Rubraca (rucaparib) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain types of ovarian and prostate cancers. The drug comes as an oral tablet that you usually take twice daily.

Rubraca is used to treat certain types of recurrent (returning) ovarian cancer in adults with a BRCA gene mutation. (A mutation is a change.) Specifically:

Note: Fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers are similar to ovarian cancer. Because their treatments also are similar, this article will refer to all of these cancers as ovarian cancer.

Rubraca is also used to treat certain types of prostate cancer in adults who have a BRCA gene mutation. Specifically:

  • Rubraca treats metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. (Metastatic means the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Castration resistant means the cancer is spreading or growing despite hormone therapy or surgery to remove it.)
  • For this use, Rubraca is prescribed after you’ve had anti-androgen therapy and chemotherapy treatment. You may need to have a bilateral orchiectomy prior to starting Rubraca. But in place of the orchiectomy, you may be given a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog while taking Rubraca. (Bilateral orchiectomy is removal of both testicles. GnRH is an anti-androgen therapy.)

The active ingredient in Rubraca is rucaparib. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Rubraca belongs to a group of drugs called poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitors).

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

This section describes the usual dosages of Rubraca. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Rubraca’s form?

Rubraca is available as an oral tablet.

What strengths does Rubraca come in?

Rubraca comes in three strengths:

  • 200 milligrams (mg)
  • 250 mg
  • 300 mg

What are the usual dosages of Rubraca?

Your doctor will likely start your treatment with the recommended dosage of Rubraca.

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

Dosage for ovarian cancer

The typical Rubraca dosage for adults with ovarian cancer is 600 mg twice daily. This is a total daily dose of 1,200 mg.

You’ll continue treatment until your cancer worsens or you can’t tolerate Rubraca’s side effects.

If you have questions about your dosage of Rubraca, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for prostate cancer

For adults with prostate cancer, the typical dosage of Rubraca is 600 mg twice daily. This is a total daily dose of 1,200 mg.

You’ll continue treatment until your condition worsens or you can’t tolerate Rubraca’s side effects.

Your doctor may prescribe Rubraca along with a GnRH analog to slow prostate cancer growth. (GnRH is an anti-androgen therapy.) Or prior to starting Rubraca, they may recommend bilateral orchiectomy (removal of both testicles).

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage of Rubraca.

Is Rubraca taken long term?

Yes, Rubraca is usually taken as a long-term treatment. You and your doctor can discuss whether it’s safe and effective for your condition. If you agree that it is, you’ll likely take the medication long term.

Dosage adjustments

You may need dosage adjustments for Rubraca if you experience serious side effects of the medication. In this case, your doctor may lower your dose or pause your Rubraca treatment. Depending on your reaction to the medication, they might even stop treatment with Rubraca.

If you have questions about dosage adjustments you may need, talk with your doctor.

The dosage of Rubraca your doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These include other medications you take and how well you tolerate Rubraca.

Rubraca is available as an oral tablet. You’ll take it twice daily (every 12 hours) with or without food.

Do not crush, chew, or cut Rubraca tablets. Swallow them whole. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Rubraca, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Check whether your pharmacy offers these accessibility features. If it doesn’t, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that do.

Let your pharmacist know if you have difficulty opening medication bottles. They may have tips to help, or they may be able to supply Rubraca in an easy-open container.

If you miss a dose of Rubraca, skip the missed dose. Then take your next dose at its usual time. Do not take an extra dose of Rubraca to make up for a missed dose.

If you vomit after taking a dose of Rubraca, do not repeat the dose to make up for it. Instead, take your next dose of the medication at the usual time.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Rubraca 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 Rubraca than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

What to do in case you take too much Rubraca

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

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Rubraca’s dosage.

Is Rubraca’s dosage similar to the dosage of Lynparza or Zejula?

No, it’s not. Some uses, dosage forms, and how often you take each drug are similar. But the drugs have some differences.

Rubraca (rucaparib), Lynparza (olaparib), and Zejula (niraparib) all belong to the same group of drugs. The group is called PARP inhibitors. The drugs work in similar ways to treat certain types of cancer.

Rubraca, Lynparza, and Zejula all are used to treat certain types of ovarian cancer. Rubraca and Lynparza also are used to treat types of prostate cancer. Lynparza is also approved to treat other types of cancer.

The dose in milligrams for each drug differs. And you take Rubraca and Lynparza twice daily, while you take Zejula once daily.

Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Rubraca to start working?

Rubraca starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working for your condition.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your Rubraca treatment, talk with your doctor.

The sections above describe the usual dosage provided by Rubraca’s drugmaker. If your doctor recommends this drug, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Rubraca without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Rubraca 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 I need a dosage adjustment if I have side effects from Rubraca?
  • If Rubraca doesn’t work to treat my condition, will you need to change my dosage?
  • How does the dosage of Rubraca compare with the dosage of Avastin (bevacizumab)?

To learn more about Rubraca, see this “Rubraca (rucaparib)” article.

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

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.