Truqap (Capivasertib): What to Expect, Side Effects, and More

If you've been diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread throughout your breast (called locally advanced) or other areas of the body (called metastatic breast cancer), your doctor may recommend that you take the medicine Truqap (chemical name: capivasertib) in combination with Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant). Truqap targets cancer cells that have a PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN genetic mutation and have grown after treatment with another hormonal therapy. 

See Truqap prescribing information.

Truqap is a type of targeted therapy medicine called an AKT inhibitor. The AKT protein plays an important role in how cancer cells grow and divide — especially hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer cells. Truqap stops the AKT protein from working. 

Truqap is available as a pill. The recommended dose of Truqap is 400 mg by mouth twice per day — about 12 hours apart, with or without food — for four days, followed by three days off. You keep taking Truqap on this schedule unless the cancer grows or you develop unacceptable side effects.

Like all cancer medicines, Truqap can cause side effects, some of them serious.

The most common side effect of Truqap is diarrhea, and in some cases, it can be severe and lead to dehydration. For most people, it starts in the first week of treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of diarrhea. 

High blood sugar or glucose, also called hyperglycemia, is another serious side effect of Truqap. High blood sugar, which is common in people with diabetes, happens when the body has too little insulin or can’t use insulin properly. If left untreated, it can cause nerve damage, eye disease, and kidney damage. 

Before starting  Truqap, your doctor should test your fasting blood sugar level. These blood tests will be repeated at least monthly while you’re taking Truqap. If you have any symptoms of high blood sugar — such as being excessively thirsty, urinating more often than usual, or being hungrier than usual but losing weight — tell your doctor right away.

Truqap also may cause severe skin reactions, including a widespread rash and hand-foot syndrome. The symptoms typically start in the first two weeks of treatment. If you have a skin reaction that doesn’t improve after treatment, ask your doctor for a referral to a dermatologist.

Other common side effects of Truqap are:

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  low white blood cell counts

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  anemia

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  fatigue

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  nausea

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  mouth sores

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  vomiting

Since Truqap is taken with Faslodex, you may also experience side effects associated with that medicine. 

Truqap may cause harm to an unborn baby. Women who are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding should not take Truqap. If there’s any chance you may become pregnant,  you should use effective birth control while you're taking Truqap and for at least one month after your last dose.

Men taking Truqap with female partners who could become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking Truqap and for at least four months after the last dose.

There are certain medicines you should avoid if you’re taking Truqap:

You should not take strong CYP3A inducers: These medicines decrease the effects of Truqap. One example of a CYP3A inducer is Rifamate (chemical name: rifampin), an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis.

You should not take strong CYP3A inhibitors: These medicines increase the effects of Truqap. Examples of CYP3A inhibitors include Nizoral (chemical name: ketoconazole) and Diflucan (chemical name: fluconazole) two medicines used to treat infections.

Members of our community discuss their experiences with Truqap in the community forum. Here are some of their comments. Remember, it's very important to talk to your doctor about any side effects you're having and ask about ways to manage them.

“On the sixth week of Truqap; [I’m] handling it pretty well. Some unpredictable diarrhea, so I always have Imodium on hand. Sometimes I get nauseous and my taste is off.” —astein

“I started Truqap a few weeks ago. I had to pause two times because I had a full-body rash. I just started up again last week on a reduced dose. I take one tablet in the [morning] and one at night. So far, no rash.” —aukerdeb

Read more in our Truqap discussion forum.

The cost of Truqap may vary. The price you’ll pay depends on the drug manufacturer, your health insurance provider and plan, where you live, and the pharmacy you use. 

Note: Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before covering Truqap. 

If your doctor prescribes Truqap and you have problems getting it covered by insurance or have problems paying for treatment, AstraZeneca, the company that makes Truqap, may be able to help. 

Learn more about financial assistance and medicine cost-lowering tips.