Palbociclib: how to take it safely
Ibrance
Reviewed by Pharm. Abeeb Junior
What it is for
Treats hormone receptor positive breast cancer, together with hormone treatment.
How to take it
- Prescription medicine: take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist told you.
- Swallow capsules whole with water. Do not open, crush or chew.
When to take it
Take it once a day for 21 days, then stop for 7 days, as your doctor says.
Take it with
Capsules with food. Tablets with or without food.
What to avoid
- Grapefruit and Seville oranges.
- Missing your blood tests.
- St John's wort.
- Pregnancy and fathering a child during treatment. Use reliable contraception and ask your team how long to continue it.
- Live vaccines unless your cancer team says so.
- Contact with people who have infections such as chickenpox or flu.
- Alcohol, unless your team says it is safe.
Possible side effects
Low white blood cell count, tiredness, nausea, mouth sores, hair thinning, diarrhoea.
Get help if
Fever, signs of infection, unusual bruising or bleeding, or breathlessness with cough: get urgent help.
This is general information, not personal medical advice. Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions and read the leaflet that comes with your medicine. Medicines and doses can differ between products and people.