Calquence (Acalabrutinib)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Calquence Used For?
Calquence is an anti-cancer medication that helps treat certain types of blood cancers by blocking a protein that helps cancer cells grow.
Primary Uses
Calquence treats Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), a blood cancer affecting lymph nodes in patients who have had at least one other treatment. It also treats Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL), blood cancers that affect white blood cells and lymph nodes.
How It Works
Calquence blocks a protein called BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase) that helps cancer cells grow. By blocking this protein, it may help reduce the number of cancer cells and slow the spread of cancer.
How to Take Calquence
Take Calquence exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The capsules should be swallowed whole and taken consistently to maintain steady levels in your body.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is one 100 mg capsule twice daily, taken about 12 hours apart. Take at the same time each day for best results. Swallow capsules whole with water – do not chew, dissolve, or open them. You can take with or without food. Check the sun and moon symbols on the blister pack to track your doses.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose by less than 3 hours, take it right away and continue with your regular schedule. If you miss a dose by more than 3 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose, and don’t stop taking or change your dose without checking with your doctor first.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Infection symptoms (fever, chills, flu-like symptoms)
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Rash
- Bruising
- Bleeding (including nosebleeds)
- Feeling very tired (fatigue)
- High blood pressure
- Muscle and bone pain
- Joint pain
- New cancers (including skin cancer)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of serious bleeding (blood in stools or urine, prolonged bleeding)
- Signs of serious infection (pneumonia, aspergillosis with fever, chills, body aches, shortness of breath)
- Heart problems (atrial fibrillation with chest discomfort, shortness of breath, heart palpitations)
Important Warnings
Calquence has important safety considerations that you should discuss with your healthcare team before starting treatment.
Who Should Not Take Calquence
Do not take Calquence if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or allergic to acalabrutinib or any ingredients in the capsules. Not recommended for children or adolescents under 18 years.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, bleeding disorders, infections, liver problems, hepatitis B, heart rhythm problems like atrial fibrillation, or any other medical conditions. Also inform them if you take other medications or have upcoming surgery, medical, or dental procedures.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Calquence may harm your unborn baby, so you should not take it if pregnant or planning pregnancy. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after your final dose, as it’s unknown if the medicine passes into breast milk.
Surgery Warning: Your doctor may ask you to stop taking Calquence for up to 7 days before or after medical, surgical, or dental procedures as it may increase bleeding risk.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can affect how Calquence works or increase your risk of side effects. Always tell your healthcare providers about all medicines you’re taking.
Bleeding Risk: Calquence may make you bleed more easily, so tell your doctor about any medicines that increase bleeding risk, including aspirin and blood thinners.
- Heart rhythm medicines (amiodarone, diltiazem, verapamil)
- Antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin, ciprofloxacin, rifampin)
- Antifungal medicines (fluconazole, posaconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole)
- HIV medicines (ritonavir, cobicistat, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir)
- Hepatitis C medicines (telaprevir)
- Seizure medicines (carbamazepine, phenytoin)
- St. John’s wort
- Stomach acid reducers (antacids, ranitidine, famotidine, omeprazole, esomeprazole)
- Methotrexate
- Diabetes medicines (metformin)
- Blood thinners and pain medicines (aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin)
Alcohol & Driving
Calquence may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely, so take precautions until you know how it affects you.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings mentioned in the source material. Consult your doctor about alcohol consumption while taking Calquence.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Calquence affects you, as it may cause dizziness, weakness, or tiredness in some people.
Storage
Store Calquence capsules in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on windowsills. Keep out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Calquence, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source material doesn’t specify how long Calquence takes to work. Your doctor will monitor your progress through regular appointments and blood tests to check how well the medication is working for your specific condition.
Yes, you can take Calquence capsules with or without food. Take them at the same time each day for best results.
If you miss a dose by less than 3 hours, take it right away and continue your regular schedule. If you miss a dose by more than 3 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Never take a double dose.
No, do not stop taking Calquence or change your dose without checking with your doctor first. Continue taking it until your doctor tells you to stop, even if you feel better.
The medication information states you should be careful to protect yourself from the sun while taking Calquence, though the specific reason isn’t detailed. Follow your doctor’s advice about sun protection.
Tell your surgeon or anesthetist that you’re taking Calquence before any surgery. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking it for up to 7 days before or after medical, surgical, or dental procedures because it may increase your risk of bleeding.
Your doctor will do regular blood tests to monitor for side effects including decreased white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, as well as a condition called tumor lysis syndrome. Keep all your doctor’s appointments so your progress can be checked.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.