I’ve been on Ibrutinib for over 3 years & my white count & lymphocytes have taken this long to slowly to reduce & now are 19.5 & 15.3 respectively.
Since taking Ibrutinib I have bruised very easily & the slightest touch or knock will cause a mark of some sort.
I have for some time experienced different types of nail problems whereas in the past my nails have always been strong & healthy.. They have now deteriorated quite a lot breaking low down & ridges & I notice from the side effects of Ibrutinib this is a common so I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experienced this how it has been resolved.
I have tried various things but until now I never thought to attribute it to Ibrutinib.
Thanks a lot
Benny
Written by
Benny12
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thanks. I’ve read all the reports now & I’m speaking to my consultant today so see what he has to say otherwise I shall try Biotin which I haven’t tried yet.
Hi I had this with my nails too on Ibrutinib. I took Biotin (and still do) but obviously it takes many months to show an improvement. Have now been off Ibrutinib for nearly a year and nails are much stronger again although still a bit ridgey. Before , I barely had to touch something for my nails to split and break.
I have been on ibrutinib for four years and have the same problem with my nails. Biotin has helped some. I also use Barielle nail crème which seems to help make them less brittle.
I take Acalabrutinib and some of my nails are dreadful with ridges and weakness. My toe nails look awful. Still it's a small price to pay to be as healthy as we can.
Hi Benny 12, I, too, used to have strong nails which would grow long without breaking, but once I started Imbruvica they started to break, even below the nail line and the skin around the nails and at my fingertips was constantly splitting, which was pretty painful. After looking at past replies on this post, I tried soaking my fingers in olive oil, but this didn't have much effect. After a while I started taking Biotin (5 mg per day) and applying a strengthening nail polish (which also helped to prevent the nails breaking on contact). After a few weeks my nail problem was almost resolved, with only an occasional break. Once a week I remove the nail polish for one day to let my nails breathe, then soak them in water, cut them and reapply the polish. Hope this works as well for you as it did for me. I also apply a "hand and nail" cream almost every night and wear gloves while I sleep. Good luck!
Hi BennyYour issue about your nails and bruising is like what I experience after 2 years on Ibrutinib.
My nails crack and grow irregularly. I found that if I use {Hard as nails} and apply a few times a week it helps the cracking. Lately my nail problems have improved the past month. As for bruising my hematologist makes no comments about it other than it is from the meds and having CLL. The bruises appear in various places and after a month or so they disappear and then re appear again. The bruises are frequent on my arms and stomach and chest but never on my face. Being on Ibrutinib has helped alot to make my CLL stable so I just learn to live with these side effects.
Thanks for that. Yes you just have to learn to live with these side effects but they are annoying! My haematologist doesn’t want to know either about bruising & speaking to one yesterday they didn’t know nail problems were a side effect of Ibrutinib!
I have been on Ibrutinib for 28 months and have experienced the same issues with my nails. I developed toenail fungus on several toes on both feet. I am now applying Jublia on them. According to the pharmacist that fills my Ibrutinib script 70% of people on the medication develop toenail fungus.
That’s interesting. 70% is quite high. I have tried a fungal nail treatment but perhaps I need a stronger one. Various treatments have seemed to work in the past but then it comes back but in different forms.
Jublia is a prescription med that is applied like nail polish. A nurse I consulted suggested it was the only effective treatment for nail fungus based on her observations of working in a nursing home.
It seems to be working well for me so far but I may also try laser therapy which is also supposed to be effective but takes 4 treatments over 2 months and costs $600 Canadian.
The treatment I found to work was Terbinafine, and it was the only anti fungal not contra with Ibrutinib. Three years now and no recurrence, but it took some time until it grew out completely.
Hi Benny. I have the same issues. I tried many things and finally got a good result with Mavala Ridge Filler once every couple of days and Mavala cuticle oil twice a day. It’s really good. Best wishes
The horizontal ridges are caused by the starting of taking Ibrutinib. It stops the growth of the nail.
Once the Ibrutinib has passed through your body, usually after 5/6 hours the nail starts to grown again. Of course this is a daily occurrence. As explained by my Support nurse. Vertical ridges I have no idea, sorry.
I took Ibrutinib for nearly 4 years until the cll overcame it. That was 4 months ago. I am now on Ventoclax.
My nails are slowly improving with the exception of my right thumb nail which is split down the middle and is growing like that.
How interesting the nail on my right thumb has recently developed a deep split as well. I assumed due to the effort in pushing the Ibrutinib out of the packaging ! I also have tried everything mentioned here but running out of options.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Problems with Neulasta after IVIG and in Ibrutinib
Husband is having brittle nail issues with Ibrutinib? How have others dealt with this? 
Muscle fatigue on Ibrutinib
Rashes with Ibrutinib
Experience of taking ibrutinib 
