abiraterone vs progesterone
Side-by-side comparison of abiraterone and progesterone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zytiga
Prometrium
Abiraterone (Zytiga) is a medicine used with prednisone to treat prostate cancer that has spread. It works by lowering the amount of androgen your body makes.
Progesterone capsules contain a hormone that helps regulate your menstrual cycle and supports pregnancy. It is also used to prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining in women taking estrogen after menopause.
Abiraterone is used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is for cancers that are castration-resistant, meaning they no longer respond to hormone therapy alone. It is also used for high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer. You will take this medicine with prednisone.
Progesterone capsules are used to prevent the lining of the uterus from growing too much in women who have gone through menopause and are taking estrogen. This medicine is also used to restart menstrual periods that have stopped in women who are not pregnant or going through menopause. This condition is called secondary amenorrhea.
Abiraterone blocks an enzyme called CYP17, which your body needs to make androgens. Androgens can help prostate cancer grow. By blocking this enzyme, abiraterone lowers androgen levels and slows cancer growth.
Progesterone is a hormone naturally produced by your body. This medicine works by increasing progesterone levels in your body. This helps to regulate your menstrual cycle and protect the uterus.
- • Feeling tired
- • Joint pain
- • High blood pressure
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Swelling
- • Headache
- • Breast tenderness
- • Joint pain
- • Depression
- • Dizziness
- Death 1,390
- Feeling tired 1,022
- Hot flash 678
- Weakness 562
- Worsening of disease 561
- Headache 1,946
- Using for unapproved purpose 1,710
- Tiredness 1,673
- Medicine not working 1,651
- Pain 1,369
Abiraterone can cause problems with mineralocorticoid excess, like high blood pressure, low potassium, and fluid retention. If you have heart problems, your doctor will monitor you closely. This medicine can also cause liver problems, which can be severe. Your doctor will check your liver function regularly. Do not take abiraterone with radium Ra 223 dichloride. Abiraterone can harm an unborn baby, so men should use effective birth control if their partner can get pregnant.
Estrogen plus progestin therapy should not be used to prevent heart disease or dementia. Estrogen plus progestin may increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, breast cancer, and dementia. Progesterone with estrogens should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration.
Abiraterone can cause harm to an unborn baby. Men who are taking abiraterone should use effective birth control during treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose if their partner is able to get pregnant. It is not known if abiraterone passes into breast milk.
You should not take progesterone capsules if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known if progesterone passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
How to Read This abiraterone vs progesterone Comparison
abiraterone is classified in the CYP17 Inhibitor drug class, while progesterone sits within the Progestogen Hormone class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, abiraterone has 4,213 submissions while progesterone has 8,349. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between abiraterone and progesterone — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.