What is the most important information I should know about palbociclib?
Palbociclib affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, cough, mouth sores, or unusual bleeding or bruising.
What is palbociclib?
Palbociclib is used in men and women to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
In postmenopausal women, palbociclib is given in combination with a hormonal medicine such as letrozole (Femara). In others, palbociclib is given together with fulvestrant (Faslodex).
Palbociclib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking palbociclib?
Tell your doctor if you have signs of infection (such as fever or chills), or if you have ever had:
- liver disease; or
- kidney disease.
Palbociclib can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or the father is using this medicine.
-
If you are a woman, do not use palbociclib if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 3 weeks after your last dose.
-
If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
- Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using palbociclib.
This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because palbociclib can harm an unborn baby.
You should not breastfeed while using this medicine and for at least 3 weeks after your last dose.
How should I take palbociclib?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Palbociclib is given in a 28-day treatment cycle, and you may only need to take the medicine during the first 3 weeks of each cycle. Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with palbociclib.
Take with food. Avoid grapefruit products. Grapefruit may interact with palbociclib and lead to unwanted side effects.
Take the medicine at the same time each day.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it. Do not use a broken or damaged pill.
If you vomit after taking palbociclib, wait until the next day to take your next dose.
Palbociclib affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Skip the missed dose and do not take the medicine again until your next scheduled dose. Do not use two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking palbociclib?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
What are the possible side effects of palbociclib?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;
-
low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath;
-
signs of inflammation in the lungs --new or worsening cough, painful or difficult breathing, wheezing, feeling short of breath even while resting; or
-
signs of a blood clot in the lung --chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood.
Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.
Common side effects may include:
- infections;
- easy bruising or bleeding;
- feeling weak or tired;
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
- mouth sores;
- abnormal liver function tests;
- dry skin, rash;
- altered sense of taste;
- nosebleed; or
- thinning hair or hair loss.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect palbociclib?
Other drugs may affect palbociclib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about palbociclib.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 9/15/2019.
