Your Health, We Care
Release date: 2026-04-16 14:25:11 Recommended: 10
Olaparib may cause a number of side effects, but not everyone experiences them. Very common side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) include: nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness, indigestion or heartburn, loss of appetite, headache, changes in taste, dizziness, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhoea (if severe, tell your doctor immediately). Very common side effects seen in blood tests include low white blood cell count (which may reduce your ability to fight infections and may be accompanied by fever). Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) include rash, mouth pain, upper abdominal pain, and deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (symptoms include leg pain/swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.).
A small number of patients may experience serious side effects. If any of the following occur, seek medical attention immediately: allergic reactions (e.g., hives, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, dizziness); serious bone marrow problems (myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukaemia); pneumonia (fever, cough, difficulty breathing). Additionally, blood tests may show decreased platelet count (manifested as easy bruising or prolonged bleeding), elevated serum creatinine (indicating changes in kidney function), or abnormal liver function. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of liver problems (yellowing of skin or whites of eyes, dark urine, pain on the right side of abdomen, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness). Your doctor will check your blood every month during the first year of treatment, and regularly thereafter, to monitor for these potential problems.
Keep Olaparib out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date (EXP) shown on the box or blister strip – the expiry date refers to the last day of that month. This medicine does not require any special temperature storage conditions, but should be stored in the original package in order to protect from moisture. Olaparib 100 mg tablets are yellow to dark yellow, oval, film-coated; 150 mg tablets are green to grey-green. Packaging is usually 56 tablets per carton (7 blister cards of 8 tablets each), or 112 tablets (2 x 56-tablet packs). Do not dispose of medicines down the sink or in household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to properly dispose of medicines you no longer use or that are out of date – these measures will help protect the environment.
