Acalabrutinib tablets versus capsules

[Leo71]

Some time ago I read posts about changing Acalabrutinib from capsules to tablets. I think others were having problems with the different formulation but I can't find the posts on here now. Did anyone have problems and, if so, what were they, and did they have to give up acalabrutinib altogether? My husband was hoping to get a few months of capsules while stocks lasted but his new prescription has come in the form of tablets. He is never good with changes of medication/brand so we are concerned about the change.

[Walkingtall62]

Hi, I was one of those who isn’t comfortable changing meds. Nor on changing brands once I find one I like. My pharmacist loves me 🙄. And suddenly like your hubby, the ‘dreaded day’ was thrust upon me. Gingerly I took the first tablet. They are small, the shape is perfect to swallow easily. Down it went - absolutely no problems like everyone told me. Not sure the colour doesn’t change the colour of my urine. I even accepted 10 in a strip instead of 6🤭🤷‍♀️😂. But to date no problems that I know about. And Iam a couple of months in. Hope your hubby gets the first one down. All the best

[Leo71 in reply to Walkingtall62]

Thank you for being so reassuring. All the best to you, too. I know just what you mean about your pharmacist loving you.

[Justasheet1]

Leo,

The best reason for the tablets are if you need to take Prilosec or Pepcid, you can without issues.

With the capsules, I think you have to wait an hour or two.

I’m on tablets and think they work fine for me.

Jeff

[Skyshark]

There shouldn't be (m)any tablets left in the UK.

From the national CDF list:

8. The prescribing clinician is aware that whereas the bioavailability of acalabrutinib CAPSULES is reduced by co-administration of an antacid or a proton pump inhibitor, acalabrutinib TABLETS can be safely co-administered with gastric acid reducing agents such as proton pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists and antacids (see acalabrutinib’s Summary of Product Characteristics).

Note: this distinction between acalabrutinib capsules and tablets is also important as stocks of acalabrutinib capsules will no longer be available from mid November 2023; existing stocks of acalabrutinib capsules should be used as soon as possible. Acalabrutinib tablets are currently available.

[Kwenda]

Can anyone tell me why the pills came first with 6 in a pack, and now 10 in a pack.??

Also why 60 in a box.?

As far as I know there are 7 days in a week, so pills twice a day, then it should be 14 in a pack.?

My Aciclovir pills come this way; even labelled am and pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc... ( A great help for my old brain.! )

Also of course why 60 in a box, most months have 31 days, so it should be 62 in a box.

When one considers the costs of these pills, it seems strange that they cannot be properly packaged.

Dick

[Timin]

Hi Leo 71, I'm 68, I was doing very well on the Calquence Capsules- then Astra Zeneca realized they could improve their profit margin by moving to a small tablet and messing around with the formulation. Unfortunately I was one of those people that could not tolerate the adverse effects. I made note of 22 awful side effects. I cut down to 1 pill per day but the excruciating bad effects remained and lasted 12 hours every day for seven days, at which point I stopped taking these little- but-deadly-light colored orange pills. The next day I immediately felt better and continued to feel great for the following month with no treatment. Meantime a little bump has re-appeared in my neck and just waiting to switch to Zanubrutinib.

P.S. Thanks to this short respite from the BTK inhibitor - I'm no longer forced to living like a vampire, lurking the streets at night and avoiding sunlight. (it's the little things)

here's to hoping!

[Leo71 in reply to Timin]

Hello Timin. Thank you for your reply. My husband has just felt generally unwell but may have persevered if he had not had to stop for a tooth extraction; he has been taking antibiotics prior to that appointment but they have upset him so much he has had to stop those. I was interested to read what you said about sunlight. Do you have problems with bright lights generally? Good luck with the Zanubrutinib.

[Timin in reply to Leo71]

Well it's to bad they changed the formulation from the - for me well tolerated capsule to the tablet that was not tolerated well at all. so I quit. I was simply wondering how many others have experienced similar awful effects.

Here in Canada we have quite a bit more sun than in the UK so maybe not a problem with drug interactions with the sun.

According to Astra Zeneca warnings; One is to avoid sunlight while on this drug or at least

use a strong messy sunscreen to avoid developing new skin cancers.