Medical Oncologist
Living with abiraterone
Work, Travel and Daily Life — on Abiraterone
Most people on abiraterone continue to live and work fairly normally. The main adjustments are timing your tablet on a completely empty stomach and managing fatigue. This page covers what changes, what does not, and what to plan for.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Most people continue working — Fatigue is the main adjustment — it varies between people and often settles over time.
- The empty-stomach rule is a safety rule — Food significantly raises drug absorption, which is why timing matters wherever you are.
- Travel is possible with planning — Carry tablets in hand luggage, plan your meal timing before you travel, and ask about time-zone adjustments.
- Blood pressure and blood tests need watching — Monitoring fits around a normal week, but your team will tell you what readings need a same-day call.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
Most people on abiraterone continue to work and live fairly normally. The two main adjustments are timing your tablet on a completely empty stomach and managing fatigue. Blood pressure and blood tests need regular monitoring, but these fit around a working week without major disruption.
Can I keep working while I am on abiraterone?
Most people on abiraterone do continue working, at least for a period. Fatigue is the symptom most likely to affect your working life, and it varies considerably from person to person.
If your work is physically demanding, talk to your team early about what adjustments may be needed. For desk-based roles, most people find they can continue with some flexibility around rest.
You are not obliged to tell your employer about your diagnosis. If you choose to, you have rights under Indian disability legislation that your treating team can help you understand.
What do I need to plan before travelling on abiraterone?
Travelling on abiraterone is manageable with some forward planning. The main things to sort out before you leave are where you keep your tablets, how you handle meal timing on the move, and what to do if you cross time zones.
Always carry abiraterone in your hand luggage, in its original packaging. Checked baggage can be delayed or lost, and missing doses matters more than missing a change of clothes.
If you are crossing time zones, ask your oncology team for a simple plan for adjusting the timing of your tablet and prednisolone before the trip. This prevents both a missed dose and an accidental double dose.
Does abiraterone affect driving or going out socially?
Abiraterone does not impair concentration the way some pain medicines do, but fatigue can. On days when you feel well-rested, driving is generally not restricted by the medicine itself. If you feel very fatigued, do not drive.
Social activities are manageable for most people. Hot flushes and fatigue may affect your comfort in crowded or warm environments. Dressing in breathable layers you can remove quickly, and knowing where you can sit and rest, helps considerably.
Alcohol is worth discussing with your team before your next social occasion — it can worsen fluid retention and blood pressure, both of which abiraterone can already affect.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Support for the person doing the caring
Practical guidance from a team that sees families through this every day.
How to take abiraterone correctly every day
- Take your tablet on a completely empty stomach — at least one hour before eating or two hours after your last meal.
- Take your prednisolone at the same time each day as prescribed. Do not skip it.
- Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, split or chew them.
- Monitor your blood pressure at home if your team has asked you to, and note any readings that seem high or unusual.
- Store tablets at room temperature in their original pack, away from direct sunlight, heat and moisture.
- If you vomit within an hour of taking your tablet, contact your team before deciding whether to take another dose.
Did you know?
Taking abiraterone with food — even a light snack — can raise the amount of drug your body absorbs very significantly compared with taking it on an empty stomach.
This is not a comfort preference. It is a safety instruction in the prescribing information, and it applies every single day.
Source: Abiraterone acetate prescribing information; NCCN Guidelines: Prostate Cancer
Questions about your daily routine on abiraterone
What if I have eaten and then remember I need to take my tablet?
Wait until your stomach is empty again before taking the dose. This usually means waiting at least two hours after your last meal. If that makes the dose very late and you are close to the following morning, it is generally safer to skip to the next day's dose rather than take it with food still in your system. Food raises drug absorption significantly — this is a safety issue, not a minor preference. Ask your team what their preferred approach is for your situation, because their advice may also depend on other medicines you take alongside abiraterone.
Can I take abiraterone at night instead of the morning?
Yes — the timing within the day is flexible, but consistency matters more than the specific hour. If mornings are rushed and evenings are quieter, taking it in the evening on a reliably empty stomach may work better for you. The key is picking one time and sticking to it. Regular variation makes the habit harder to maintain and harder for your team to interpret your response to treatment. Talk to your team before changing, and make sure prednisolone is adjusted to match.
How do I store abiraterone in a hot Indian climate or when travelling in summer?
Keep abiraterone at room temperature in its original blister packaging, away from direct sunlight, heat sources and humidity. In Indian summers that means avoiding the car glovebox, windowsills and anything near a stove or oven. A cooler inside drawer, or a bag kept in an air-conditioned room, is usually fine. If you are travelling somewhere significantly hotter or for an extended period, ask your pharmacist or oncology nurse whether any additional precaution is needed. Do not refrigerate the tablets unless specifically told to — condensation can damage the coating.
My job involves physical labour. Do I need to stop?
Not necessarily, but this is a conversation to have with your oncologist before assuming the answer in either direction. Abiraterone does not cause the bone-marrow suppression that many chemotherapy medicines cause, so physical work carries different risks than it would on some other treatments. What matters most is how fatigue and any joint discomfort affect you specifically. Some people adjust their hours or duties during the first few months before their body settles into treatment. If your employer is aware, temporary adjustments are often more achievable than people expect.
Can I attend festivals, pilgrimages, weddings and family ceremonies?
Yes, and there is no clinical reason to step back from your family and religious life on abiraterone. The practical things to plan for are temperature (crowded outdoor events in summer can worsen hot flushes and fatigue), tablet timing around meals at the event, and making sure you have your tablets with you on days away from home. If the occasion involves fasting for religious or family reasons, tell your oncology team beforehand. They can advise on timing your tablet and prednisolone safely around the fast, and provide documentation of medical need if your tradition requires it.
Explore 50 more Prostate Cancer Targeted Medicines topics
Drug Deep Dive: Abiraterone (Zytiga)
- Abiraterone (Zytiga, Abirapro, Abretone): The Complete Patient Guide
- Abiraterone Interactions: Steroids, BP Medicines and Herbal Products
- Abiraterone Myths: Steroids, Weight Gain and 'It Stops Working Fast'
- Abiraterone Price in India: Brand, Generic and Monthly Cost
- Abiraterone Side Effects: The Complete List and Timeline
- Abiraterone Success Rate and Survival: An Honest Look at the Numbers
- Abiraterone With ADT, Docetaxel and Radiation: Your Full Regimen Explained
- Abiraterone in Elderly Patients and Those With Other Illnesses
- Abiraterone in Hormone-Sensitive vs Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
- Abiraterone vs Enzalutamide: How to Choose in Prostate Cancer
- Diet and Nutrition While on Abiraterone
- Fatigue, Hot Flushes and Joint Pain on Abiraterone
- Fertility, Pregnancy and Contraception on Abiraterone
- How Does Abiraterone Work? The CYP17 Inhibitor Explained
- How Long Does Abiraterone Take to Work?
- How Long Will You Stay on Abiraterone?
- Liver Enzyme Rises on Abiraterone: Why the First Three Months Matter Most
- Swelling, Low Potassium and High Blood Pressure on Abiraterone
- Tests and Monitoring While You Are on Abiraterone
- When Abiraterone Stops Working: Resistance and What Comes Next
- Who Is Eligible for Abiraterone? Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer
- Why Abiraterone Is Always Given With Prednisolone
- Why Abiraterone Must Be Taken on an Empty Stomach
- Will Insurance or a Government Scheme Pay for Abiraterone?
- Work, Travel and Daily Life on Abiraterone
Drug Deep Dive: Enzalutamide (Xtandi)
- Diet and Nutrition While on Enzalutamide
- Dizziness, Falls and Seizure Risk on Enzalutamide
- Does Enzalutamide Need a Steroid? Why It Differs From Abiraterone
- Enzalutamide (Xtandi, Bdenza, Enzamide): The Complete Patient Guide
- Enzalutamide Interactions: Blood Thinners, Statins and Seizure-Threshold Drugs
- Enzalutamide Myths: 'It's Chemotherapy', Fatigue and Loss of Masculinity
- Enzalutamide Price in India: Brand, Generic and Monthly Cost
- Enzalutamide Side Effects: The Complete List and Timeline
- Enzalutamide Success Rate and Survival: An Honest Look at the Numbers
- Enzalutamide With ADT and Other Prostate Cancer Treatments
- Enzalutamide in Elderly Patients and Those With Other Illnesses
- Enzalutamide in Non-Metastatic vs Metastatic Prostate Cancer
- Enzalutamide vs Abiraterone vs Apalutamide: Choosing an AR Inhibitor
- Fertility, Pregnancy and Contraception on Enzalutamide
- How Does Enzalutamide Work? The Androgen Receptor Signalling Inhibitor Explained
- How Long Does Enzalutamide Take to Work?
- How Long Will You Stay on Enzalutamide?
- Memory, Concentration and Blood Pressure Changes on Enzalutamide
- Severe Fatigue on Enzalutamide: The Commonest Reason Men Stop
- Taking Enzalutamide: Food, Timing and What to Do If You Miss a Dose
- Tests and Monitoring While You Are on Enzalutamide
- When Enzalutamide Stops Working: Resistance and What Comes Next
- Who Is Eligible for Enzalutamide? Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer
- Will Insurance or a Government Scheme Pay for Enzalutamide?
- Work, Travel and Daily Life on Enzalutamide
Next step
Still not sure what applies to you?
Send your reports across and a senior medical oncologist will go through what they mean, what is known, and what the options actually are.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I exercise while taking abiraterone?
Yes — light to moderate exercise is encouraged for most people on abiraterone and tends to help manage fatigue rather than worsen it. ASCO guidance for people on hormonal therapy for prostate cancer recommends both resistance exercise and aerobic activity as part of care, partly because abiraterone can contribute to muscle loss and bone density changes over time. Start at a level that does not leave you exhausted, and build gradually. Walking, swimming and gentle gym work are well tolerated by most people. If you have joint pain or any concern about bone health, discuss a programme with your oncologist first.
What do I do if I miss a dose of abiraterone?
Take the missed dose on the same day, as soon as you remember — but only if you can take it on a completely empty stomach. If you only remember the following day, skip the missed dose and return to your normal schedule. Never take two doses to make up for one missed. Missing an occasional dose is unlikely to affect how well the treatment works, but missing doses regularly will. Linking the tablet to a fixed daily habit — waking up, or before your morning routine — makes missing much less likely.
Will hot flushes be noticeable to colleagues or others in public?
Hot flushes on abiraterone can involve visible flushing of the face and neck, sweating and a sudden feeling of warmth. How noticeable they are depends on how severe yours are. Wearing breathable layers you can remove quickly is one of the most practical adjustments. Some people keep a small personal fan at their desk. If hot flushes are frequent enough to affect your concentration or comfort at work, tell your oncologist — there are approaches that can help reduce them, and you do not need to manage them alone.
How do I manage the empty-stomach rule when fasting for Ramadan, Navratri or another religious fast?
This is a conversation to have with your oncology team before the fast begins, not during it. Fasting changes the window when an empty-stomach dose can safely be taken. Prednisolone, which you take alongside abiraterone, also needs careful timing during a fast. Your team can work out an approach that respects the fast and keeps the medicine working. Most religious traditions allow exceptions for medical need, and your doctor can provide documentation if your community or tradition requires it.
Can I drink alcohol occasionally on abiraterone?
An occasional drink is not absolutely prohibited, but alcohol is worth discussing with your team. Abiraterone can raise blood pressure and cause fluid retention, both of which alcohol can worsen. Liver enzyme levels are also monitored routinely on abiraterone, and alcohol is a factor there too. If you do choose to drink at a social occasion, small amounts are of lower concern than regular or heavy drinking. Your team's advice — based on your current blood pressure readings and blood test results — is the right guide for your specific situation.