Piqray (alpelisib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it in combination with fulvestrant, another medication, to treat specific types of advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It can be prescribed for females* who have been through menopause and for males.*
Piqray belongs to a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors. There isn’t a generic version of this drug.
Piqray comes as an oral tablet.
For information about the dosage of Piqray, including its strengths and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Piqray including its approved uses, see this article.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “female” and “male” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
This article describes typical dosages for Piqray provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Piqray, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
This section covers information about the recommended dosage of Piqray.
Piqray form
Piqray comes as an oral tablet.
Piqray strengths
Piqray is available in three strengths:
- 50 milligrams (mg)
- 150 mg
- 200 mg
Typical dosages
The following information describes the dosing schedule that’s commonly used or recommended for Piqray. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
For treating breast cancer, the usual starting dosage of Piqray is 300 mg once daily with food. For this dose, you’ll take two 150-mg tablets.
During your Piqray treatment, your doctor will monitor you for any side effects. Make sure to tell your doctor about any possible side effects you have during treatment. Your doctor may also prescribe other treatments to help manage certain side effects. (For more information about side effects, see this article.)
However, if you can’t tolerate certain side effects, your doctor will likely recommend dose adjustments. This includes lowering your dosage to 250 mg once daily and then to 200 mg once daily, if needed. Depending on the type or severity of side effects or how long they last, your doctor may pause or stop your treatment.
It’s important to note you should not change your dose or stop taking Piqray unless your doctor recommends you to do so.
Long-term treatment
Piqray is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Piqray is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Piqray is meant to be taken at the same time each day. If you miss a dose, what to do next depends on how many hours ago you were supposed to take the dose.
- If you miss a dose by 9 hours or less, take the missed dose as soon as possible.
- If you miss a dose by more than 9 hours, skip that day’s dose. Then, take your usual dose the next day at your regular time.
You should not take a double dose of Piqray to make up for a missed dose.
To help make sure you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
Piqray comes as an oral tablet that you’ll swallow whole. You should not crush, cut, chew, or split the tablets. And you should not swallow Piqray tablets that look cracked, broken, or damaged. This is to ensure you’re getting the right amount of medication at the right time.
You’ll take your dose of Piqray once daily with food. There isn’t a best time of day to take Piqray. However, you should take it at about the same time each day.
It’s important that you do not take more Piqray than your doctor advises. If you take more Piqray than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.
Symptoms of an overdose
Symptoms of a Piqray overdose can include:
- hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), which can cause the following symptoms:
- increased thirst
- intense hunger
- weight loss
- nausea
- weakness
- skin rash
If you take more than the recommended amount of Piqray
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Piqray. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages recommended by Piqray’s manufacturer. If your doctor prescribes Piqray for you, they will give you the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Piqray without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Piqray that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Piqray. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Piqray. For information about other aspects of Piqray, refer to this article.
- Details about breast cancer. For details about your condition, see our breast cancer hub and our list of breast cancer articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.