Ibrutinib and covid vaccine

[Green202]

Hi,

Do Ibrutinib have to be stopped before a covid vaccine?

[AussieNeil Administrator]

You don't have to stop ibrutinib before a COVID-19 vaccination. If your specialist approves, you could take a break to improve your response, but that could put you at risk of your CLL temporarily worsening.

Neil

[waer88 in reply to AussieNeil]

I take ibrutinib, was 70, and have waldenstrom, which is a lymphoma blood cancer. I has first 2 moderna shots before med and third with it. My team at dana farber never warned me about ibrutinib and moderna and encouraged me to get booster.

[TimHB in reply to waer88]

My team at Dana Farber told me that since I was on Ibrutinib when I got vaccinated and boosted, any benefit of the vaccine was cancelled out by the Ibrutinib and has no effect. They told me I'm as good as unvaccinated. We've suspended my Ibrutinib and they're encouraging me to get re-vaxxed and re-boosted which is a difficult thing to do as a 4th shot is unauthorized in my state.

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to TimHB]

While it's safest to assume you didn't benefit from your vaccinations, you may have developed a T cell response, as ibrutinib has been shown to improve T cell immunity. You might also have produced some antibodies, though that's less likely than if you had first suspended your ibrutinib.

[waer88 in reply to TimHB]

After 2 moderna shots my antibody count was half of the optimal amount but still had some protection

[goldstream]

I have had 2 of my shots without stopping Ibrutinib. No negative impact at all.

[onu1tadi2 in reply to goldstream]

Can i ask your age? I assume people over 75 have more side effects from vaccine than people in their sixties for example.

[Green202 in reply to onu1tadi2]

Thank you for all the answers. My brother is 57 years old. He was feeling well when he took ibrutinib 140 mg 1 capsule a day while receiving the first covid vaccine Sinopharm. But after the second dose of the covid vaccine, lymph nodes in the stomach began to grow. He does not dare take the third dose. He has started with 2 capsules of Ibrutinib a day. Now after 1 month, the lymph nodes are the same size. we will see if he should take 3 capsules of Ibrutinib but he gets diarrhea as a side effect. He is very sad.

[onu1tadi2 in reply to Green202]

I always just took 2 pills a day when I was on ibrutinib, as I figure in the trials they use the maximum dose. I was in remission fairly fast, and took it for about 1 1/2 years, went off for 6 months, still in remission when I decided to go on acalabrutinib, as the ibrutinib may have caused some afib. I am taking only half dose of acalabrutinib, now for about 8 months, still in remission. Am 76. Just for your information. Everyone is different. I was in stage 4 when diagnosed at 72, and for first year, was on obinutuzimab and chlorambucil. I relapsed in about 6 months. But the ibrutinib and acalabrutib are better newer drugs and I have been in remission now for over 3 years.

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to onu1tadi2]

Ibrutinib has been tested in up to 840mg (6 capsules) in some trials.

[goldstream]

68

[stevesmith1964]

Nope.

[Northland]

I just had my fourth shot yesterday here in Canada. I am 62 and have been on Ibrutinib for 21 months and doing great.

[rubberlegs68]

I've had 3 vaccines without holding Ibrutinib but I caught covid recently and my oncologist did have me stop Ibrutinib for 10 days. His thought was my immune system would fight the virus better without the immune suppression of Ibrutinib.

[SherriD]

My doctor called me yesterday and wants to give me an infusion for antibodies specific for Covid. I usually get ivig infusions but she wants me to get this instead. She said ibrutinib suppresses the B cells and this will help boost my immunity. I wish I could remember the name of the drug but I’ll find out Saturday