iBRUtinib
iBRUtinib
Pronunciation:
eye-BROO-tih-nib
Other Name(s):
Imbruvica®
Appearance:
capsule
This handout gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
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who to contact for help
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what the medication is
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how it is given
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what to expect while on medication
This handout was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
My cancer health care provider is: _____________________________________________
During the day I should contact: _______________________________________________
Evenings, weekends and holidays: _____________________________________________
This page gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the medication is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on this medication
This information was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
- For treating certain types of leukemias and lymphomas, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), or Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM)
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
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bleeding problems,
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high blood pressure,
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liver, kidney or heart problems (including irregular heartbeat),
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serious infections (including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection),
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recent surgery (or plan to have surgery), or
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any allergies.
If you take any medications such as warfarin, ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®), ASA (Aspirin®) or any supplements such as fish oil, flaxseed or vitamin E, that may increase your chance of bleeding, talk to your health care team.
Remember To:
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Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
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Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
You will have a blood test to check for hepatitis B before starting treatment. See the Hepatitis B and Cancer Medications pamphlet for more information.
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This medication is usually taken once a day by mouth at about the same time each day. Talk to your health care team about how and when to take your medication.
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Swallow whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
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Do not crush, chew or open the capsules.
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Do not eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while taking this drug. These may increase the quantity of medication in your blood and increase side effects.
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If you miss a dose of ibrutinib, take it as soon as possible on the same day, otherwise skip and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.
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If you vomit (throw up) after taking your medication, talk to your health care team about what to do.
Warning: If you take too much of this medication by accident, or if you think a child or a pet may have swallowed your medication, you must call the Ontario Poison Control Center right away at: 1-800-268-9017.
To Prevent Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
TLS can happen when a large number of cancer cells die quickly and your body cannot get rid of them fast enough. TLS can make you very sick. Ask your health care team if you are at risk for TLS.
If you are at risk for TLS, you may be given medications before your ibrutinib treatment to help prevent it.
- These are called anti-uricemics (such as allopurinol), or others.
To Prevent Hepatitis B Flare Ups
If you have ever been infected with hepatitis B, there is a risk that this treatment can cause it to flare up (come back). Tell your health care team if you have had hepatitis B. You may need to take medication to prevent a hepatitis B flare-up.
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers after this treatment.
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DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now or have had in the past.
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DO drink plenty of fluids (unless you have been told otherwise) to lower your risk of losing too much fluids due to diarrhea. Talk to your health care team about the amount of water or other liquids you need to drink.
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DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic products, without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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DO NOT eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while on this treatment. These may increase the quantity of the medication in your blood and increase the side effects.
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DO NOT drive, operate machinery or do any tasks that need you to be alert if you feel tired or dizzy.
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers after this treatment.
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DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now or have had in the past.
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DO drink plenty of fluids (unless you have been told otherwise) to lower your risk of losing too much fluids due to diarrhea. Talk to your health care team about the amount of water or other liquids you need to drink.
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DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic products, without checking with your health care team.
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DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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DO NOT eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while on this treatment. These may increase the quantity of the medication in your blood and increase the side effects.
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DO NOT drive, operate machinery or do any tasks that need you to be alert if you feel tired or dizzy.
Yes, this medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods, traditional medicines and natural health products. Interactions can make this medication not work as well or cause severe side effects.
Tell your health care team about all of your:
- prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications
- other drugs and substances, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)
- natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements, or traditional medicines
Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or Aspirin®.
- Over-the-counter products such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol®)
- Natural health products such as St. John’s Wort
- Traditional medicines
- Supplements such as vitamin C
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tobacco
- All other drugs or substances, such as marijuana or cannabis (medical or recreational)
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
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You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
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38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
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OR
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38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
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If you do have a fever:
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Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
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Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
- Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
Talk to your health care team about:
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How this medication may affect your sexual health.
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How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
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If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 3 months after your last dose.
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If you can become pregnant and use a hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills, make sure you also use a barrier or non-hormonal birth control method (such as condoms).
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If you can get somebody pregnant, use a condom. Talk to your health care team about the safest birth control for you.
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Do not donate sperm while using ibrutinib and for up to 3 months after your last dose.
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Do not breastfeed while on this medication and for 1 week after the last dose.
Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
How to safely touch oral anti-cancer medications
If you are a patient:
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Wash your hands before and after touching your oral anti-cancer medication.
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Swallow each capsule whole. Do not crush or chew your capsules.
If you are a caregiver:
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Wear nitrile or latex gloves when touching tablets, capsules or liquids.
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Wash your hands before putting on your gloves and after taking them off, even if your skin did not touch the oral anti-cancer medication.
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Throw out your gloves after each use. Do not re-use gloves.
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Do not touch oral anti-cancer medications if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What to do if oral anti-cancer medication gets on your skin or in your eyes
If medication gets on your skin:
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Wash your skin with a lot of soap and water.
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If your skin gets red or irritated, talk to your health care team.
If medication gets in your eyes:
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Rinse your eyes with running water right away. Keep water flowing over your open eyes for at least 15 minutes.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting ibrutinib. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on ibrutinib.
Very Common Side Effects (50 or more out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Higher than normal white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the blood You may have higher white blood cell levels in the blood. This can happen in the first few weeks of treatment and may last for a few weeks or months. What to look for?
What to do?
Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
Get emergency medical help right away for severe symptoms. |
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Diarrhea (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
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Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day) |
Headache; mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Low appetite What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Nausea and vomiting What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
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Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe |
Rash; dry, itchy skin (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Eye problems (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team as soon as possible |
Constipation What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent constipation:
To help treat constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Low neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood (neutropenia) (May be severe) When neutrophils are low, you are at risk of getting an infection more easily. Ask your health care team for the Neutropenia (Low white blood cell count) pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away.
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If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Low platelets in the blood (May be severe) When your platelets are low, you are at risk for bleeding and bruising. Ask your health care team for the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low platelets:
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe (very heavy), you MUST get emergency help right away |
High blood pressure (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Mouth sores What to look for?
To help prevent mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow |
Dizziness What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Heartburn; stomach upset; bloating What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible with this treatment.
If you have any of the following, talk to your cancer health care team or get emergency medical help right away:
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Irregular heartbeat, chest pain, fainting spells
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New swelling in your legs, ankles or belly
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Any sharp chest pain (it usually gets worse if you take a deep breath)
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Extreme tiredness that prevents you from exercising or doing normal activities
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Yellowish skin or eyes, unusually dark pee, new pain on the right side of your belly, weakness, severe fatigue (tiredness)
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Severe rash, itchiness, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness
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Peeing less urine that usual
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Confusion, loss of consciousness, muscle spasm or twitching
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Trouble seeing, speaking, or using your arms and legs
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Unusual changes in your skin
For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
June 2025 Updated/revised information sheet
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.