Palbociclib, ribociclib & abemaciclib: important side-effect update
Recently, the US FDA issued a warning about a rare but severe side-effect experienced by patients taking any of the drugs palbociclib, ribociclib & abemaciclib.
More specifically, new findings from the regulatory agency in the USA have identified a rare side-effect. Patients taking this drug may experience severe lung inflammation. This is a serious and dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention.
The FDA mentions that the symptoms to watch for include:
Difficulty or discomfort with breathingShortness of breath while at rest or with low activity.
Unfortunately, it is not clear at this time whether this side-effect depends on any specific risk factors.
It is important to talk to your medical team about this potential side-effect. As you know, all medicines have side effects, but in general the benefits outweigh the risks. Do not stop taking your medicine without first talking to your medical team.
I definitely speak w my oncologist in my next appointment.
Written by
Nmartinez15
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I'm one of those "rare" people who developed lung issues while on Ibrance. I now have something called "Interstitial Lung Disease" that my pulmonologist described as like gunk between the air sacs. Even though I have been off Ibrance for 3 years, that has not gotten any better. I get out of breath very easily and have a really hard time in humid weather. I have two different inhalers that help short term a little. Then I developed artial fibrillation, and the cardiologist thinks that is related to the ILD! A good friend who had been doing well with mbc, had "acute lung collapse" not long after Afinitor was approved by the FDA and neither her onc or pulmonologist connected it with the Afinitor and kept giving it to her in the ICU and after about 3 weeks in the ICU, she died! Her docs did not report that to the FDA or the drug company and neither did mine, though I asked them to. So I wonder just how "rare" these lung issues really are! This is by far the worst side effect fro m treatment that I have had in the 15 plus years I've had MBC !
Wow.... I dont want to ruin my lungs. Which dose you took? I am on 75mg bc I cant deal w the side effects of the high dose. I have been on and off bc my whit blood count. Which I am glad so i dont kill my lungs so much.
I knew there was an issue with lungs as my oncology nurse always asks about breathing
During my first 6 months on ibrance and faslodex I developed breathing problems. Going upstairs left me out of breath. I reported it the the oncologist and he said it wasn't significant and then it just disappeared again.
Thanks for sharing this. I just finished 3rd round Ibrance. Have mets in my lungs so this is worrisome. I will talk to my onc but I am pretty sure she’ll tell me the benefits outweigh risks. Many years ago I had a stem cell transplant and developed a severe respiratory infection. I will never forget the awful feeling of not being able to breathe. Then in June my 3rd reoccurrence I had a CT lung biopsy and my lung collapsed - I could hardly breathe and it reminded me of the time before. This is my biggest fear for the future.
Watch this.... this is the last one. They were 7 episodes and u learn so much. One of the product that over 78 doctor around Asia that they recommend was curcumin or tumeric is the same thing. They will remove this last show at 8pm, so u need to watch before that time.
I don't agree with you, but we all have our right to make the best decision for our health. When I dont take my natural supplements my blood work shows dysfunction in my organs due to the toxins of the Ibrance and letrozole. My bloodwork is good bc natural supplements. So they do help against of the damage of these chemicals in our body. Also, I never have issues with high blood sugar until I start take letrozole. So I start taking cinnamon pills every day my last 2 bloodwork show my glucose normal again. So I am believer that nature does help!!!
If sugar doesn't harm, why the doctor use sugar to find out where we have cancer in our body, because cancer love sugar. PET SCAN is done with sugar. Read about it....
Thanks for the info. It is important, of course, to note that the side effect is rare. I have been stable on Ibrance + Letrozole for over three and a half years (with multiple diffuse tumors in my lungs) and have not had this lung inflammation problem.
The problems with side effect like this is... that they can show up after years and could be too late to reverse.... long term use of these meds can lead to this type side effects and sometimes doctor dont tell u this things and when it's too late we cant do nothing about it.
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