Truqap (capivasertib)

Truqap generic

Truqap is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

Truqap dosage

The following information describes the dosage of Truqap that’s commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Truqap comes as tablets that you swallow whole. The drug is available in two strengths: 160 milligrams (mg) and 200 mg.

Dosage for breast cancer

The recommended dose of Truqap is 400 mg. You’ll take this dose twice daily (about 12 hours apart) for 4 days, followed by 3 days off each week.

Here is an example of a Truqap dosing schedule:

Some people may need to take a lower dose of Truqap. If you develop certain side effects, your doctor may have you stop Truqap treatment. If you restart it, they may prescribe a lower dose.

About taking Truqap

The recommended dose is 400 mg. This dose is taken by mouth as two 200-mg tablets. You can swallow them together or one after the other.

Below, you’ll find more information about key dosage issues.

• When to take: On the days you take Truqap, you’ll take it twice daily. You’ll take one dose in the morning and one dose in the evening, approximately 12 hours apart. (For example, you can take one dose at 7 a.m. and one dose at 7 p.m.)
• If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose of Truqap, your next step depends on when the dose was due. If you miss a dose and it’s been 4 hours or less since you were due to take it, take your dose as soon as possible. If it’s been more than 4 hours since you were due to take it, skip the missed dose. Just wait and take your next scheduled dose at the usual time.
• If you vomit after taking Truqap: If you vomit after taking your Truqap dose, you should not take another dose. Just wait and take your next scheduled dose at the usual time.
• Taking Truqap with food: You can take Truqap with or without food.
• Crushing, splitting, or chewing Truqap: You’ll swallow Truqap tablets whole. These tablets should not be chewed, crushed, or split. You should not take Truqap tablets if they appear cracked or broken. Talk with your doctor if you have trouble swallowing Truqap tablets.
• Length of use: Truqap is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Truqap is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
• Length of time to work: Truqap starts working with your first dose. But it may take a few weeks or months before your doctor can determine how well the drug is working for your cancer. They’ll use tests (such as scans) to check if your cancer is responding to treatment.

Overdose

Do not use more Truqap than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

What to do in case you take too much Truqap

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Truqap side effects

Truqap can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Truqap. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Truqap, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Truqap, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Truqap. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Truqap’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Truqap can include:

• diarrhea
• skin side effects, such as hand-foot syndrome, dryness, itchiness, or skin rash
• nausea
• fatigue
• vomiting
• stomatitis (sores or irritation in your mouth)
• mild allergic reaction*

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about allergic reaction and Truqap, see “Allergic reaction” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Truqap can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• Acute kidney injury (sudden decline in kidney function) or other kidney problems. Symptoms can include:
  • weakness
  • urinating less than usual
  • swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
• Severe diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration.
• Decreased levels of blood cells, such as white blood cells and platelets. Symptoms vary depending on the type of blood cell affected but may include increased risk of infection or bleeding.
• Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), which may lead to diabetes.
• Severe allergic reaction.*

* For details about allergic reaction and Truqap, see “Allergic reaction” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Truqap. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of this drug but can still occur.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
• trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Truqap, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Truqap uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Truqap to treat certain conditions. Truqap may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Truqap for breast cancer

Truqap is FDA-approved for treating breast cancer that includes all the following characteristics:

• hormone receptor (HR)-positive
• human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-negative
• locally advanced (has spread from the breast to nearby tissues) or metastatic (has spread from the breast to other parts of the body)
• has one or more specific gene mutations, including alterations in PIK3CA, AKT1, and/or PTEN

Truqap is FDA-approved for adults whose cancer meets all the criteria above and has progressed (gotten worse) during or after treatment with hormone therapy. For this purpose, Truqap is prescribed along with fulvestrant (Faslodex) for breast cancer.

Depending on certain biological factors, your doctor will prescribe another drug along with Truqap. For females* who haven’t yet entered menopause and males,* this includes a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist. An example of an LHRH agonist drug that may be prescribed with Truqap is goserelin (Zoladex).

You can learn more about breast cancer and its treatment options by visiting our breast cancer hub.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “male” and “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Truqap and children

Truqap is FDA-approved for use in adults. It’s unknown if Truqap is safe or effective for use in people under 18 years of age.

Truqap interactions

Truqap can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

Before taking Truqap, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with medications, foods, and supplements

Below is a list of medications, supplements, and foods that can interact with Truqap. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Truqap. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Truqap. However, consuming alcohol may cause some of the same side effects as Truqap, such as stomatitis (sores or inflammation in the mouth).

If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink while taking Truqap, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Truqap cost and coupons

As with all medications, the cost of Truqap can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Truqap, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

A program called AstraZenca Access 360 is available for Truqap. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-275-2360 or visit the program website.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Generic version: Truqap is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. At this time, there aren’t any other drugs available that work exactly the same way as Truqap. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Truqap, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Examples of other drugs that may be prescribed to treat certain types of breast cancer include:

• anastrozole (Arimidex)
• exemestane (Aromasin)
• tamoxifen
• goserelin (Zoladex)
• letrozole (Femara)
• leuprolide (Lupron Depot)

Things to consider when taking Truqap

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, fertility, birth control, and breastfeeding.

Truqap and pregnancy

Truqap should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with Truqap.

People who can become pregnant will need to take a pregnancy test before starting Truqap to confirm they’re not pregnant.

Truqap and birth control

Truqap is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Truqap.

Note: Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “female” and “male” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

For females taking Truqap

Females who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during Truqap treatment and for 1 month after their last dose.

For males taking Truqap

Males with partners who can become pregnant should use an effective birth control method (such as condoms) during Truqap treatment and for 4 months after their last dose.

Truqap and breastfeeding

Truqap should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with Truqap.

Common questions about Truqap

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Truqap.

How does Truqap work?

Truqap works by blocking certain AKT proteins, which are part of a signaling pathway that helps cells grow. This includes cancer cells. Truqap also targets other proteins in this pathway, including the PI3K and PTEN proteins.

In clinical trials, on average, people taking Truqap and fulvestrant lived longer before their cancer worsened compared with those who took a placebo and fulvestrant. (A placebo is a treatment with no active drug.) In these trials, some people taking Truqap had a partial response, and some had a complete response. With a partial response, the signs and symptoms of your cancer are decreasing. With a complete response, your cancer becomes undetectable on scans and other tests.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Truqap treatment.

Does Truqap cause long-term side effects?

Possibly, but Truqap isn’t known to cause long-term side effects. No long-term side effects were specifically reported in clinical trials of the drug.

If you develop any side effects during Truqap treatment that don’t go away, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on how to manage your symptoms, which may include stopping the medication. And the drug’s side effects should ease or disappear soon after your last dose.

How does Truqap compare with Piqray?

Truqap and alpelisib (Piqray) are prescribed to treat certain types of breast cancer. They belong to the same group of drugs (kinase inhibitors), which are a type of targeted therapy. (“Targeted therapy” is a general category of treatments for cancer.)

These drugs have one target that’s the same, while Truqap has two additional targets. The targets are based on specific genetic mutations found in cancer cells.

Piqray blocks a type of protein called PI3K in cancer cells. PI3K helps the cancer grow. The drug is used in certain adults along with fulvestrant (Faslodex) to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has a specific gene mutation called PIK3CA.

In contrast, Truqap blocks other proteins called AKT in cancer cells. AKT helps the cancer grow. The drug is used in certain adults along with fulvestrant (Faslodex) to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has one or more specific gene mutations. These include PIK3CA, AKT1, and/or PTEN.

These drugs also have different dosages. Piqray is taken by mouth once a day. Truqap is taken twice a day for 4 days in a row, followed by 3 days off each week.

So far, the effectiveness of these two medications for breast cancer has not been compared in head-to-head clinical trials.

Talk with your doctor for additional information about how these drugs compare.