What is Palbociclib?
Palbociclib is prescribed to cure HER2- negative breast cancer that has perpetrated to other body parts and HR-positive in men as well as women. For women in post- menopause phase, it is administered is given in tandem with a hormonal drug such as letrozole [Femara]. While to others it is given in combination with fulvestrant [Faslodex].
The medication may also be utilized for purposes not mentioned in this concise clinical guide.
What are the common conditions in which Palbociclib prescribed?
This medicine is prescribed in the following conditions:
- HER2- negative breast cancer [both men and women]
- HR- positive [both men and women]
How should I take Palbociclib?
Adhere closely to the instructions of your doctor or as mentioned on the prescription label of the medicine.
Your doctor may sometimes alter your dose. Take the medicine precisely as per the directions.
This drug is administered in a 28- day treatment cycle, or alternately you might be required to use the medication during the initial 3 weeks of every cycle. The duration of treatment shall be decided by your doctor.
Always use palbociclib capsules along with food. Do not consume grapefruit products or supplements.
Since grapefruit might interact with this medicine and cause certain undesirable side- effects.
The tablet formulation of this drug can be used with meal or without it.
Be regular in your timings of using this medication and take it at the same time every day.
Do not swallow, crush, open, break, or chew the capsule, rather swallow it whole. Discard broken, damaged or tampered tablets.
In case you feel vomiting after taking this medication, delay your next dose until the subsequent day.
This medicine may potentially impact your immune system. It can make you prone to acquiring mild, or even severe infections easily.
Your doctor may undertake regular medical check- ups of your body.
Place at room temperature in a cool and dry area.
Typical Adult Dose for Breast Cancer:
28-day cycle: 125 mg taken orally once a day for 21 successive days followed by 7 days off
- Take the prescribed dose of an aromatase inhibitor when given with this drug. Refer to the prescribing information for the aromatase inhibitor being used.
- When taken with this drug, the prescribed dose of fulvestrant is 500 mg on Days 1, 15, 29, and once monthly afterwards. Refer to the recommended information for fulvestrant.
- Pre/perimenopausal women treated with the combination of this drug plus fulvestrant should be administered with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists as per local protocol.
Use: For HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in tandem with an aromatase inhibitor as early endocrine-based therapy in postmenopausal women OR fulvestrant in women with disease progression following endocrine therapy.
When should you not take Palbociclib?
This drug may affect your lungs or immune system. It can make you prone to mild or severe infections easily. If you get fever, chills, angina [chest pain], short of breath, or cough with or without mucus.
Inform your doctor if you have symptoms of infection (e.g., fever or chills), or if you have had:
- Hepatic [liver] illnesses; or
- Kidney diseases.
This medication might affect the unborn infant or inflict congenital defects in the baby if any of the parent is using this medicine.
Avoid using this drug if you are pregnant. Your pregnancy test ought to report negative prior to initiating this treatment.
Adopt effective birth control measure to avoid pregnancy for at least 3 weeks after your final dose.
Adopt effective birth control measure if you are a man, in case your partner is able to conceive. Continue using the birth control measures up until 3 weeks after your final dose.
Apprise your doctor if pregnancy happens while one of the parents is taking palbociclib. This medication may impact fertility (facility to bear children) in males.
However, it is significant to employ birth control to avoid pregnancy since it can have undesirable consequences on the unborn infant.
Avoid nursing your child while taking this medicine for minimum 3 weeks after your final dose.
What are the possible side effects of Palbociclib?
If you experience symptoms of allergic response to the medication such as hives, shallow breath, inflammation in your face, lips or throat, seek immediate medical attention.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience:
- blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or inflamed gums, difficulty in swallowing;
- low blood cell counts [anaemia]: fever, chills, general weakness, light headedness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, rare bleeding,
- pale skin, cold hands and feet, dizziness or shallow breath;
- symptoms of lung inflammation: new or aggravating cough, painful or troubled breathing, wheezing, feeling breathless even though you are resting; or
- symptoms of a blood clot in the lung: angina [chest pain], abrupt cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood.
The cancer therapies might be deferred or permanently stopped if you get the following symptoms:
Common side effects may comprise:
- low blood cell counts [anaemia], infections;
- easy bruising or bleeding;
- feeling weak, fatigue;
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
- mouth sores;
- abnormal liver function tests;
- dry skin, rash;
- changed sense of taste;
- nosebleed; or
- thinning hair or hair loss.
However, these all are not the only possible side- effects, as it may show in other symptoms as well. Ask your doctor for clinical guidance about its side effects.
What to do if I miss the dose?
In case you have missed the dose, avoid taking it until the next day. Do not take two doses at once to compensate for the skipped one.
Common Drug Interaction with Palbociclib
Other medications may interact with this drug, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. It is imperative that you disclose to your doctor regarding your current medicinal course and any medicine that you started or stopped using.
Bottom Line
Palbociclib is generally used to treat men and women having HER2 – breast cancer and HR2- positive. It must be administered specifically under the supervision of your medical professional to avoid any adverse consequences. Stick to precautions and if you observe any side- effect visit your doctor at once.
