▼ This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.
NUBEQA®
Active ingredient(s): darolutamide
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using NUBEQA. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using NUBEQA
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using NUBEQA?
2. What should I know before I use NUBEQA?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use NUBEQA?
5. What should I know while using NUBEQA?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using NUBEQA?
NUBEQA contains the active ingredient darolutamide. Darolutamide is an androgen receptor inhibitor. It works by blocking he activity of male sex hormones called androgens, such as testosterone leading to inhibition of growth and division of prostate cancer cells. By blocking these hormones, darolutamide stops prostate cancer cells from growing and dividing.
NUBEQA is used to treat prostate cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body.
2. What should I know before I use NUBEQA?
Warnings
Do not use NUBEQA if:
- you are allergic to darolutamide, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
- Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
- You are intending to father a child. Use a highly effective method of contraception during and for 3 months after treatment with Nubeqa to prevent pregnancy.
Check with your doctor if you:
- have any other medical conditions
- take any medicines for any other condition
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy, fertility and breastfeeding
NUBEQA is not for use in women.
Do not take Nubeqa if you are pregnant, are breast-feeding or may be potentially pregnant.
This medicine could possibly have an effect on male fertility.
If you are having sex with a woman of childbearing age, you are advised to use a highly effective method of contraception during and for 3 months after treatment with Nubeqa to prevent pregnancy.
If you are having sex with a pregnant woman, you are advised to use a condom during and for 3 months after treatment with Nubeqa to protect the unborn baby.
Children and adolescents
- The safety and efficacy in children and adolescents under 18 years of age have not been studied.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with NUBEQA and affect how it works, or NUBEQA may influence the effect of these medicines:
- rifampicin – typically used to treat bacterial infections
- carbamazepine, phenobarbital – typically used to treat epilepsy
- St. John’s Wort – typically used to treat symptoms of slightly low mood and mild anxiety
- rosuvastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin – typically used to treat high cholesterol
- methotrexate – typically used to treat severe joint inflammation, severe cases of the skin disease psoriasis, and cancers
- sulfasalazine – typically used to treat inflammatory bowel disease
The dose of other medicines that you are taking may need to be changed
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect NUBEQA.
4. How do I take NUBEQA?
How much to take
- The recommended dose is two tablets two times a day. This is also the maximum daily dose.
- Your doctor may need to reduce your dose to one tablet two times daily or may decide to interrupt your treatment if necessary.
- The recommended starting dose if you have a moderately impaired liver function or severely impaired kidney function, is one tablet two times daily.
- No dose adjustment is necessary if you have mildly impaired liver function.
- No dosage adjustment is necessary if you have mildly or moderately impaired kidney function
How to take NUBEQA
- NUBEQA should be taken with food
- Swallow the tablets whole
- Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.
If you forget to use NUBEQA
NUBEQA should be taken regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose at the usual time, take your missed dose as soon as you remember prior to the next scheduled dose.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you use too much NUBEQA
If you think that you have used too much NUBEQA, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
- phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26 for Australia), or - by calling 0800 POISON (0800 764 766 for New Zealand), or
- contact your doctor, or
- go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
5. What should I know while using NUBEQA?
Things you should do
- If you are having sex with a woman of childbearing age you are advised to use a highly effective method of contraception during and for 3 months after treatment with Nubeqa to prevent pregnancy.
- If you are having sex with a pregnant woman you are advised to use a condom during and for 3 months after treatment with Nubeqa to protect the unborn baby.
- Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using NUBEQA.
Things you should not do
Do not stop taking your medicine or lower the dosage without checking with your doctor.
Driving or using machines
There is no evidence that NUBEQA will affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Looking after your medicine
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:
- in the bathroom or near a sink, or
- in the car or on window sills.
BOTTLE: Once bottle is opened the medicine is stable for 3 months. Keep the bottle tightly closed after first opening.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Side effects
| Side effects | What to do |
|
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these side effects and they worry you. |
| Side effects that may show up in blood tests | |
|
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems (Australia) or at nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/reporting (New Zealand). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
What NUBEQA contains
| Active ingredient (main ingredient) |
darolutamide |
| Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) |
|
| Potential allergens |
Lactose monohydrate |
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What NUBEQA looks like
The film-coated tablets are white to off-white, oval with a length of 16 mm and a width of 8 mm. They are marked with “300” on one side, and “BAYER” on the other side.
Australian registration number
- Blister AUST R 316417
- Bottle AUST R 317242
Who distributes NUBEQA
Bayer Australia Ltd
ABN 22 000 138 714
875 Pacific Highway
Pymble NSW 2073
See TGA website (www.ebs.tga.gov.au) for latest Australian Consumer Medicine Information.
This leaflet was prepared in 27 October 2022.
® Registered Trademark of the Bayer Group, Germany.
© Bayer Australia Ltd.
All rights reserved.
