Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
post
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
post
Jump To

Erleada

  • Generic Name: apalutamide tablets
  • Brand Name: Erleada
  • Drug Class: Antineoplastics, Antiandrogen, Antiandrogens
Reviewed by Medsayfa.com Last updated July 30, 2023

Patient Information

ERLEADA®
(er lee’dah)
(apalutamide) tablets

What is ERLEADA?

ERLEADA is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of prostate cancer:

  • that has spread to other parts of the body and still responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone, OR
  • that has not spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone.

It is not known if ERLEADA is safe and effective in females.

It is not known if ERLEADA is safe and effective in children.

Before taking ERLEADA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have a history of heart disease
  • have high blood pressure
  • have diabetes
  • have abnormal amounts of fat or cholesterol in your blood (dyslipidemia)
  • have a history of seizures, brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ERLEADA can cause harm to your unborn baby and loss of pregnancy (miscarriage).
  • have a partner who is pregnant or may become pregnant.
    • Males who have female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of ERLEADA.
    • Males should use a condom during sex with a pregnant female.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about birth control.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ERLEADA passes into breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. ERLEADA can interact with many other medicines.

You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with the healthcare provider that prescribed ERLEADA.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take ERLEADA?

  • Take ERLEADA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.
  • Do not stop taking your prescribed dose of ERLEADA without talking with your healthcare provider first.
  • Take your prescribed dose of ERLEADA 1 time a day, at the same time each day.
  • Take ERLEADA with or without food.
  • Swallow ERLEADA tablets whole. Do not crush or split the tablets. If you cannot swallow ERLEADA tablets whole, see the “Instructions for Use” for detailed instructions on how to prepare and take a dose of ERLEADA by mouth. ERLEADA comes in 2 different strengths (60 mg and 240 mg). Follow the instructions for your prescribed strength of ERLEADA.
  • If you have a feeding tube, the ERLEADA 240 mg tablet can be given through a feeding tube. See the “Instructions for Use” for detailed instructions on how to prepare and give a dose of ERLEADA through a feeding tube (8 French or larger).
  • If you miss a dose of ERLEADA, take your normal dose as soon as possible on the same day. Return to your normal schedule on the following day. You should not take extra tablets to make up the missed dose.
  • You should start or continue a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog therapy during your treatment with ERLEADA unless you have had a surgery to lower the amount of testosterone in your body (surgical castration).
  • If you take too much ERLEADA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

What are the possible side effects of ERLEADA?

ERLEADA may cause serious side effects including:

  • Heart disease, stroke, or mini-stroke. Bleeding in the brain or blockage of the arteries in the heart or in part of the brain have happened in some people during treatment with ERLEADA and can lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of heart or brain problems during your treatment with ERLEADA. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you get:
    • chest pain or discomfort at rest or with activity
    • shortness of breath
    • numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
    • trouble talking or understanding
    • trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    • dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or trouble walking
  • Fractures and falls. ERLEADA treatment can cause bones and muscles to weaken and may increase your risk for falls and fractures. Falls and fractures have happened in people during treatment with ERLEADA. Your healthcare provider will monitor your risks for falls and fractures during treatment with ERLEADA.
  • Seizure. Treatment with ERLEADA may increase your risk of having a seizure. You should avoid activities where a sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to yourself or others. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have a loss of consciousness or seizure. Your healthcare provider will stop ERLEADA if you have a seizure during treatment.
  • Severe skin reactions. Treatment with ERLEADA may cause severe skin reactions that can be life-threatening or may lead to death. Stop taking ERLEADA and get medical help right away if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of a severe skin reaction:
    • severe rash or rash that continues to get worse
    • fever or flu-like symptoms
    • swollen lymph nodes
    • blisters or sores in the mouth, throat, nose, eyes, or genital area
    • blistering or peeling of the skin

The most common side effects of ERLEADA include:

  • feeling very tired
  • joint pain
  • rash. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a rash.
  • decreased appetite
  • fall
  • weight loss
  • high blood pressure
  • hot flash
  • diarrhea
  • fracture

Your healthcare provider may reduce your dose, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with ERLEADA if you have certain side effects.

ERLEADA may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect the ability to father children. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility. Do not donate sperm during treatment with ERLEADA and for 3 months after the last dose of ERLEADA.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of ERLEADA.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store ERLEADA?

  • Store ERLEADA at room temperature between 68 °F to 77 °F (20 °C to 25 °C).
  • ERLEADA comes in a child-resistant bottle.
  • Store ERLEADA in the original package to protect from light and moisture.
  • The bottle of ERLEADA contains a desiccant packet to help keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture). Do not throw away (discard) the desiccant.

Keep ERLEADA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of ERLEADA.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use ERLEADA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ERLEADA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about ERLEADA that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients in ERLEADA?

Active ingredient: apalutamide

Inactive ingredients:

240 mg film-coated tablets: colloidal anhydrous silica, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-acetate succinate, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate. The coating contains glyceryl monocaprylocaprate, iron oxide black, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and vinyl alcohol grafted copolymer. 60 mg film-coated tablets: colloidal anhydrous silica, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-acetate succinate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and silicified microcrystalline cellulose. The coating contains iron oxide black, iron oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

ERLEADA®
(er lee’dah)
(apalutamide)
tablets

This Instructions for Use contains information on how to prepare and give a dose of ERLEADA tablets if you cannot swallow ERLEADA tablets whole or if you have a feeding tube. Read this Instructions for Use before you prepare and take or give the first dose of ERLEADA, and each time you get a refill. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Important information you need to know before preparing a dose of ERLEADA:

  • ERLEADA comes in 2 different strengths, 60 mg tablets and 240 mg tablets. Please find the instructions below that refer to your prescribed ERLEADA strength for how to prepare and take ERLEADA tablets if you cannot swallow tablets whole.
  • ERLEADA 240 mg tablet can be prepared and given through a feeding tube 8 French or larger.

Preparing and taking ERLEADA if you cannot swallow tablets whole:

Preparing and taking ERLEADA 60 mg tablets by mixing with applesauce:

Step 1. Place your entire prescribed dose of ERLEADA tablets in a container that contains 4 ounces (120 mL) of applesauce and stir. Do not crush or split the tablets.

Step 2. Wait 15 minutes and stir the mixture again.

Step 3. Wait another 15 minutes and stir the mixture until the tablets are well mixed with no chunks remaining.

Step 4. Swallow the mixture right away using a spoon.

Step 5. Rinse the container with 2 ounces (60 mL) of water and drink the water mixture right away.

Step 6. Repeat the rinse with 2 ounces (60 mL) of water one more time to make sure that you take your full dose of ERLEADA.

Swallow all the applesauce and medicine mixture within 1 hour of preparation. Do not store ERLEADA that is mixed with applesauce.

Preparing and taking ERLEADA 240 mg tablet by placing the tablet in non-carbonated water then mixing with orange juice, applesauce, or more non-carbonated water:

Step 1. Place the whole ERLEADA tablet in a cup. Do not crush or split the tablet.

Step 2. Add about 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of non-carbonated water to make sure that the tablet is completely covered in water.

Step 3. Wait 2 minutes until the tablet is broken up and spread out, then stir the mixture.

Step 4. Add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of orange juice, applesauce, or non-carbonated water to the cup and stir the mixture.

Step 5. Swallow the mixture right away.

Step 6. Rinse the cup with enough non-carbonated water to make sure that you take your full dose of ERLEADA and drink it right away.

Do not store ERLEADA that is mixed with non-carbonated water, orange juice, or applesauce for later use.

Preparing and giving ERLEADA 240 mg tablet through a feeding tube 8 French or larger:

Step 1. Remove the plunger out of the syringe (use at least a 20 mL syringe).

Step 2. Add one 240 mg tablet into the syringe body (barrel) and place the plunger back in the syringe. Do not crush or split the tablet.

Step 3. Withdraw 10 mL of non-carbonated water into the syringe.

Step 4. Wait 10 minutes and then shake the syringe very well (vigorously) to break the tablet apart completely.

Step 5. Attach the syringe to the feeding tube and give the mixture right away.

Step 6. Withdraw non-carbonated water into the same syringe and flush through the feeding tube. Repeat Step 6 until no pieces of tablet are left in the syringe or feeding tube.

How should I store ERLEADA?

  • Store ERLEADA at room temperature between 68 °F to 77 °F (20 °C to 25 °C).
  • ERLEADA comes in a child-resistant bottle.
  • Store ERLEADA in the original package to protect from light and moisture.
  • The bottle of ERLEADA contains a desiccant packet to help keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture). Do not throw away (discard) the desiccant.

Keep ERLEADA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

This Instructions for Use has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Read Next Article