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Bitter Taste on Zytiga

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Posted 9/19/2019 10:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

My dad takes 4*250 mg of Zytiga (Abiraterone) tablets immediately on waking up in the morning, has tea and breakfast after an hour and one 5 mg of prednisone with his afternoon lunch. He also had 3 monthly zometa infusion 12 days ago and witnessed flu like symptoms, nausea for a week. He has been having the usual side effects such as fatigue and hot flushes. Recently, he has been complaining that what all he eats during lunch tastes bitter, but the same issue is not faced while having dinner.

What all i have read online shows having a bitter/metallic taste is common on docetaxel and other chemo drugs - i cant find anything similar on Zytiga - anyone has any experience on the same? Is it a normal side effect from Zytiga? I would appreciate any help.

Age 75.5 years, Dx on 24/06/19 - initial PSA - 114 .16 ng/ml, Gleason 4+4=8, perineural invasion with rectum involvement more on right side, PSMA Pet scan - mets to several lymph nodes right up to behind the neck, only 1 bone met on pubic bone
12/07/2019- Orchiectomy and Bicalutamide (Casodex/Caluran)
03/08/2019- PSA down to 4.66 ng/ml from 114.16 ng/ml
10/08/2019 - Commence Zytiga generic and prednisone
06/09/2019- PSA down to 0.837 ng/ml
07/09/2019- first 4 mg zometa infusion
Posted 9/19/2019 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
It may be the prednisone that he's taking with lunch. It tastes really bad.

See if he can take it at a different time of day.

My husband takes two prednisone a day - one an hour after his Zytiga in the morning and one at 7 PM. He grimaces every time he swallows it. I took some not long ago for an infection and now I know why!
Posted 9/19/2019 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
GMSS,
I agree with Union 98. It must be the Prednisone. Take it from someone that has been takjng it for 5 years now, a very bitter little pill if not swallowed whole with one gulp of water!

P.S. Celebrate greatly that the ol PSA has dropped iike 99.3 % from 114.16 to 0.86!!! Thats something for your Dad to brag about !!
Take care, keep the faith!
Wings aka Dan in sunny So Cal
Posted 9/20/2019 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't notice any taste change while on Zytiga or Xtandi. Taxotere was a whole different story.

I always take prednisone just before I eat, swallowed fast with a lot of water. It has not changed my tastes at all. If you were to let it sit in your mouth a few seconds, it is nasty.
Posted 9/23/2019 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks a lot for your replies - Like you all suggested Prednisone seemed to be causing the bitter taste. He now gulps it down with a glass of water after his meal and it has seemed to help.

Dan we are surely happy about the PSA drop and are hoping and praying for an undetectable next time around. Fingers crossed. and that zytiga can control the beast for years to come. Its just that this disease creates such a mental havoc that at the mention of any minor untowardly thing happening or symptom unheard of, the brain tends to overwork itself and link it to the beast unleashing itself causing worry. I am so glad that there is this forum and you guys are here to help to put the mind at rest smile
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