Ibrance interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Ibrance interactions with other medications  

Before you start treatment with Ibrance, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Ibrance interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Ibrance and other interactions” section.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Ibrance. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Ibrance. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”

Ibrance interaction with alcohol

There are no known interactions between Ibrance and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Ibrance treatment.

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Ibrance side effects. For example, you may experience:

• nausea
• vomiting
• headache
• diarrhea

In addition, Ibrance can cause mouth sores. Consuming alcohol can make these sores more painful.

These side effects may be more likely to occur if you consume alcohol during Ibrance treatment. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor.

Ibrance and other interactions

Ibrance may have other interactions, such as with foods, supplements, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details in the following sections. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Ibrance.

Ibrance interactions with food

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with Ibrance. Specifically, grapefruit products can stop your body from breaking down Ibrance. This raises the level of Ibrance in your body, which increases your risk of side effects from Ibrance. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug.

Ibrance interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Ibrance, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Ibrance interactions with vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Ibrance oral capsule or Ibrance oral tablet. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Ibrance.

Ibrance interactions with herbs

Doctors will typically recommend that you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Ibrance. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that some people use to treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort may speed up the activity of an enzyme (a type of protein) in your body called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). This enzyme helps break down Ibrance.

By speeding up this enzyme, St. John’s wort can cause Ibrance to break down more quickly. And this may lead to a low level of Ibrance in your system. If the level of Ibrance in your system is too low, the drug may not work to treat your breast cancer.

It’s also possible for Ibrance to interact with turmeric. According to some older researchTrusted Source, turmeric can reduce the activity of CYP3A4. Because this enzyme helps break down Ibrance, slowing its activity may cause Ibrance to build up in your system. This could increase your risk of side effects from Ibrance. But studies haven’t tested the use of Ibrance and turmeric together so it’s not known for sure if they will interact.

Before taking St. John’s wort or turmeric with Ibrance, talk with your doctor.

Ibrance interactions with vaccines

There are no known interactions between Ibrance and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Ibrance interactions with lab tests

Ibrance is not known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

IBRANCE INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Ibrance oral capsule or Ibrance oral tablet. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Ibrance. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Ibrance treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Drug interactions in depth

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Ibrance.

Certain HIV drugs

HIV drugs are used to reduce the amount of HIV in the body. Certain HIV drugs can interact with Ibrance.

Interaction result:Taking Ibrance with certain HIV medications can increase the risk of side effects of Ibrance.

Interaction explained: Certain HIV medications can reduce the activity of an enzyme that helps break down Ibrance in your body. This can cause Ibrance to build up in your system, which increases your risk of Ibrance side effects.

Examples of HIV drugs: Here are some HIV drugs that may interact with Ibrance:

• lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra)
• saquinavir (Invirase)
• nelfinavir (Viracept)
• indinavir (Crixivan)
• ritonavir (Norvir)

Steps you or your doctor may take:Tell your doctor if you take HIV medications before you start Ibrance treatment. They can help determine if your HIV medications will interact with Ibrance. If so, they may recommend a lower dosage of Ibrance than usual, or they may recommend a different treatment altogether.

Certain antiepileptic drugs

Antiepileptic drugs are used to treat seizures and epilepsy.

Interaction result: Taking Ibrance with certain antiepileptic drugs can make Ibrance less effective.

Interaction explained: Certain antiepileptic drugs can speed up the activity of an enzyme responsible for breaking down Ibrance in your body. This can lower the levels of Ibrance in your system, making the drug less effective at treating your breast cancer.

Examples of antiepileptic drugs: Here are some antiepileptic drugs that may interact with Ibrance:

• carbamazepine (Tegretol, others)
• phenytoin (Dilantin, others)
• oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
• fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
• phenobarbital

Steps you or your doctor may take: Tell your doctor if you take any antiepileptic drugs before you start Ibrance. If you’re taking certain antiepileptic drugs, they may not prescribe Ibrance. They can discuss alternative treatment options that are safer for you.

Certain immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressants are drugs that weaken the immune system. They can treat various conditions, including autoimmune diseases and cancers. They may also help prevent organ transplant rejection.

Interaction result: Taking Ibrance with certain immunosuppressants can increase the risk of side effects of the immunosuppressant.

Interaction explained: Ibrance can partially slow the activity of an enzyme responsible for breaking down certain immunosuppressants in your body. This can increase the levels of the immunosuppressant in your system, which can increase the risk of side effects.

Examples of immunosuppressant drugs: Here are some immunosuppressants that may interact with Ibrance:

• cyclosporine (Neoral, others)
• everolimus (Afinitor, others)
• tacrolimus (Prograf, others)
• sirolimus (Rapamune)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If you take an immunosuppressant, tell your doctor before you start taking Ibrance. If your immunosuppressant interacts with Ibrance, your doctor may lower your dose of the immunosuppressant to avoid this interaction.

Ibrance and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Ibrance. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Ibrance may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Ibrance include:

• Current infection: Ibrance can weaken your immune system. This can increase your risk of infection and make it harder for your body to fight off infections. If you have an active infection, your doctor may not prescribe Ibrance until the infection is cleared.
• Liver problems: If you have liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Ibrance. This is because Ibrance can also cause liver problems. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely order blood tests to monitor your liver function while you take Ibrance.
• Lung problems: Rarely, Ibrance can cause or worsen lung problems. If you have a history of lung problems, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. Tell your doctor if you have any lung conditions. They can help determine if Ibrance is safe for you.
• Kidney problems: If you have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Ibrance since Ibrance can also cause kidney problems. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely order blood tests to check your kidney function while you take Ibrance.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Ibrance or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Ibrance. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It is not safe to use Ibrance while breastfeeding or for at least 3 weeks after your last dose. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before using Ibrance. They can discuss treatment options and ways to feed a child who is breastfed.
• Pregnancy: Ibrance is not safe to take while pregnant. If you’re female* and can become pregnant, your doctor will likely recommend birth control during Ibrance treatment and for at least 3 weeks after your last dose. If you’re male* and have a partner who can become pregnant, your doctor may recommend male birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Ibrance. They can advise the right treatment plan for you.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms “female” and “male” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Ibrance. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication listTrusted Source, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Ibrance label and other paperworkTrusted Source that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Ibrance doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Ibrance by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.