Niraparib

Hi Munrolover

That's great to read that you have recently been told that you have no visible cancer.

I don't have any experience with niraparib but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. Responding to you will 'bump' it back to the top of the discussion list where it'll hopefully be seen by someone who does.

I typed 'niraparib' into the group search bar and found these previous posts which mention it. You could have a look through some of the more recent ones and respond to any where you think the poster might be able to help you further.

x

I've been on niraparib  since June 2021 ,was on 300mg ,now reduced to 200mg , high blood pressure  and heart beating  faster ,sleep rubbish ,on bp tablets  and beta blockers, very sensitive  to the sun now ,burn very easily, 

Thanks Trisha101 . I have now been put back on niraparib whilst they decide if it is the drug causing the problems. Will find that out tomorrow. I have slept a bit better this time and don’t seem to be quite as sensitive to UV but have also been covering up and wearing 50f sun cream. I know it’s a fairly new drug but I wasn’t inspired by some of the cancer advice pages saying you can be on it as long as you can tolerate the symptoms! 
anyone else on Niraparib?

Iv been on nirapirib for two an a half years. I too started on 300mg, but 3 to 4 months in my hemoglobin dropped dangerously low. I had a blood transfusion and had to stop taking nirapirib. A couple of weeks later started again on 200mg. So far so good, I do experience less severe side effects, sensitive to the sun, constipation, achy muscles and joints, tiredness etc. 

Thanks JD2010. Interesting to hear women are being put on reduced doses because of side effects. The worst is not knowing if you even have any cancer cells in your body as this drug targets them to prevent or delay cancer returning. I have been taking off niraparib again because of the impact on my liver. I am told they will try again with just 100mg in a couple of weeks time so will see how that goes. I am hoping that side effects will be minimal as even the milder ones you mention are not great. Bizarrely, I had very few issues with the chemo so wasn’t expecting such bad side effects with thisdrug. 

Hi, I have been taking Naraparib for over a year now. I started on 200mgs but unfortunately have had two issues with my bloods. Naraparib decreased to 100mgs  and since then have had no issues and no side effects. I hope the reduced dose will work for you, and I wish you well.

I am in the same situation. Had my chemo and op and told all gone. Have been on Nerapafib since June. Am on 200mg and told that is was extremely common to have blood issues and to have the dosage reduced. I have had regular blood tests and I seem to have no problem so still on the 200mg. I am quite nervous about this and not sure whether to be happy about it or be on a reduced dosage now. The only side effect I have had is my heart rate goes up much quicker than normal when I train. Before the treatment I was very fit so not sure if I am just unfit or it is a side effect 

Anyone else got any experience with Niraparib?  My oncologist wants me to start taking it in the hope it might delay recurrence. I had an op to remove my ovaries and womb in February and have just completed 5 rounds of chemo. I had stage 3 grade 3 but seem to have no cancer currently. Not sure whether to take it or not….

Hi Ellis. Tricky one but I don’t think everyone has side effects so it’s really down to whether it causes issues or not. We will probably never know if the cancer would have come back anyway or not so I chose to take it anyway. I am now back on Niraparib but 100mg now and my liver bloods were up again 2 weeks ago but not so bad as before so I was kept on it for now. I get more bloods tomorrow and will find out more this Friday. Like TK27, I feel my heart rate gets quicker when exercising. I climbed a Munro last week and noticed that but I just stopped a few more times on the climb. However, unlike before, I generally feel ok and am sleeping fine. I don’t have headaches and the only side effect is my digestive system being a wee bit more sluggish but even that is better on the reduced dose. 
Hoping my body has got used to the drug now!

Thanks for this. Encouraged to hear that you feel ok now. How long ago was it that you first went on Niraparib?