Key takeaways

  • Imbruvica is a prescription drug used in adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow.
  • The drug is available in three oral forms: a capsule, tablet, and suspension. Regardless of the form you’re prescribed, the typical dosage is 420 milligrams (mg) taken once per day.
  • Imbruvica can cause side effects ranging from mild issues like diarrhea and fatigue to more serious ones such as heart-related problems and severe infection.

The active ingredient in Imbruvica is ibrutinib. Imbruvica belongs to a group of drugs called kinase inhibitors.

Besides CLL, Imbruvica is also approved to treat:

This article will focus on how Imbruvica works to treat CLL, including people with CLL who have a 17p deletion (a certain change affecting your genes).

Imbruvica is prescribed to treat CLL in adults, including adults with CLL that has a 17p deletion. (A 17p deletion refers to a change within your chromosomes, DNA, and genes that affects how CLL spreads in the body.)

CLL is a blood cancer that begins in your bone marrow and affects lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Symptoms of CLL include painless swelling or lumps under your skin, weakness, and fatigue. CLL is a slow-growing cancer, and it often doesn’t cause symptoms at first. Usually, it gets detected when a doctor orders blood tests (such as at a routine checkup) and notices a test result that suggests CLL.

Imbruvica is considered a first-line treatment for CLL, according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). “First-line treatment” refers to the first treatment received to treat CLL. This type of cancer often requires different treatments over time.

Imbruvica works to treat CLL by stopping the cancer from growing and spreading in your blood cells. To learn more about how Imbruvica works to treat CLL, see the following section.

For treating CLL, Imbruvica may be prescribed on its own. It may also be prescribed along with rituximab (Rituxan), obinutuzumab (Gazyva), or both bendamustine (Treanda, others) and rituximab.

If you’re prescribed Imbruvica for CLL, you may be curious about how the drug works to treat your condition. How a drug works is called its mechanism of action.

Imbruvica treats CLL by blocking a protein called tyrosine kinase. This protein sends signals that are necessary for certain blood cells (including B-cells, a type of lymphocyte) to grow and move throughout the body. By blocking tyrosine kinase, Imbruvica stops cancerous blood cells from growing and spreading.

Clinical studies found Imbruvica to be effective for treating CLL in adults, including CLL with a 17p deletion. You can learn more about how Imbruvica performed in these studies in the drug’s prescribing information. Your doctor or pharmacist can also provide more information on the effectiveness of Imbruvica for CLL.

Guidelines published by the NCCN consider Imbruvica a first-line treatment for CLL. “First-line treatment” refers to the first treatment used to treat a condition.

If a drug is considered a first-line treatment option in guidelines, it means there’s quality evidence to suggest the drug should be considered as your first treatment for CLL. But keep in mind there are other first-line treatments for CLL, and your doctor will consider all factors (such as your insurance coverage and other medications you take) when determining your CLL treatment plan.

How to tell if Imbruvica is working

You likely won’t “feel” Imbruvica working in your body. Instead, your doctor can provide information on how they’ll monitor Imbruvica’s effectiveness for your CLL throughout your treatment.

The following is information on taking Imbruvica for CLL. Dosages of Imbruvica described in the following section are from the drug’s manufacturer and are not meant to replace instructions from your doctor. Remember to always follow the dosage and instructions prescribed by your doctor.

Typical Imbruvica dosage for CLL

For treating CLL, the usual dosage for Imbruvica is 420 milligrams (mg) taken once per day.

If you have a liver problem, take certain other medications, or experience side effects during Imbruvica treatment, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage.

Note: Imbruvica has other uses in addition to treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The dosage may be different for these other uses. To learn more, talk with your doctor.

How do you take Imbruvica?

Imbruvica is available in the following forms:

  • oral capsule
  • oral tablet
  • oral suspension

Imbruvica oral capsules and oral tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. You may take Imbruvica capsules or tablets with or without food. You should not cut, crush, or chew the tablets; the capsules should not be opened, chewed, or broken. If you have difficulty swallowing pills, let your doctor know. They may prescribe the oral suspension form for you instead.

Imbruvica oral suspension comes with an oral dosing syringe that you’ll use to take doses by mouth. Doses of the oral suspension should be washed down with water. To view full instructions for use for the Imbruvica oral suspension, see the drug’s prescribing information. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How often should I take Imbruvica?

For treating CLL, you’ll take Imbruvica once per day. You can take Imbruvica at any time of day, but you should try to take your dose at the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps it work effectively.

If you miss a dose of Imbruvica, take the missed dose as soon as possible. But if it’s the next day, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its regular time. You should not take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.

For more information about dosing schedules for Imbruvica, see this Imbruvica dosage article.

Taking Imbruvica for chronic lymphocytic leukemia may cause side effects in some people. These side effects can be mild to serious.

Imbruvica is also approved to treat Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and chronic graft-versus-host disease. It’s important to note that side effects from Imbruvica may differ depending on the condition it’s used to treat.

The following lists include some of the main side effects reported in people taking Imbruvica. For information about other possible side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also learn more from the Imbruvica side effects article or from the drug’s prescribing information.

Imbruvica’s mild side effects

Imbruvica may cause mild side effects in some people. These include:

In many cases, mild side effects from the drug can be temporary. Some side effects may be easy to manage, too. But if side effects last for a longer time, or if they bother you or become severe, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Imbruvica’s serious side effects

In rare cases, taking Imbruvica may lead to serious side effects. Examples include:

Call your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects while taking Imbruvica. If the side effects seem life threatening or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Imbruvica can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies, but it has been reported since Imbruvica was approved.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Imbruvica treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Imbruvica, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Before you take Imbruvica, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned here.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors apply to you, talk with your doctor before taking Imbruvica.

The price of Imbruvica depends on several factors. These can include your treatment plan, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.

Imbruvica is a brand-name drug that’s not currently available as a generic. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generics.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.