Blood thinners

[BarbaraA2]

Good morning. I’m still on watch and wait but I have a question. I’ve had open heart surgery and now have a mechanical aortic valve. I need to be on warfarin for the rest of my life. Can you still take ibrutinib with warfarin if you have your inr checked frequently and maybe lower your warfarin dose? Thanks Barbara from Massachusetts

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Warfarin used to be contraindicated on the drug label, but that changed last December and it was removed.

You need to get your hemetologist talking to your cardiologist, since there is a risk of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) induced A.fib....

You will need careful monitoring...

~chris

[BarbaraA2]

Thanks for the reply! Will talk to my hematologist 👍

[Hidden]

I was incredibly fortunate to find a cardio oncologist with the experience needed to guide me through afib & congestive heart failure. I highly suggest finding a expert who knows the best practices for dealing with ibrutinib and blood thinners. Dana Farber in Boston, has wonderful experts. best wishes-bill

[NooNoo14]

Hi Barbara. I have Afib and have been offered a place on a trial that I think involves Ibrutinib (will find out on Wednesday). I take Dabigatran (anticoagulant) which is definitely contra-indicated with Ibrutinib. My heart doc (different hospital to my CLL hospital) is trying to arrange for me to see a haematologist at his hospital, apparently he is an expert in the dosage of heart meds and cancer drugs. He said this may take a while to organise but will see what they say when I go on Wednesday to get the results of my bone marrow biopsy and CT scan.

I am just going to believe that this is something they have dealt with before.

Hope everything goes well with you. Take care.

Netty

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Here is a good paper on the issues, with thinners, bleeding and Imbruvica (ibrutinib).

May want to inquired about a cardio/oncologist, they are the best on drug and heart issues from my rather extensive experienced

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[NooNoo14 in reply to Cllcanada]

Wow! That's worrying. I take Flecainide, a calcium channel blocker (Diltiazem) and Dabigatran (anticoagulant - or blood thinner it is often called). I was concerned about the side effects of Imbruvica but now....