Darolutamide is a cancer medicine used for prostate cancer. It blocks signals that help prostate cancer cells grow. The brand name in the U.S. and Canada is Nubeqa.
Brand Name(s)
- US: Nubeqa
- Canada: Nubeqa
Warning(s)
- Allergic reactions can be serious. Get help right away for rash, hives, itching, trouble breathing, chest tightness, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Infections can happen, including urinary tract infections (UTIs). Call your care team if you have fever, chills, sore throat, burning or pain when you pee, blood in urine, or pelvic pain.
- Low white blood cell counts have rarely been reported. This can raise your risk for infection. Watch for fever or other signs of infection.
- Seizures have happened. Your risk may be higher if you have had seizures, brain injury, stroke, brain cancer, or certain blood vessel problems in the brain, or if you take drugs that raise seizure risk. Avoid activities where a sudden loss of consciousness could cause harm.
- Heart problems, including serious ones, have happened. Tell your care team if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or smoke. Seek help for chest pain, chest pressure, or shortness of breath.
- Liver problems can occur. Call your care team if you notice dark urine or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- Drug interactions are possible. Always tell your doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists about all medicines, vitamins, and herbal products you use. Do not start, stop, or change any drug without checking first.
- Pregnancy and fertility: This drug is not for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It may harm an unborn baby. If your sex partner can become pregnant, use effective birth control while taking darolutamide and for some time after the last dose. Ask your care team how long. Darolutamide may affect your ability to father a child.
- Monitoring: You may need regular blood tests while on this medicine.
- When used with docetaxel: watch for high blood pressure (severe headache, dizziness, fainting, vision changes), high blood sugar (confusion, sleepiness, unusual thirst or hunger, frequent urination, fast breathing, fruity-smelling breath), low calcium (muscle cramps or spasms, numbness or tingling, seizures), or unexplained bruising or bleeding. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- Non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC)
- Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) when used with certain other medicines, such as docetaxel
Mechanism of Action
Darolutamide is an androgen receptor inhibitor. It blocks male hormones like testosterone from attaching to the androgen receptor on prostate cancer cells.
By shutting down this signal, the medicine slows the growth and spread of prostate cancer cells. It is often used together with other prostate cancer treatments.
Common Side Effects
- Feeling tired or weak
- Pain in the arms or legs
- When used with docetaxel: constipation
- When used with docetaxel: decreased appetite
- When used with docetaxel: weight gain
Not everyone has side effects. Tell your care team if side effects bother you or do not go away.
Last reviewed: 2025-12-17
