Ibrutinib 140 mg capsules

Ibrutinib 140 mg capsules

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if it is available from your pharmacist before beginning to take ibrutinib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with a full glass of water as directed by your doctor, usually once daily (8 ounces or 240 millilitres). Completely swallow the pills and capsules. The capsules should not be chewed, broken, or opened in any way. Chewing, crushing, or cutting the tablets is not permitted. Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, ibrutinib should be taken with plenty of water.

Your medical history, treatment response, and any additional medications you may be taking all influence the dosage. Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all of the products you use (including prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and herbal products). Children’s dosage is determined by their age and body size.

Do not take this medication in larger quantities or more frequently than prescribed. Your disease will not improve any faster, and you will be more vulnerable to negative side effects.

If you’re taking this medication, don’t eat or drink grapefruit unless your doctor or pharmacist says it’s okay. Similarly, avoid Seville oranges (often found in marmalade). If you consume grapefruit and Seville oranges, this medication may have more negative effects. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid handling this medication or inhaling the dust from the capsules because it can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and harm an unborn child.

Negative consequences

Constipation, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, headache, joint or muscle pain, swelling in the ankles, legs, or feet, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, anxiety, or fatigue are all possible symptoms. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist right away.

Remember that your doctor prescribed this medication because they believe it will benefit you more than harm you. Many people who use this medication report no significant side effects.

If you take this medication, your blood pressure may rise. Check your blood pressure on a regular basis and notify your doctor if the readings are abnormal. Your doctor may advise you to take blood pressure medication.

If you experience any severe side effects, such as easy bleeding or bruising, dark, tarry, or bloody stools, an unusually fast or irregular heartbeat, unusual fatigue, swollen ankles or feet, or indications of low red blood cell count, notify your doctor immediately (such as rapid breathing, pale skin, shortness of breath).

Ibrutinib can occasionally cause side effects due to the rapid elimination of cancer cells (tumour lysis syndrome). To reduce your risk, your doctor may prescribe an additional medication and advise you to drink plenty of fluids. Notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: Low back/side pain (flank pain), kidney-related symptoms (painful urination, pink or bloody urine, change in the volume of urine).

This medication may impair your ability to fight infections. This could increase your chances of getting a serious (rarely fatal) infection or aggravate an existing one. If you have any infection-related symptoms (such as a persistent sore throat, fever, chills, or cough), contact your doctor immediately.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any truly serious side effects, such as chest pain, signs of brain bleeding, or a stroke (such as fainting, sudden vision changes, severe nausea, seizures, confusion, weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking).

This medication will rarely cause a severe allergic reaction. However, if you experience severe adverse reaction symptoms such as a rash, itching or swelling (especially of the face, tongue, or throat), severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

The list of possible negative consequences is not exhaustive. If you experience any other side effects that are not listed here, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Before taking ibrutinib, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any allergies, especially if you are allergic to any other medications. Inactive chemicals in this product may cause allergic reactions or other problems. Speak with your pharmacist for more information.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all of your medical conditions, especially any that may affect blood clotting or bleeding, the heart (such as a fast or irregular heartbeat or a history of heart attacks), high blood pressure, the kidneys or liver, or high uric acid levels in the blood.

If you take this medication, you may experience dizziness. After consuming alcohol or cannabis, you may feel dizzy. Avoid operating machinery, driving, or doing anything else that requires alertness until you can do it safely. Consume alcohol in moderation. If you use marijuana, speak with your doctor (cannabis).

Ibrutinib has the potential to aggravate existing infections or increase your risk of developing new ones. Keep a safe distance from people who may be infected and infect others (such as chickenpox, measles, flu). Speak with your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or if you require additional information.

Inform your doctor that you are taking ibrutinib before receiving any shots or immunisations. Avoid contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).

To reduce the possibility of being cut, bruised, or injured, avoid activities such as contact sports and use caution with sharp objects such as razors and nail cutters.

Inform your doctor or dentist about all of the products you use before having surgery (including prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and herbal products). Before certain medical, surgical, or dental procedures, your doctor may advise you to temporarily discontinue treatment with this medication.

While taking this medication, older adults may be more prone to low red blood cell count, bleeding, fast/irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the capsules because it can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby.

If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, inform your doctor. You should not get pregnant while taking ibrutinib. Ibrutinib has the potential to harm an unborn child. Before you begin taking this medication, your doctor should order a pregnancy test. While taking this medication and for one month after stopping treatment, men and women should inquire about reliable forms of birth control. If you become pregnant, immediately consult your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication.

It is unknown whether this medication passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug and for 1 week after stopping treatment due to the potential risk to the infant. Before you start breast-feeding, talk to your doctor.

Consult your pharmacist or doctor.

Interactions

Also see the How to Use section.

Drug interactions can alter the way your medications work or put you at risk for serious side effects. This document does not include every possible drug interaction. Maintain a list of all the products you use (including prescription and non-prescription drugs, as well as herbal supplements) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medications without first consulting your doctor.

Other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (such as antiplatelet drugs like clopidogrel, NSAIDs like ibuprofen/naproxen, and “blood thinners” like warfarin/dabigatran) may interact with this drug.

When combined with this medication, aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding. However, if your doctor has prescribed low-dose aspirin (81-162 milligrams per day) for heart attack or stroke prevention, you should continue taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. For more information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Other medications may interfere with the removal of ibrutinib from your body, affecting how well it works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), nefazodone, St. John’s wort, HIV protease inhibitors (such as saquinavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin, clarithromycin), rifamycin’s (such as rifampin, rifabutin), ritonavir, certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.

Overdose

Call 911 if someone has overdosed and is experiencing serious symptoms such as passing out or difficulty breathing. Otherwise, contact a poison control centre immediately. Residents in the United States can contact their local poison control centre at 1-800-222-1222. Residents of Canada can contact a provincial poison control centre.

Notes

Do not give this medication to anyone else.

While taking this medication, you should have lab and/or medical tests (such as a complete blood count, kidney/heart function, pulse, and uric acid). Maintain all medical and laboratory appointments. For more information, speak with your doctor.

Dose Omitted

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember the next day. If the next dose is approaching, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at your usual time. To catch up, do not double the dose.

Storage

Store at room temperature, away from light and moisture, in the original container. Keep out of the bathroom. Keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets.

Unless otherwise directed, do not flush medications or pour them down the drain. When this product has expired or is no longer needed, properly dispose of it. Consult your pharmacist or a waste disposal company in your area.