Trodelvy is a treatment option for certain types of cancer.

Trodelvy is a prescription medication that is used to treat certain types of cancer.

Trodelvy is a biologic, which means that it’s made from living cells. The active ingredient in Trodelvy is sacituzumab govitecan-hziy. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

Trodelvy comes as a powder. A healthcare professional will mix it with a liquid to make a solution, which they’ll give you as an intravenous (IV) infusion. (This is an injection into a vein given over time.) You’ll have the infusion at a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital.

This article describes the dosages of Trodelvy, as well as its strength and how the drug is given. To learn more about Trodelvy, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Trodelvy’s usual dosages, which are provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But your doctor will prescribe the Trodelvy dosage that’s right for you.

The section covers the common dosages for Trodelvy. Your doctor will discuss a schedule for Trodelvy treatment with you.

What is Trodelvy’s form?

Trodelvy comes as a powder. A healthcare professional will prepare Trodelvy for administration by mixing the powder with liquid to make a solution. They’ll give you the drug as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time).

What strength does Trodelvy come in?

Trodelvy has a single strength: 180 milligrams.

What are the usual dosages of Trodelvy?

The dosage of Trodelvy is based on body weight. Your doctor will calculate your dosage using Your weight. in kilograms (kg).*

Trodelvy has no loading dose. A loading dose is a higher dose of a drug. A higher dose may help the body respond quicker to drugs. If you have serious side effects from Trodelvy, your doctor may recommend a dose reduction. They will prescribe the smallest dose that will provide the desired effect.

The risk of side effects from Trodelvy can be lowered by taking certain medications before each dose.

The dosages of Trodelvy are described. Your doctor will make a decision on the best dose.

The weight of 2.2 pounds is equal to one kilogram.

Dosage for urothelial cancer or breast cancer

The recommended Trodelvy dose is 10 percent of body weight for the first two days of the 21-day treatment cycle. Your doctor will want you to repeat this cycle if the drug is safe and effective for your condition.

Is Trodelvy used long term?

Trodelvy is usually used for a long time. If you and your doctor determine that Trodelvy is safe and effective for you, you will likely use it for a long time.

If your cancer gets worse or you have serious side effects from Trodelvy, your doctor may want you to stop treatment.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may reduce your Trodelvy dosage if you have certain side effects. They may slow your time in the hospital.

If your doctor deems you to have a serious side effect, they may stop Trodelvy permanently.

A healthcare professional will give you Trodelvy as an IV infusion at a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital. Before each dose, they may give you medications to help prevent certain side effects from Trodelvy.

“You will receive your Trodelvy dose on the first two days of the 21-day treatment cycle. You will receive a Trodelvy dose on one day of the first and second weeks of a 3-week cycle. You won’t get a Trodelvy dose during the third week of the cycle.”

The first dose will likely take longer than the next one.

First Trodelvy infusion

The first Trodelvy injection will take about 3 hours. A healthcare professional will be watching you for at least 30 minutes. They will watch for signs of serious side effects from the medication or the infused medicine.

If you have serious side effects, the healthcare professional may stop the infusion.

Trodelvy infusions after the first one

“If you don’t have any serious side effects after your first Trodelvy dose, you’ll get subsequent infusions over the course of 1 to 2 hours. If you have side effects after your first dose, a healthcare professional will monitor you for at least 30 minutes.”

The amount of Trodelvy you are prescribed may be affected by a number of factors. These include:

  • Your weight.
  • How the Trodelvy medication responds to the cancer you are treating.
  • You may develop side effects.

“You should keep your appointments for Trodelvy. If you think you will miss an appointment, you can call your doctor’s office.”

If you need help remembering your appointments, try marking them on a calendar. You could download a reminder app on your phone.

The dosages provided by the drug manufacturer are described in the sections above. If your doctor recommends Trodelvy, they will prescribe the correct amount.

If you have questions about your current dose, talk to your doctor.

Some questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • “Should my dose be increased if Trodelvy isn’t working well for me?”
  • Should I get a lower dose of Trodelvy if I have a problem with the bile duct?
  • Is a slower time for Trodelvy going to reduce my risk of side effects?

For helpful information about breast cancer, sign up for Healthline’s breast cancer newsletter. You can also find advice, support, and personal stories through the Bezzy breast cancer community.

Q:

Will my Trodelvy dosage change if I get a cold?

Anonymous

A:

Your doctor will likely adjust your dosage if you develop febrile neutropenia during Trodelvy treatment. With febrile neutropenia, you develop a fever of 38.5°C (101.3°F) or higher while having very low levels of neutrophils. (Neutrophils are a kind of white blood cell that helps your body fight infections.)

If you develop this side effect, you will need to stop taking Trodelvy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help you make more white blood cells.

After your neutrophil levels improve, you will most likely be asked to restart Trodelvy treatment at a lower dosage.

If you have neutropenia again, your doctor will reduce your dosage. If it happens a third time, you will likely be forced to stop Trodelvy treatment. If you develop neutropenia that lasts more than 3 weeks, your doctor may stop treatment permanently.

If you notice a high temperature during Trodelvy treatment, contact your doctor.

Note: Trodelvy has boxed warnings for the risk of severe neutropenia as well as risk of severe diarrhea. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information, see “Boxed warnings” at the beginning of this article.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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.