Precautions
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can bear children, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Women should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for 1 month after the last dose. Men should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for 1 month after the last dose to prevent pregnancy in a sexual partner. If you think a pregnancy has occurred with this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
This medicine may cause bleeding problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody or black, tarry stools, red or dark brown urine, severe stomach pain, unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness, or vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before and after having surgery.
This medicine may increase your risk of developing infections, including a serious brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Call your doctor right away if you have a cough that would not go away, back pain, dizziness or drowsiness, weight loss, night sweats, fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, headache, blurred vision, or feeling generally ill.
Ibrutinib can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
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If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
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Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
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Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
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Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
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Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
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Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.
Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or tightness, decreased urine output, dilated neck veins, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, or weight gain. These may be symptoms of a serious heart problem (eg, heart rhythm problems, heart failure).
This medicine may cause a heart condition called atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation. Check with your doctor right away if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
Your doctor will check your blood pressure on a regular basis while you are using this medicine. You might need to monitor your blood pressure at home. Tell your doctor right away if you have a severe headache, lightheadedness, or changes in your vision.
Using this medicine may increase your risk of getting new cancers, including skin cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.
Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
This medicine may cause a serious type of reaction called tumor lysis syndrome. Your doctor may give you a medicine to help prevent this. Call your doctor right away if you have a change in how much or how often you urinate, joint pain, rapid weight gain, muscle or joint pain, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Portions of this document last updated: July 01, 2024
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