Ibrutinib dose reduction

[Radarrick]

after 5 years on Ibrutinib I have higher blood pressure and arthralgia. Will dose reduction to 280 or 140 mg be safe to try before switching to Calquence?

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Hi Radarrick,

This is a question you need to ask your specialist; we can't give medical advice to you. Your specialist knows your medical history and CLL markers.

The advantage of staying with ibrutinib is that you are familiar with its side-effects, whereas the advantage of switching to acalabrutinib is that it has about half the cardiotoxicity risk of ibrutinib.

Neil

[mrsjohnpaul]

I have been taking Ibrutinib for over 7 years. I have been taking just 140mg for over 6 years. If I try to take a larger dose I get pains in my wrists. The low dose works well for me.

[AnneHill in reply to mrsjohnpaul]

I have pains in my wrists and hands with a higher dose too. I take 140mg. Its just over 4 years and it was reduced to 280mg and this year changed to 140mg.The pain has reduced and I was interested about wrist pain. I was worried I would drop things as my wrists suddenly stopped taking the weight of a cup of tea. I hope I do as well as you.

Anne uk

[mrsjohnpaul in reply to AnneHill]

I'm sure you will do well. I had the same problem with my wrists and hands. I also felt I couldn't hold a cup of tea. I feel that in time as Imbruvica has done a lot of its work, we don't need to take as much. That is just my opinion after 7 years and everyone is different.

Carol -California, USA