Abemaciclib is used on its own or together with other medicines (e.g. aromatase inhibitors, fulvestrant) to treat women with certain types of breast cancer that have spread to other parts of the body.
Take Abemaciclib exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Swallow it whole. Do not divide, chew or crush the tablet.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on your condition and response to the medication.
Abemaciclib must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
If you miss a dose or vomit after taking Abemaciclib, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Do not take Abemaciclib if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with this medicine, alert your doctor immediately. Abemaciclib may cause harm to your unborn child.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while taking this medicine. You must use proven birth control methods during Abemaciclib therapy and for at least 3 weeks after stopping the treatment. Birth control medicines containing hormones may not be effective. You may wish to discuss other reliable methods of birth control with your doctor.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- severe liver disease
- severe kidney disease
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Evaluate pregnancy status and hepatitis B virus screening prior to initiation of therapy to know if this medicine is suited for you to take.
- Routine tests (e.g. complete blood count, platelet counts, liver function test) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Monitor for signs and symptoms of diarrhoea and dehydration.
Abemaciclib may cause dizziness or tiredness. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, mouth sore, fever, decreased appetite, joint pain, muscle weakness, altered taste, hair loss, dry skin, skin rash or itch.
You may experience diarrhoea while being treated with Abemaciclib. Drink lots of water to replace the fluids lost. However, if you have severe diarrhoea or diarrhoea with severe stomach cramps or bloody stools, alert your doctor immediately.
This medicine may cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds, and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Inform your doctor if you have a fever, or a cough or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Inform your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Some side effects may be serious, although they are not common. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience:
- signs and symptoms of allergic reactions e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen mouth or eyes
- signs and symptoms of blood clots in the vein e.g. painful swollen leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid breathing or rapid heart rate
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- clarithromycin (antibiotic)
- medicines to treat fungal infection e.g. itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. lopinavir, ritonavir
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- rifampicin (medicine to treat TB [lung infection known as tuberculosis])
- St. John's wort (herbal medicine)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Abemaciclib.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Avoid excessive consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice (more than 1 litre a day).
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As this is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired tablet to the clinic, hospital or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
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