Where Can I Get IBRANCE®?
IBRANCE is available through Specialty Pharmacy Providers (SPPs). SPPs are pharmacies that handle medicines that are often not stocked at regular neighborhood pharmacies. Your healthcare team can help you find an SPP that works with your insurance.
SPPs also offer a number of additional services to you, including:
- Helping navigate you through the insurance system
- Answering financial questions about coverage
- Help identifying financial assistance resources if you are eligible
- Providing you with information about your medication
- Answering questions about side effects
Dosing & Tips
IBRANCE and an are taken orally in a 4-week cycle as a once-daily dose. For the first 3 weeks (21 days), you‘ll take one IBRANCE and one aromatase inhibitor pill, once a day. Then for the last week (7 days), you’ll take only one pill, once a day—an aromatase inhibitor. At the end of 4 weeks, the cycle will start over again. Your healthcare team will monitor your therapy throughout.
Dosing Tracker
Download this Dosing Tracker to track when to take IBRANCE and an aromatase inhibitor.
What To Tell Your Doctor Before You Start
Your healthcare team will prescribe IBRANCE in combination with either an aromatase inhibitor or
Before taking IBRANCE, it’s important to talk to your healthcare team about any health issues or other medications you’re taking, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. IBRANCE and other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
Additionally, before you take IBRANCE, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have fever, chills, or any other signs or symptoms of infection
- have liver or kidney problems
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; IBRANCE can harm your unborn baby. Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose of IBRANCE. Your doctor may ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment with IBRANCE. Males with female partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with IBRANCE for at least 3 months after the last dose of IBRANCE.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if IBRANCE passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with IBRANCE and for 3 weeks after the last dose.
Please see Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.
Always take your IBRANCE dosage exactly as your healthcare team prescribes.
Remember to take IBRANCE capsules with food. IBRANCE tablets may be taken with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit products while on IBRANCE therapy. They may increase the amount of IBRANCE in your blood.
Try to take IBRANCE at approximately the same time each day. Setting a reminder on your watch or phone may help.
Keep track of the days you need to take IBRANCE on a calendar. You can also download our Dosing Tracker.
Swallow your IBRANCE dose whole and intact. Do not chew, crush, open or split IBRANCE capsules or tablets before swallowing them. Do not take any IBRANCE capsules or tablets that are broken, cracked, or that look damaged.
Do not change your dose or stop taking IBRANCE unless your healthcare team tells you. Know that if you miss a day’s dose or vomit after taking a dose of IBRANCE, do not take an extra dose. Just take your next dose at your regular time.
If you take too much IBRANCE, call your healthcare team right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Always take your IBRANCE dosage exactly as your healthcare team prescribes.
Remember to take IBRANCE capsules with food. IBRANCE tablets may be taken with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit products while on IBRANCE therapy. They may increase the amount of IBRANCE in your blood.
Try to take IBRANCE at approximately the same time each day. Setting a reminder on your watch or phone may help.
Keep track of the days you need to take IBRANCE on a calendar. You can also download our Dosing Tracker.
Swallow your IBRANCE dose whole and intact. Do not chew, crush, open or split IBRANCE capsules or tablets before swallowing them. Do not take any IBRANCE capsules or tablets that are broken, cracked, or that look damaged.
Do not change your dose or stop taking IBRANCE unless your healthcare team tells you. Know that if you miss a day’s dose or vomit after taking a dose of IBRANCE, do not take an extra dose. Just take your next dose at your regular time.
If you take too much IBRANCE, call your healthcare team right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Always take your IBRANCE dosage exactly as your healthcare team prescribes.
Remember to take IBRANCE capsules with food. IBRANCE tablets may be taken with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit products while on IBRANCE therapy. They may increase the amount of IBRANCE in your blood.
Try to take IBRANCE at approximately the same time each day. Setting a reminder on your watch or phone may help.
Keep track of the days you need to take IBRANCE on a calendar. You can also download our Dosing Tracker.
Swallow your IBRANCE dose whole and intact. Do not chew, crush, open or split IBRANCE capsules or tablets before swallowing them. Do not take any IBRANCE capsules or tablets that are broken, cracked, or that look damaged.
Do not change your dose or stop taking IBRANCE unless your healthcare team tells you. Know that if you miss a day’s dose or vomit after taking a dose of IBRANCE, do not take an extra dose. Just take your next dose at your regular time.
If you take too much IBRANCE, call your healthcare team right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Monitoring Considerations
To monitor side effects, your healthcare team will perform a blood test to check your complete blood count before starting IBRANCE and at the beginning of each cycle (month). For the first 2 cycles, you'll need a complete blood cell count on day 15 as well. Make sure to tell your healthcare team which day you start your first and second cycles, so they can schedule your day 15 appointment at the right time.
A complete blood cell count is the only monitoring requirement for IBRANCE. Patients taking IBRANCE do not require EKG heart monitoring. Your healthcare team will determine if any additional monitoring is needed.
If your blood test results indicate low white blood cell counts (), your healthcare team may temporarily hold or adjust your dose. It’s not uncommon to have doses modified throughout treatment. Be sure to follow your dosing schedule exactly as your healthcare team prescribes and talk to your doctor if you have any questions about monitoring.
Tips To Help Manage Side Effects
Your doctor or nurse will want to know how you’re feeling and how well you’re tolerating your medication. Speak up if you have any side effects, as some can be serious—your doctor may adjust your dose or ask you to make adjustments to your lifestyle. Talking with your healthcare team can help you get better quality of care.
Additional Side Effect Tips
Before you make any changes to your diet or exercise routine, consult with your healthcare team. Also note that these tips are not specific to lBRANCE and that if you do experience any side effects, share them with your healthcare team early so that they can help you manage them.
- Infection
- Nausea And Vomiting
- Sore Mouth
- Tiredness And Weakness
Infection
It’s important to take steps to protect yourself against infection throughout your treatment. In addition to your healthcare team’s instructions, these tips may help:
- Tell your healthcare team right away if you have fever, chills, or any other signs or symptoms of infection
- Wash your hands often
- Avoid exposure to people who might be sick
Nausea And Vomiting
If you’re nauseated or vomiting, talk to your healthcare team for instructions on how to deal with symptoms. Additionally, these tips may help:
- Try to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large ones
- Since dehydration may contribute to nausea, sip water throughout the day
- Consider relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing
Sore Mouth
Check your mouth and tongue daily for sores, white spots, or infections, and inform your healthcare team about any changes right away. In addition to your healthcare team’s instructions, here are some tips:
- Avoid tobacco, drinking alcohol, and spicy and acidic foods
- Eat foods that are soft and easy to chew or swallow
- If you have mouth pain, sucking on ice chips or Popsicles® may help
Tiredness And Weakness
The physical and mental toll of treatment can leave you feeling tired or weak. In addition to your healthcare team’s instructions, these tips may help:
- Build a schedule to make sure you’re getting rest and activity
- Take short naps or breaks
- Try doing light exercise each day. But make sure you talk to your healthcare team before you make any changes
Patient Starter Kit
In your free patient starter kit, you’ll find the following resources to help support you through your treatment journey:
- Personal Journal: A place to write down your symptoms, questions, and concerns
- Patient Guide: In-depth treatment information and support resources
- Carrying Case: This case can be used for carrying an individual IBRANCE weekly pack with you
- Caregiver Guide: Guidance for caregivers to help support patients and themselves
