Anti-cancer hormone therapy (androgen biosynthesis inhibitor)
Last reviewed June 2026
Who is this for?
Abiraterone acetate is a cancer drug that works by blocking your body from making male hormones (like testosterone) that help prostate cancer grow, essentially starving the cancer of the fuel it needs to spread.
Inhibits 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1) enzyme in the adrenal glands and testes, blocking the conversion of pregnenolone and progesterone to DHEA and androstenediol, thereby reducing testosterone synthesis and slowing androgen-dependent prostate cancer growth.
Prescription Required
You need a doctor's prescription to buy this drug.
Explore this drug
The usual dose is 1,000 mg (two 500 mg tablets or four 250 mg tablets) taken once daily on an empty stomach. Do not eat anything for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking the drug — food increases the amount absorbed and can cause serious side effects. Swallow the tablets whole with water. This drug is always taken together with a steroid called prednisone or prednisolone as prescribed by your oncologist.
If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the normal time the following day. Do not take two doses at once to make up for the missed one. Let your doctor know if you miss doses frequently.
This is a very expensive specialty cancer drug — only buy from reputable hospital pharmacies or verified pharmaceutical outlets, never from roadside sellers or unverified online stores. Your doctor will need to check your liver function and blood pressure regularly while you are on this drug, so do not skip your clinic appointments. Always take it with the steroid (prednisone or prednisolone) your doctor prescribes — stopping the steroid suddenly can be dangerous.
Avoid taking with certain heart or blood pressure medicines like those containing amlodipine or propranolol without your doctor adjusting the dose. Some drugs used for infections like ketoconazole or rifampicin can affect how abiraterone works in your body. Avoid alcohol as it puts extra strain on the liver, which this drug already affects.
Check your specific combination
Is it safe to take Abiraterone with your other drugs?
This drug is strictly not safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding — even handling broken tablets can harm an unborn baby, so women of childbearing age should not touch this medicine without gloves.
Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heat — this is especially important in hot Nigerian weather. Keep in a cool, dry place away from moisture and humidity. Always keep out of reach of children and never share this medication with anyone.
For information only — not medical advice. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before changing your medication.
Names this drug is sold under — especially in Nigerian and West African pharmacies
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Counterfeit Drug Warning
Fake drugs are a serious problem in Nigeria. Always buy from a registered pharmacy. If the packaging looks different from what is described above, do not use it.
Dispensing Abiraterone Acetate?
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