Zejula and Nausea: What Users Say

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2020

For Ovarian Cancer "I've been on Zejula now for 3 months. Side effects are getting slightly better. 300 mg at bedtime due to persistent nausea prior to starting this drug. I take it and feel so tired that you would think I would sleep, but I lay down and my mind won't turn off. Usually drop off at 1 a.m. then wake at 4:30 a.m. Sometimes, I can get back to sleep. Really bad fatigue and joint pain. H&H are slowly dropping but not critical. I do like the fact that my white count, while low, does not need Nupagen. I have trouble concentrating and focusing on things. Motivation is a thing of the past. CA125 is climbing since I started the drug. I see the oncologist tomorrow for a 3-month check-in."

• Pix...
• February 27, 2021

For Ovarian Cancer "Stage 4 ovarian cancer, March 2020. Also in lung and right breast. April started chemo. Four rounds of Carbo-taxol and tumor shrank enough for surgery in July 2020. Removed tumor, full hysterectomy, and part of bowel and liver. Three rounds of chemo post-op. CT scan now shows no cancer. September 30 started on 200 mg. Severe nausea for two weeks. Week three nausea eased, but fatigue worsened. Low hemoglobin and platelets, resulting in three weeks off drug. Back on for one month. First two weeks, nausea and fatigue. Two weeks ago, noticed I was weaker. Can barely care for myself: fatigue, muscle weakness, shortness of breath with exertion, headaches, restlessness, and bad sleep. Will switch to morning, as after meds I am wired and have very restless legs. Zejula harder than chemo. Want to try 100 mg. Good to read everyone's experience and see dose can be every other day. Healthy vibes to all. Re-rating: 5/10, as side effects are horrible, but told it can take three months to adjust. It's too early to tell if the drug is keeping the cancer at bay."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2020

For Ovarian Cancer "My wife started taking Zejula 4 months after her ovarian cancer surgery (complete response, chemo was done prior to surgery) because of positive biomarkers for gene mutations in the MLH1 and PMS2 genes. Unfortunately, she could only tolerate Zejula (200 mg) for 6 weeks due to mostly nausea and constipation (then diarrhea), and also during that time, another tumor developed in her pelvis area. She is now going back into chemo."

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

For Ovarian Cancer "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."

• BAa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2018

For Fallopian Tube Cancer "I have been on this drug now for a year after chemo as a participant in a clinical trial. I started out at 300 mg, then dropped to 200 mg after 6 months and now steady at 100 mg. I am not a large person, so they tell me that one of the findings in the test is to now dose by weight. When I first started, I took the drug in the morning and had nausea, so I started taking it before bedtime, which solved that issue. The biggest side effect for me has been WBC drop at a higher dose, so now just waiting to see if I can remain stable with WBC on the 100 mg. I am BRCA neg and CA 125 stays around 4. I am thankful there are clinical trials out there to try and keenly understand that each person differs in drug reactions."

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

For Ovarian Cancer "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."

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

For Ovarian Cancer "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."

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

For Ovarian Cancer "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."