Zejula for Ovarian Cancer User Reviews (Page 2)

• VCW...
• December 13, 2017

"This drug is killing me. I would take chemo over this drug in a heartbeat. It has caused me the worst weakness I have ever felt. I have been taking 300 mg daily for almost 3 months and already had a transfusion. The worst part is that my CA-125 is slowly creeping up. Additionally, since the drug is so new, there is not a lot of information out there that I can relate to. I feel like this drug will kill me before the cancer does. It has taken my strength to the point that I can't enjoy the things I've always enjoyed in the past...even during all of my past chemos."

• JRC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2023

"Diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer in late September 2022. Three rounds of chemo, debulking surgery in Jan 2023, three more rounds of chemo ending on March 21, 2023. On May 2nd, started 200 mg Zejula. On May 18th, the onco called to say to hold Zejula as my platelets were 23. On May 19th, platelets were 58. I felt okay taking Zejula 200 mg. No huge side effects, except platelets, RBC/WBC etc. dropping. On May 31st, admitted to hospital with viral pneumonia. On June 12th, started 100 mg Zejula. Have had two blood draws since starting 100 mg, and numbers are holding. My biggest question that I am receiving conflicting information about (onco vs pharmacist) is - Is 100 mg per day half as effective as 200 mg per day? Onco says no. Pharmacist says yes. Is 100 mg per day better than no mg per day? Absolutely! But it's disheartening that the cancer may have a bigger chance of returning because my body will not tolerate 200 mg per day. Onco says Zejula case study shows the same effectiveness in 200 mg/100 mg."

• Zoe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2024

"I was diagnosed with OC in October 2023, stage 3. I've had 6 rounds of chemotherapy with a big operation in between. Currently free from disease. I began 300mg of Zejula in mid-April 2024. I'm just starting to have some side effects now, and it's the end of May. I'm having a lot of tummy discomfort and feel bloated, my bowels are very sluggish, and I'm on laxido now too. I've had one time vomiting last weekend. I have developed a little cough in the last few days too. I'm sure more side effects will occur at some point, but so far I seem to be tolerating the max dose of this drug well. My skin is dryer and my energy is not so great, but it's tolerable. My appetite has also decreased, but I feel that's mainly due to my indigestion issues. I would definitely rate this medication, it's definitely worth trying in my opinion. Thanks for reading, stay well all. x"

• Sup...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 30, 2019

"Just an update: my mom’s scan came back clean after her second go-round with chemo. There is probably some hidden somewhere. CA-125 number was 18 after her last treatment. Doctor has her taking a month off. We go back June 3rd, at that time, she will probably go back on Zejula again. I will keep you updated."

• Vir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2018

"I have been using Zejula for three months already. Results are very good. CA 125 test showed 101,000, and now it's 34,000. The problem is blood results. Hemoglobin was 9.2, and the doctor reduced Zejula from 300 to 200. Now blood tests are good. When I started taking 200, my CA 125 started growing. A month ago, my result was 250,000. Side effects? The first week was terrible. Vomiting, tiredness, couldn't eat and sleep. My heart also was beating. Right now, I feel rather good. Sometimes, I have high blood pressure, but it is possible to control."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2023

"I was diagnosed in July 2021. They did not know where it started as it was in the omentum, peritoneal, tumor crushing the bowel, etc. CA125 was 4800. Three doctors said I would be lucky to see Christmas. The gynecologist wanted to operate immediately. Sent home to make a decision but a phone call from my oncologist that she had canceled the operation and wanted me to try chemo first. After three months of chemo, I suffered terrible fatigue and lost interest in everything. Had debulking surgery on December 31, 21, then three weeks recuperating. Three months of chemo followed. Same effects as before. The oncologist then started me on Zejula, 300 mg per day. I got every side effect. The dosage was decreased to 200 mg then 100 mg. If this was life, it wasn’t worth it. Took 3 months off. Back on 100 mg. On vitamins recommended by other Zejula ladies and am having completely different results. Sleeping better. Taking anti-nausea tablets. Starting to be able to exercise. Only negative is pain in the hands and dislocating of the thumb. Not complaining though."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 20, 2021

"Diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2011 and had complete hysterectomy and splenectomy, followed by 6 cycles of chemo. Had a recurrence in 2016, surgery, and another round of chemo. CT showed no evidence of disease, and CA125 was 7. Started Zejula 300 mg in March 2017 and had some platelet issues. The dosage was reduced to 200 mg, and by August 2017 was reduced to 100 mg. The side effects at 100 mg Zejula were minimal. CT showed small tumors in 2019 and was treated with radiation. Avastin (infusion every three weeks) was added to the 100 mg Zejula treatment following radiation. The tumors occurred again in May 2020 and were again treated with radiation. I have been on Avastin and Zejula without interruption since June 2020. This combination seems to be working."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2022

"I started on Zejula the first week of June 2022, 200 mg/day, after 6 rounds of chemo, surgery, then 2 more rounds of chemo for stage 3 B ovarian clear cell carcinoma diagnosed in Sept. 2021 at age 68, just over a year after retiring from nursing. I had ZERO physical issues with the chemo, which amazed me. CA 125 came down rapidly and has stayed down. Signatera blood test was negative for cancer cells at the end of June. The first few weeks on Zejula I felt fine, no symptoms to speak of, only very, very mild nausea a couple of times. I am on my second batch of Zejula now, and I feel very differently: low-grade fever/chills almost every day, tired, fatigued to the point that I have no interest in anything, no energy for anything, including showering and dinner some days. WHY WOULD THERE BE SUCH A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST MONTH AND SECOND MONTH? If these quality of life issues continue, I will be stopping Zejula. If the cancer comes back, so be it. Feeling like crap every day is not worth it."

• mag...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2019

"Have been on this drug for 4 months now. The only problem I had was high blood pressure on starting this drug. My CA125 was 24, then dropped to 13, but on my last visit to the clinic, it was 20. That was over 4 weeks ago. So now I wonder, will it drop again? Had last chemo 1st March 2019, but have had no real side effects, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it will work for me."

• Jea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2019

"I weigh 143 lbs and started taking Zejula 300 mg when platelets reached 100. I had all of the side effects during the 1st week and could not function at all... very sick. I stopped for 2 weeks to recover, then started 200 mg. Still have the same side effects, but not near as bad, and I can function somewhat. CA-125 is rising. I wonder how long it takes for Zejula to start working."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 27, 2021

"I have been on Zejula for 11 months. Started taking it immediately after finishing my last of six chemo treatments. Started at 300 mg, side effects were debilitating: extreme insomnia, fatigue, heart racing, constipation, etc. Dropped down to 200 mg and still had lots of bad side effects. Ended up having to have a platelet infusion. Went off Zejula altogether to allow blood levels to recover. Went back on 100 mg and have been tolerating that dosage fairly well. Decided to up the dosage to 200 mg and started that yesterday, time will tell if my body will tolerate it. My CA125 has stayed at 6 or 7 for the last 11 months!"

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 5, 2021

"Diagnosed with 3B ovarian with peritoneal and 11 lymph nodes involved. I had Carbo Taxol, then surgery and finished with more Carbo Taxol. I’ve been on Zejula for 9 months. It’s pretty tolerable. My side effects have been awful insomnia, constipation, some joint pain, tiredness, some nausea, and stomach pain, and most recently some itching. I am 60. I push myself to exercise 4-5 days a week and work part-time in a retail setting, so lots of steps. Yoga is helping the joint pain. My CA 125 is holding steady at 5-7. Platelets are staying around 220. Hoping to stay on it at least 15 more months to make it to the 2-year mark. Current dosage: 3 pills daily."

• Tea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 2, 2021

"I took Zejula for 10 months and now have a recurrence of ovarian cancer. So all the Zejula did was make my body ache, gave me high blood pressure, and tachycardia. My ovarian cancer is now in my liver, spleen, and pancreas."

• OVC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2018

"I had very low platelets, and I was unaware of that. Symptoms: gum bleeding, joint pain, I was tired, some problems to sleep, high blood pressure. CA 125 went up, tumor grew, this medication did not work on me. 3 pills every day at the same hour. I do not have nausea or vomiting."

• Jer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2023

"3/13/2022: At the age of 52, I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Genetic testing showed BRCA-1 positive. I had a salpingo-oophorectomy hysterectomy and debulking on 4/6/2022. My lymph nodes were benign. 3 weeks later, I began chemo with a Paclitaxel & Carboplatin chemo cocktail. I had 6 infusion sessions, with my last chemo session on 8/17/2022. I started taking Zejula 200mg/day on 9/16/2022. I experienced some nausea, but my primary side effects were elevated blood pressure and heart rate. After a few weeks, the nausea faded, and I resumed my regular activities, including hot yoga and even began running again. I always monitored my heart rate and blood pressure. I was so happy. Yay Zejula!! My CA-125 has been around 7. Then -8/30/2023- (11 months after beginning Zejula), my monthly bloodwork showed that my hemoglobin dropped from 12.1 to 9.9. Then on 9/12/2023, my bloodwork showed a hemoglobin of 5.2 and platelets of 39. I needed 2 blood transfusions and temporarily stopped taking Zejula. Today is 9/28/2023, my hemoglobin is 7.2, and my platelets are 127."

• jmp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2024

"I was hospitalized 3 times for bleeding from my nose that I was not able to stop. I received blood transfusions each hospitalization. My platelet count went to zero on the third hospitalization. I was taken off the medication at that point and refused a second trial of the Zejula."

• Anonymous
• April 30, 2023

"Was diagnosed in 2021 with stage 3 ovarian cancer. I did a debulking hysterectomy and omentum. I had 15 chemo sessions and 10 Avastin IVs. I am fed up with the chemo. I have been on Niaparid Zejula. My CA-125 was under control, but a few days ago it went up to 85. I am not sure if the medication is increasing the count, as I did a CT scan and the results were good."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2022

"I have been on Zejula for one month. The side effects are manageable. I feel pretty good. Has anyone experienced your CA125 going up on Zejula? CA 125 is nine, started at 6.2. Did that mean the drug is not working?"

• Add...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2023

"I was taking 200. They will get my sick, feel tired, fatigue, headache, nausea, back pain, feel tired, no energy. So I am taking 100, still having the same effects. I guess I need to give it time to set in the body."

• Lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2021

"Diagnosed with 3B serous ovarian cancer in June 2020, had radical hysterectomy, oophorectomy, salpingectomy, cervix and omentum removal, followed by 5 months of chemo (paclitaxel and carboplatin). No evidence of cancer. Started on 2 daily capsules of Zejula in January 2021. In the 5 1/2 months since, I’ve had 4 episodes needing intervention: twice had to interrupt treatment due to low platelets, and twice needed blood transfusions because of severe anemia. The doctor is reluctant to lower the dosage, but I find the 3 weeks leading up to the transfusion intolerable."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2022

"I agree with VCW22, December 13, 2017. This drug 'is killing me.' WTH is the manufacturer doing? First month NO problems, FIRST week of 2nd month-immediate fevers, extreme fatigue/exhaustion, and shortness of breath. I am having a chemist analyze what is the second batch sent to me. I will NEVER take it again!"

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2022

"Maart 2021 kreeg ik te horen dat ik eierstokkanker heb fase 4. Na 6 maanden chemo, elke week kreeg ik te horen dat ik niet in aanmerking kwam voor een operatie en palliatief was. Men stelde me Zejula voor om mijn tijd te kunnen verlengen. Begonnen in oktober 2021 en tot hier toe zeer tevreden. Mijn lichaam aanvaardt het op lichte bijwerkingen zoals vermoeidheid en constipatie na. Ik neem elke avond 200 gr. Tot nu toe dus gunstig effect, hopen dat dit zo mag blijven maar oncoloog was gisteren toch heel positief. We blijven ervoor gaan."

• Tca...
• November 2, 2019

"Took for 3 months, platelets and hemoglobin have never returned to normal, requiring transfusions, and I had a stroke. Been off the drug now for 2 months, had another transfusion two days ago."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2017

"Had every side effect listed."

• Mem...
• September 12, 2019

"Zejula has not helped me, and my doctor has said I should not continue taking it. I had just gotten a 90-day supply (180 100-mg pills). Pill containers are still sealed."