the same type of cancer.
A different patient may require different treatment, testing, dosage, or monitoring.
If You Have Questions About Your Dose
If you are uncertain about:
- Number of tablets
- Dose timing
- Missed doses
- Food requirements
- Drug interactions
- Dose changes
- Treatment duration
contact your pharmacist or treating oncologist.
Do not rely on another patient’s prescription or an online dosing calculator to determine your personal dose.
Olanib 150 mg and Olakin 150 mg
Olanib 150 mg and Olakin 150 mg are olaparib 150 mg products featured on this website.
Olanib 150 mg is associated with Everest Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Olakin 150 mg is associated with Ziska Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Always check the actual product packaging and current product information supplied for the medicine you have received.
Important Reminder
Olaparib treatment should be individualized.
The dose prescribed for one patient may not be appropriate for another, even when both patients have the same cancer type.
The correct dose depends on the approved indication and factors such as kidney function, interacting medicines, tolerability, and previous treatment.
Never change the dose based solely on information found online.
Final Takeaway
Take olaparib exactly as prescribed and maintain a consistent dosing schedule.
Olaparib tablets can generally be taken with or without food, but they should be swallowed whole according to the product instructions.
Do not double a missed dose, take extra tablets, or change the treatment schedule without medical advice.
Tell your healthcare team about every medicine, supplement, and herbal product you use, and attend all recommended monitoring appointments.
If you develop serious symptoms such as severe breathing difficulty, significant bleeding, high fever, or a severe allergic reaction, seek urgent medical attention.