How long before the benefits of Imbruvica wear off?

[TheTraveler]

I have been taking Imbruvica for CLL for three months, with very positive results. Prior to starting the drug, my health was in a downward spiral, but now I am rapidly gaining back the weight and strength I lost, and I feel energized and liberated from the disease. However, I have a problem with my insurance which may make it necessary to stop taking the drug for 4-6 weeks; I have to be abroad, in Europe, for an extended time period, but my insurance will not renew my Imbruvica prescription to cover the whole period. I am in a panic over this. Does anyone know, generally, how long I can expect the benefits of Imbruvica to last after I run out of pills and stop taking the drug? My doctor is non-committal about this. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have!

[Hidden]

are you in usa. You can request a vacation overide on most insurances.

[TheTraveler in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for quick response! Yes, I am in the USA, and my insurance will give me a 90 day vacation override. However, I will be gone for longer than that - about four months. I will definitely run out.

[Hidden in reply to TheTraveler]

then you'll have to do what others do. Have someone else refill the rx when due and then ship to you. Or find a doctor overseas who will write you an rx.

[cajunjeff]

There is no way anyone on here can answer such a question with such limited information.

I might be more worried about the long term efficacy of starting and stopping ibrutinib than how long it will work. My educated guess would be you could probably miss a month of it and do fine. But there could be a risk of having it not work at all by stopping for so long, I just do not know.

I like Ivotedfronixon's plan to skip a dose every two days, but I wouldn't do anything without the blessing of my doctor. Your question sure seems like a doctor's question to me. Good luck with it. Jeff

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Traveller, if you get your Ibrutinib through a speciality pharmacy connected to your hematologist/oncologist, check to see if they can help you with your predicament.

As to the idea of having someone order and ship to you, that has been arranged by one of our members who is out of country most of the time and it has been a long-term arrangement. I do not know if that is possible for your less lengthy situation. If it is work-related travel, maybe your place of work can help you get the meds.

I would not try to do any of the stopping or skipping days without a definite sign on of your treating Physician. It might be that you have to purchase it outright? The cost would, of course, be a factor--but if you have the means and it is a last resort that is better than being without and in another country without your Dr. available.

Hope you can work it out, and if you find a way, others may be interested in the possibility for them.

[BSMI]

Traveler, not sure if this exactly answers your question as everyone is different, but I’ve had to stop Imbruvica twice for pending surgeries, & found that the painful lymph lumps I had under my arms came back after 5 day off Imbruvica. Then following surgery the lumps disappeared beginning 3 days back on it.

Best of luck,

[virdieblue]

My specialty pharmacy offered to mail my Ibrutinib to where I was going. Will yours do that?

Virginia

[Audrey10]

I am heading to Europe next month for almost 2 months. My insurance will not approve me for 60 day supply. If all else fails doctor suggest I reduce my dosage to 2 pills per night ( 280 mg) for the entire time I am gone... 2 pills much better than none!

[TheTraveler]

Thank you to everyone who responded! As it turned out, my insurance did eventually come around and approve a 4-month refill for me. Actually, it was a bit convoluted. They originally denied a 4-month refill, but they had no problem at all providing me with a 1-month refill on Tuesday, and then a 3-month refill (vacation override) on Wednesday. Go figure! For anyone who might be interested, my insurance plan is a the Humana Medicare Advantage PPO..... Best of health to you all!!!