Imbruvica and stomach discomfort. It is not heartburn etc.

[156MA019]

I am new here and I am asking if anyone is experiencing a lot gas and stomach discomfort?

[starsafta]

Other than mild heartburn, which I control by eating kimchee, I have not had any stomach/gas problems. Then again, I eat a plant-based diet, with no dairy, sugar, gluten, fatty foods, or salt.

Are the stomach issues all the time? After eating certain foods? After eating in general? More at some times of day than others? Might be worth keeping track.

[Lola69 in reply to starsafta]

Hello. I am experiencing nightly flatulences and so happy I sleep alone. In June will go to Punta Cana with my children and will be sharing a room. I may have to sleep on balcony ..

[Mosaicgigi]

Hi, I started imbruvica in December, about 2 weeks later I started getting pains and discomfort. I didn’t know if I was having a heart attack. The pressure was in the center of my rib cage and just below. We finally got it under control. I take Prilosec in the am and pm and 3-4 gas-x a day. My problem was the gas was building up but not coming out.

[Seok]

Hi 156MAO19,

I developed mild reflux after taking Ibrutinib for few months. Now, I’m better by not eating too much and too close to bed time. Need to avoid food that cause heart burn. In my case, tomatoes based sauces, spices, potatoes stew... seemed to be the culprit sometimes.

Recently, I varied the time of taking Ibrutinib and found that the reflux seemed to happen about 5-6 hours after taking it.

Seok

[Tigger53]

Have been on ibrutinib since June last year, and have had and still got stomach pains, and lots of wind. . Haven’t noticed any particular foods that make it better or worse, so am guessing for me it’s part of how my system handles the drug. My consultant tells me he will review the dosage after a year, so maybe a reduced dose will help. Hope you get some relief soon

[newyork8]

Yes increased stomach issues...nothing too bad. Im still married....but I have had lower right stomach pain that comes and goes. Feels like diverticulitis.

[BeckyLUSA]

I got the heartburn issue after being on Ibrutinib for 5 months, but it was one month after they added the Venetoclax. So don’t know for sure which caused it. They also changed me from after dinner to before breakfast. My heart burn was around 4-5 hours later. Gastroenterologist told me to drink additional water. 4 ounces for every pill you have to swallow. So for 3 Ibrutinib that would be 12 ounces. I have upped to to 20 ounces because of the Venetoclax. I also found eating 1/2 of a banana while taking the pills has made a big difference. Take a bite of banana, chew a couple of times, pop the pill, swallow and then drink 3-4 ounces. Do this for each pill. Easier going down, and no more heartburn. Of course, my doc okayed all of this, in fact he liked the banana idea so much, he was going to tell some of his other patients about it. Bonus, it helps with potassium and magnesium which these drugs like to push out of us!

[156MA019 in reply to BeckyLUSA]

Becky,

Wow, I am flabbergasted! I was told it must be on an empty stomach and wait 1hr. before you can eat! From day one my problem has been taking it on an empty stomach with just plain water. I have had the feeling of being punched in the stomach and gas building up in my stomach etc. I have been on Imbruvica for 18 mths. and each month seems to be worse than the last! I will definitely talk to my Dr. Thank you so much for taking the time to write, I truly appreciate it!!

[BeckyLUSA in reply to 156MA019]

I take mine with the half a banana and two glasses of water and then immediately eat breakfast. I am in Trial, so I have to take mine when they tell me to. Have you been drinking enough water with them? Hope your doctor is ok with it. Everyone is different. Good luck!