IBRUTINIB STOMACH ISSUES

[Syldon07]

I am into my 3rd month on IBRUTINIB for SLL. I is affecting my stomach and 2 weeks ago I started TECTA but it is not working as well as I hoped. Any suggestions?

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Syldon07,-

We are sorry to hear of your problems with stomach issues. I have had intermittent mild GI issues with two other of the modern targeted therapies. Our USA doctors will often try pallative treatments (antacids, antiemetics , etc.) first. You can get some online suggestions from the USA LLS: communityview.lls.org/artic...

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You may want to contact your doctor and see if a short pause or reduction in doseage is preferred by the doctor to confirm that the GI issues are not from another cause. Usually a few days off the drug will give an indication, and restarting the drug at a lower dose may keep the lymph nodes from growing too much.

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Since Canada has approved Calquence/Acalabrutinib,

astrazeneca.ca/en/media/pre...

if your province has agreed to fund it, that might be an option after the pause experiment proves that Ibrutinib/Imbruvica is the cause.

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Please let us know as your gather more data- by replying to this message with updates.

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Len

[Syldon07 in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you very much for your reply. It was suggested today that I go to 2 Tecta a day, one in the am, the other in the pm. I see my hematologist in early January. I have not had a stomach issue in my life so it is fairly clear the issues are IBRUTINIB sourced. On the positive side, the whole cost is covered by provincial insurance (OHIP).

Will keep you informed.

[lankisterguy Volunteer in reply to Syldon07]

Our research doctors have a saying "Correlation Isn’t Causation" and we CLL patients usually see lots of evidence. So just because they happened at the same time, they are correlated but may have unrelated causes. -

Here is one to chuckle at fastcompany.com/3030529/hil...

And a better explanation

towardsdatascience.com/why-...

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Len

[antonb]

did your Dr give you tecta mine doesn´t want me to take any of those a it might interfere in Ibrutinib absorption.........Maybe changing your diet might help.

[Syldon07 in reply to antonb]

At my last visit in early December with my hematologist and just after the stomach issues began, he told me to see my GP if the burning and regurgitation continued. Five days later I had a phone visit with my GP who prescribed the Tecta. I will be talking to her again today about going to 2 pills a day. And then I can discuss the med and whether it affects absorption when I go to the cancer clinic in early January,

As for diet change, nothing acidic anymore. And definitely no m.ore clamato juice (do you know what that is?)

[MN1999]

Time restricted eating (nothing by mouth except fluid for 12 - 14 hours before Ibrutinib), nothing solid for 1.5 - 2 hrs after taking Ibru, LOTS of fluids, dose reduced to 280 mg, avoiding gluten, avoiding processed foods as much as possible, yogurt / kefir and occasionally kombucha, have all helped me. Good luck!

[Syldon07 in reply to MN1999]

Thank you.