Pluvicto (Lutetium (177Lu) Vipivotide Tetraxetan)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Pluvicto Used For?
Pluvicto is a specialized radioactive medicine used to treat advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Primary Uses
Pluvicto treats adults with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer – a type of advanced prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and doesn’t respond to hormone-lowering treatments. It’s used when other cancer treatments have already been tried.
How It Works
Pluvicto contains radioactive material that specifically targets and binds to a protein called PSMA (prostate specific membrane antigen) found on prostate cancer cells. Once attached, it delivers controlled radiation directly to the cancer cells to destroy them.
PSMA Testing Required: Your doctor will perform tests to check if PSMA is present on your cancer cells. Your cancer is more likely to respond to Pluvicto if this test is positive.
How to Take Pluvicto
Pluvicto is given only in hospitals or licensed facilities by specially trained medical staff through an IV into your vein.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose is 7,400 MBq given into your vein once every 6 weeks for up to 6 total doses (6 separate treatment visits). Each treatment session is spaced 6 weeks apart.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Contact your specialist as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment. It’s important to maintain the 6-week schedule between doses.
Hospital Administration Only: Pluvicto can only be given in specialized medical facilities by trained professionals – you cannot take this medication at home.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Feeling tired
- Stomach pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Urinary tract infection
- Headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Trouble swallowing and/or heartburn
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Swollen hands, ankles or feet
- Dry eyes
- Oral fungal infection
- Mouth sores
- Dry skin
- Vomiting
- Changes to taste
- Vertigo
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Bruising more than normal
- Extreme tiredness or weakness
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Passing less urine than normal
- Fever, chills, sore throat
- Mouth ulcers
- Difficulty stopping bleeding
- Frequent infections
- Allergic reactions (wheezing, swelling of mouth, face, eyes)
Important Warnings
Pluvicto is a radioactive medicine with specific safety requirements and potential serious side effects that require careful monitoring.
Who Should Not Take Pluvicto
Do not use Pluvicto if you are allergic to lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan or any ingredients in the medicine.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your specialist if you: frequently get sick with fever or chills; have or had kidney problems; are pale, short of breath, or bruise/bleed more than normal; have had any other cancer or cancer treatment; have low levels of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, neutrophils, platelets).
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pluvicto can harm unborn babies. You must limit close contact (less than 1 meter) with pregnant women for 7 days after each dose and sleep in separate bedrooms from pregnant women for up to 15 days. The safety in females has not been established.
Fertility Warning: Pluvicto may cause infertility. Consider sperm collection and storage before treatment if you plan to have children in the future.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Pluvicto and affect how it works. Always tell your healthcare team about all medications you’re taking.
Complete Medication Review: Check with your specialist, GP, or pharmacist if you’re unsure about any medicines, vitamins, or supplements you’re taking and how they might affect Pluvicto.
- Tell your doctor about all prescription medicines
- Include vitamins and supplements
- Include over-the-counter medicines from pharmacy or health food shops
Alcohol & Driving
Pluvicto may affect your ability to drive safely and you should discuss alcohol use with your healthcare team.
Alcohol
Tell your specialist if you drink alcohol. They need to know about your alcohol consumption when planning your treatment.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines or tools until you know how Pluvicto affects you. This medicine may make you feel tired, which could impair your ability to drive safely.
Storage
You will not need to store, handle, or dispose of this medicine yourself. Healthcare professionals will store Pluvicto below 30°C (do not freeze) in the original package with lead shielding to protect from radiation. The medicine will remain at the treatment facility.
Overdose Information
Since Pluvicto is given in a hospital by trained professionals, overdose is unlikely. However, if you suspect you’ve received too much, immediately call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your specialist, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ll receive up to 6 doses of Pluvicto, with each dose given 6 weeks apart. This means the complete treatment course can take up to 30 weeks (about 7-8 months).
You’ll need to limit close contact with others for 2 days, avoid contact with children and pregnant women for 7 days, sleep separately from others for 3 days (7 days from children, 15 days from pregnant women), drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and avoid sexual activity for 7 days after each dose.
No, you should not father a child during treatment and must use condoms during sexual activity throughout treatment and for 14 weeks after your last dose. Pluvicto may cause infertility, so consider sperm storage before treatment if you plan to have children.
For 2 days after each dose: always sit when using the toilet, use toilet paper every time, wash hands well afterward, flush all waste immediately, and take daily showers. Wash contaminated clothing separately from household laundry.
Call immediately if you can’t pass urine, feel short of breath or have wheezing/swelling, experience unusual weakness, pale skin, excessive bleeding/bruising, or frequent infections with fever, chills, sore throat, or mouth ulcers.
Yes, your specialist will do blood tests before and during treatment to monitor your condition and watch for side effects. Based on results, they may delay, modify, or stop treatment if necessary.
Contact your nuclear medicine doctor if you’re planning any travel. You’ll need to follow special precautions to limit radiation exposure to others, and inform any healthcare professionals about your recent radioactive treatment if you need emergency care within 7 days.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.