Best time of day to take Venetoclax

[ronsolo306]

I am starting Venetoclax next week. Does anyone have advice as to when to take it? Is it preferable to take it with a morning meal, lunch, or with an evening meal. Thanks in advance for your suggestions or experience.

[Newdawn Administrator]

I’ve always taken mine after my evening meal and it’s worked well for me. However, it’s a matter of personal choice. I never take it on an empty stomach.

Best wishes,

Newdawn

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi ronsolo306,

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When I took Ibrutinib, and had some stomach distress, my CLL expert suggested taking it in the evening to avoid or minimize the GI problems. Evening activities, travel, etc. sometimes made it challenging to not miss a dose.

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I've been on Venetoclax for 4 years and the instructions say: drugs.com/food-interactions.... Food helps to increase the absorption of venetoclax. You should take each dose of venetoclax with a meal and water at approximately the same time each day .

I find that taking it at the end of my breakfast is more predictable - so that I have never missed a dose.

-

Len

[LovelyLilyGirl]

I have been taking Venetroclax since April. I take it in the morning with breakfast and extra water. My cll specialist instructions were to take with breakfast. I’ve never had any issues.

Sending best wishes as you begin.

-Sally

[DRM18]

Hi ronsolo,

I wake up, drink a tall glass of warm lemon water, exercise for an hour, take the pills with another tall glass of water, eat a bowl of cereal, take a shower, then eat a full breakfast, regular as a robot.

—Dave!

[richutchens]

Evening for me. Right after dinner

[Jooby59]

During ramp up I took it after breakfast as instructed but I suffered bad nausea. After about 8 weeks I changed to 9pm which is about an hour after having finished dinner and from the first evening have suffered no more nausea!

I was told that during ramp up it had to be taken in the morning - no real idea why 🤷‍♀️. Good luck whatever you decide.

[KateSned]

On Day 3 here! I'm currently taking at/with lunch, but many wise people on here have suggested with dinner, to help minimize nausea. That didn't work for my schedule but I may move to dinner if I have problems. I didn't open the packet until day 1, and I'd encourage you to read the directions now - ramping up your water intake is suggested 2 days prior to starting. Good luck!

[ronsolo306 in reply to KateSned]

Thank you Kate, did you have any problems from the pills the first 2 days?

[KateSned in reply to ronsolo306]

Nope! Fingers crossed that continues!

[Sojomama13]

Hi,

I was ramped up in the morning in a clinical setting after blood labs. I had loads of stomach distress. It didn’t matter if or what I ate. After my ramp up was complete, I moved my time to lunch with very little improvement. I take my meds later in the evening with a substantial, high fat snack — think avocado toast, not cheesecake. I now have zero issues. Move things around and see what works for you.

Best,

Sandy

[ronsolo306 in reply to Sojomama13]

Thank you and best wishes for continued success.

[Sojomama13 in reply to ronsolo306]

🙏🏻

[81ue]

I used to take it during a meal, and then was miserable with nausea looking for candy or food to make that feeling go away. Waiting after a meal works for me - I take it 1/2 hour to 1 hour after lunch, and I make sure that the meal has enough fat (olive oil or butter) since I heard venetoclax is supposed to work better (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/270... - says there are no fat recommendations). I found that if I ate something low fat like fruit and took venetoclax after eating I still got nauseated, but if I had a food with definite fat content (or added fat) and took it after that 1/2 hr wait time, that I didn't get nauseated.

Those starting on venetoclax might want some sugar free candies around just in case nausea hits (my pharmacy gave me quesy drops sample when I started). I used prescribed anti-nausea medication too during ramp up period.

[581959]

Hi

I take mine in morning after food good luck