If you have certain kinds of breast cancer, your doctor might suggest Piqray as a treatment option. It’s a prescription medication used to treat breast cancer in females who have gone through menopause and in adult males.*

Specifically, Piqray is used together with Faslodex (fulvestrant) to treat breast cancer that is all of the following:

The active ingredient in Piqray is alpelisib. It belongs to a group of drugs called kinase inhibitors.

Piqray comes as a tablet you swallow. It’s used when you’ve already received treatment with hormone therapy, but your breast cancer has gotten worse.

This article describes the dosages of Piqray, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Piqray, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Piqray’s typical dosages, which are provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But when using Piqray, always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

* In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Below is information on Piqray’s dosages, form, and strengths.

What is Piqray’s form?

Piqray is available as tablets you take by mouth.

What strengths does Piqray come in?

Piqray comes in three strengths:

  • 50 milligrams (mg)
  • 150 mg
  • 200 mg

What are the typical dosages of Piqray?

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

The typical Piqray dosage is 300 mg taken once daily with food. For this dose, you would take two 150-mg tablets. The dosing schedule for Piqray is once every day.

Is Piqray used long term?

Yes, Piqray is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Piqray is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Dosage adjustments

If you have serious side effects from Piqray, your doctor may recommend a dose adjustment. They may pause or stop your Piqray treatment or lower your dose.

If you have trouble with the recommended 300-mg dose, your doctor may reduce it to 250 mg once daily with food. (This will be one 200-mg tablet and one 50-mg tablet of Piqray taken once daily.)

If you still have serious side effects, your doctor may suggest another dosage adjustment to a once-daily 200-mg tablet with food.

If these decreases in dosage don’t stop your bothersome side effects, your doctor will stop your Piqray treatment. They’ll then talk with you about other treatment options for your condition.

Factors your doctor considers for dosage adjustments include:

  • how well you tolerate Piqray and any side effects it may cause
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you’re taking

Piqray is typically taken as two 150-mg tablets (300 mg) once daily with food.

Be sure to swallow the tablets whole. You should not crush, chew, or split Piqray tablets.

If you have trouble swallowing pills, ask your doctor or pharmacist for suggestions. You can also consider these tips to make it easier.

For information on Piqray expiration, storage, and disposal, see this article.

If you miss a dose of Piqray within 9 hours of your next scheduled dose, take the missed dose. If it’s been more than 9 hours since your missed dose, skip it and take your next dose at the scheduled time.

If you vomit after taking Piqray, don’t take another dose. Wait and take your next dose according to your regular schedule. If you keep having trouble taking Piqray due to vomiting, call your doctor to discuss your dosing options.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Piqray on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not take more Piqray than your doctor prescribes. Taking more than this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

What to do in case you take too much Piqray

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Piqray. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Piqray for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Piqray without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Piqray exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Will my dosage of Piqray be different than what’s shown here if I’m taking another cancer drug?
  • Would a lower dosage of Piqray work for my breast cancer?
  • If my Piqray once-daily dosage is causing bothersome side effects, can I split it into two doses?

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Q:

Will I need a lower dosage of Piqray if I have type 2 diabetes?

Anoymous

A:

It isn’t likely. Most people with type 2 diabetes can take the recommended dosage of Piqray. But ultimately, it will depend on how well your blood sugar is managed.

Your blood sugar will be monitored throughout your Piqray treatment. If you experience hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), your doctor may need to pause your treatment or lower your dosage of Piqray.

The safety of Piqray use for those with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes has not been determined. Patients with this condition weren’t included in the initial trial of the drug. Be sure to discuss your type 2 diabetes with your doctor before starting this drug.

Dena Westphalen, PharmDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.
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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.