niraparib tosylate monohydrate at a glance
Medicine class
PARP inhibitor
Main role
Maintenance treatment after a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy
Administration
Oral tablets taken without food or with a light meal
Key monitoring
Blood counts and blood pressure require regular monitoring
What is niraparib tosylate monohydrate used for?
Licensed as single-agent maintenance treatment for adults with specified ovarian-related cancers that have responded to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer after response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.
Platinum-sensitive relapsed high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer after response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
How does niraparib tosylate monohydrate work?
PARP enzymes help repair damaged DNA. Niraparib inhibits PARP-1 and PARP-2, allowing DNA damage to accumulate and promoting cancer-cell death. Activity is not restricted to cancers with a BRCA mutation.
niraparib tosylate monohydrate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 100 mg
How to take niraparib tosylate monohydrate
Take the tablets exactly according to the oncology team's prescribed schedule.
Take without food, separated from a meal as instructed, or with a light meal.
Taking the tablets at bedtime may help manage nausea.
Do not alter or stop treatment without advice from the treating team.
niraparib tosylate monohydrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort
- Tiredness, weakness, headache, dizziness or difficulty sleeping
- Reduced appetite
- Reduced red cells, white cells or platelets
- High blood pressure or palpitations
- Back or joint pain
- Cough or breathlessness
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever or infection associated with reduced white cells
- Unusual or prolonged bleeding or bruising from low platelets
- Severe anaemia causing marked tiredness, pallor, breathlessness or rapid heartbeat
- Severe hypertension or hypertensive crisis
- Seizure, confusion, visual disturbance or severe headache suggesting PRES
- Serious allergic reaction, including facial swelling or breathing difficulty
- Persistent blood-count abnormalities that may indicate MDS or AML
- New or worsening breathlessness that may indicate pneumonitis
niraparib tosylate monohydrate in pregnancy
Niraparib should not be used during pregnancy because its mechanism could harm an embryo or fetus. Pregnancy testing is required before treatment, and people who could become pregnant must use highly effective contraception during treatment and for the specified period after it ends. Contact the oncology team immediately if pregnancy occurs.
niraparib tosylate monohydrate while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is contraindicated during treatment because it is unknown whether niraparib or its metabolites enter human milk. It must not be restarted until the product-specified period after treatment has ended.
niraparib tosylate monohydrate interactions
Clinical interaction studies are limited. The treating team should review all prescribed, non-prescribed and complementary products.
Metformin
Niraparib may increase metformin exposure; monitor glucose control when niraparib is started or stopped.
Clozapine, theophylline or ropinirole
Caution is advised because niraparib may induce CYP1A2, potentially changing exposure to sensitive medicines.
Dabigatran etexilate
Niraparib may increase exposure through intestinal P-glycoprotein inhibition.
Common questions about niraparib tosylate monohydrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is niraparib tosylate monohydrate chemotherapy?
It is a targeted anticancer treatment called a PARP inhibitor rather than conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy.
Which cancers is niraparib tosylate monohydrate licensed to treat?
It is licensed as maintenance treatment for specified high-grade ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers after a response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Does niraparib tosylate monohydrate require a BRCA mutation?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.