Acalabrutinib and brain fog

[Tivi19]

Hi! I am in my 4th week of taking acalabrutinib for CLL and every morning my brain feels like its had a sleeping tablet or a large slug of alcohol, but the rest of me feels fine. This starts about an hour after taking the tablet and then lasts all morning. It seems to come on more quickly but lasts less time, but is worse, if I take the tablet an hour after breakfast, compared to taking with breakfast.

The side effects on the patient leaflet include headache and dizziness, but I don't have either of these. The symptoms are that for around three hours I cant concentrate and thinking is tricky and slow, so I cant use the computer or read or watch a video or drive. And if I do try to concentrate, I get a mild headache (like now!)

This gets progressively better during the day, by 2pm I can work OK on the computer and by 5pm I am fine. It comes on again after the evening tablet, but not so bad and anyway it's nearly bedtime and I sleep well.

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this? And if so, does it go in time?

And thanks again to all who responded to my first question about blood blisters in the mouth - it was very helpful to know that I am not the only one and that they come and go and are OK.

with best wishes to all

🙂

[LeoPa]

What if you took the pills at 5:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.?

[wiganfan]

I also take Acalabrutinib and have a mild headache in the morning. I have found, following kind advice on here, that drinking a strong coffee quickly cures it.

I hope that it also helps you .

Best wishes

Ian

[Teemed]

I have been on Calquence for almost 2 years now and yes I occasionally get the brain fog you describe.

It’s odd as it comes and goes and it starts in the morning as you describe. When I have it I can’t think through complex data sets and I feel foggy.

It comes less frequently over time but I still get it. I drink more coffee in those days!

My wife can see it on my face, and if it persists later in the day I tell her and ask for help saying , wait please repeat those facts slowly or, I need help thinking this through.

Other than that I feel great and my labs look very good!