Imbruvica User Reviews & Ratings

• Jerome...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2019

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "12/7/17, I was taking 3 (140mg) a day. The first 2 weeks it dropped me down (drained/ no desire to eat). After that, my body did a 180 degree change - 18 days in I was up walking freely and could taste food. I was 51 at that time, my Doctor told me that I may be on this for the rest of my life. Now here in March 2018, 1 pill a day (420mg). I truly grateful for my oncologist. I pray for us all."

• Asti...
• January 25, 2018

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I am a female going on 79 years old. I was first diagnosed with CLL in 2013, when my primary doctor noticed a rise in my WBC. I started seeing my present Oncologist in November of 2014. At one of my visits in 2015 he informed me that my WBC had reached 295,000. When I asked him if there was an alternative to chemo, that is when he put me on Imbruvica (3 pills a a day) -that was in August of 2015. I am still taking the same dosage of Imbruvica and my WBC is at 10,000. My visits to my doctor are now six months apart. No side affects."

• Robin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 12, 2017

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I began this medicine in October 2016 (age 62) and saw immediate results. Having lost a sister to Leukemia just 9 months prior to my own treatment I decided to begin with this fairly new FDA approved regimen for line treatment. The results were amazing, lymph nodes began shrinking immediately and with 6 weeks none were palpable! Due to onset a-fib, my oncologist would like me to switch to a clinical trial that is using the next generation of the ibrutinib medication which is showing less side affects, particularly with a-fib. The next generation of this drug is showing less side affects, particularly with a-fib so I am considering."

• Finge...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2016

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "Due to my having a variant GI system (with its own side-effects), my oncologist, in an abundance of caution, started me on Imbruvica 1 capsule in the AM, daily. Literally within days, the SIGNIFICANTLY large lymphs in the front and rear of my neck, disappeared. WOW! MY WBC's skyrocketed, but that is typically expected due to the mechanisms by which Imbruvica works. Oversimplifying here -- the abnormal (cancerous) cells, congregate in the lymphs. Imbruvica forces those abnormal cells out into the bloodstream, where they can be attacked and starved of the BTK protein, which they need to thrive and propagate. The "dead" abnormal cells are then flushed out of the body. After 2 months dose upped to 2 capsules daily, and still tolerating well."

• CLL
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2016

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I was prescribed Imbruvica for CLL after being in remission for several years. The past protocols had always worked but where very hard on my system. The side effects weren't as extreme as with other treatments. But Imbruvica did not work at all for me. Taking the drug has made my health & quality of life worse and now having stage 4 CLL my prognosis is grim. I lay in the hospital having numerous transfusions that are nothing more then a bandaid for my very soon eminent death."

• LCano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2019

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "CLL came back after almost 3 years being cancer free. Now I was put on Imbruvica. It fluctuates between 11,000 & 14,000 plus per month. It’s said to be a miracle drug. I take 3 capsules per day everyday for the rest of my life. All my numbers are better than the best my oncologist says. However no one mentions my weight loss. I’ve lost 40 lbs. I think the dosage needs to be adjusted as I believe it’s just too much for my size. Anyone else have the same experience?"

• BingB...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2018

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "Wow...I'm seeing a theme here! My husband began Imbruvica for CLL in June 2017 and we were both telling everyone that it was a miracle drug. Then at 3:00 AM on 12/30/17, he went into sudden cardiac arrest without any warning. It is an absolute miracle that he survived at all and he still has a long recovery ahead. I think this needs to get more coverage based on the number of people who have suddenly died - or almost died!!"

• SoBe
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2020

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "My husband was on Imbruvica for CLL. He was living a very full active life. He had no risk factors for a cardiac event. He died suddenly of cardiac arrest. Was it Ibrutinib that caused sudden death? I will never know but that is what I suspect."

• Drew
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2019

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I started Imbruvica in August 2019. I had to stop after only one dose due to an ER visit showing an Infection. I was taking 420 mg. Started back on Imbruvica again, lasted 7 doses then another Infection, this time a UTI that made me sepsis. I stayed out of ICU. Went on antibiotics, cleared up the Infection, and was started again on Imbruvica at 280 mg. I have went 28 days. I have nausea, some diarrhea, and pain in my lower right quadrant, and both sides of my lower back. I have medication to help with the nausea, and diarrhea. This medicine is my best chance to get my CLL back into remission. I was on Bendamustine, Rituan, and Newlasta. I was allergic to all three, had 7 hospitalizations and almost died. I was in remission for 39 months before this spring CLL ugly head appeared in my life again."

• Heart...
• October 21, 2019

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "It did reduce the size of my dad's lymph nodes so from that perspective it was working. My dad was previously treated with chemo. Almost immediately my dad had side effects.. very bad fatigue which was impacting his life and depressing him, he developed a cough which was monitored to ensure no pneumonia. Recently they put him on inhaler saying he developed asthma. He also could feel his heart pounding. He saw a cardiologist for this and had tests but nothing came up. He would get marks and bruising. He started to to get what my mom called chemo brain...we had been questioning if he should come off from the side effects but weren't sure of the alternatives especially now that he received this drug. The doctor said side effects lessen the longer you are on it so he decided to stick it out. He last saw the cardiologist two weeks ago. Last Sunday he dropped dead and couldn't be resuscitated. Cardiologist was perplexed."

• Grand...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 24, 2018

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "My husband has been on Imbruvica since October 2015 and is now down to one pill a day. It is a miracle drug but I just found out today that they are changing from capsules to tablets and tripling the price. Shame on you, greedy Johnson and Johnson."

• Best...
• November 16, 2017

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "He was doing so well on this treatment. But then he had a sudden cardiac arrest. It took 16 hours to get his heart to stabilize. He was shocked more than 20 times. He remains in the hospital three weeks later. His heart, brain, lungs are damaged. He cannot walk. He is a father of 2 teens and had just celebrated his 47th birthday."

• richa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 1, 2021

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I have been taking Imbruvica for 3 years, 420 mg. I have no side effects and my counts are in the normal ranges and very stable. It is a miracle drug as far as I am concerned. I previously had full chemo and it lasted 2 years then I relapsed."

• steve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2016

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "My 87 yr old mother took 3 pills in the morning. It lowered her white blood count from 125,000 two 14. 10 is normal. That's the only good thing, I can say about this medication. She had such severe diarrhea and vomiting , that she could not keep any kind of nutrition or food into her system . The drug almost nearly killed her . Her doctor took her off the medication for two weeks , then have her start taking it again at a lower does. Once again soon as she started taking the medication again , the side effects came back and the doctor decided not to continue with medication. Since her last appointment with her oncologist , her white blood cell count is now 50 . Next doctor appointment they're going to try a older less effective drug."

• Bobbie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2021

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "My mother had CLL, she was given Imbruvica, 3 weeks later she died. She got sepsis and organ failure. The Dr in the ICU told me it was from this drug! This Imbruvica should be recalled, very dangerous. The side effects is 5 foot long!"

• Fhertel
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2019

For Waldenström Macroglobulinemia "Initially, Imbruvica caused rather severe fatigue in first two months after which it gradually improved. Most noticeable side effect is frequent diarrhea. I take 1 Imodium cap almost every day and 2 after very loose stool. Also considerably raised blood pressure. Added 2 meds for this. I’m about 18 months after diagnosis and basic blood work shows white, red, and platelet count normal, but Igm protein level still elevated, but steadily decreasing. Usually feeling good, but still have unpredictable, but short episodes of fatigue requiring several hours of rest. Manufacturer provides a $30 supplement, a pittance considering monthly cost of $11,000."

• Rober...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 24, 2017

For Mantle Cell Lymphoma "For the first few months, I experienced some diarrhea. Then this condition subsided. For about a year, I experienced tingling in my hands and feet. Now, after about 15 months, this feeling is almost gone. Lymphoma had been found in my small intestine. After 15 months of imbruvica use, I have gained weight to a healthy level"

• Meghna
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2018

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "My father (68) is suffering from CLL since 2006. He has gone through several chemo sessions till now which has only deteriorated his health. Due to heavily pretreatment for his disease his health has only worsened. He gets admitted to hospital every 3 to 4 months for other ailments that happen due to the chemo sessions. His last chemo session happened in September 2018 which affected his brain heavily. Now doctor has again advised us to put him on Imbruvica (Ibrutinib). He has taken ibrutinib before for 6 to 8 months in year 2016-17 and all went well with him, except few common side affects. We discontinued with the medicine due to financial issues and again he was on chemo sessions. Now It's just third day of the dosage and he is suffering from headaches, vomiting, body chills and upset stomach. Our financial conditions don't allow to have this medicine now but this is the last hope for my father now."

• Mikel
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2021

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "CLL had my WBC at 120,000 and liver, spleen, nodes were beginning to swell. At 10 days on 420mg my count was 70,000, at 28 days 40,000. WBC continued down over next 10 months to 8,000. I had expected side effects over those 10 months diarrhea, mouth sores, joint pain, etc. At the exact time my WBC reached normal levels, the drug became toxic with devastating urinary issues as well as every side effect listed. Stopped the full dose for 3 weeks, WBC rose to 20,000. Started 280mg with minimal and tolerable side effects. WBC now at 13,000 and falling. If toxicity returns we will try 140mg."

• Nada
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2018

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "My dad has CLL. Started taking Imbruvica and a month later developed lesions on his brain, spleen, lungs, and adrenal glands. Lesions were initially thought to be cancerous. A biopsy proved that the lesions were actually a fungus called aspergillosis. This particular type that my dad has is invasive and very often fatal in patients with a compromised immune system. I should’ve done a better job at researching all of the side effects. My main concern was cardiac issues and I don’t recall seeing information about this drug causing fungi before my dad started it. The CLL was managed by chemo infusion pretty well in my opinion; now I feel like this new drug has caused WAY more issues for him and FAST!"

• Alice
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 12, 2020

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I was diagnosed with CLL and was immediately taking 420 Imbruvica for 18 months until a physicians assistant advised me I could be on a watch and wait status since my white cells were still low. I hated the side effects and quickly stopped using the drug. The side effects continue as damage occurred to my body. I will not be treated by this drug ever again and feel my Dr was wrong to prescribe it for me. It is a horrible drug."

• Dave
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2021

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I was diagnosed with CLL in August of 2016. My WBC at that time was 26,500 and remained stable until early 2019 but then started to climb steadily. By March of 2021 my WBC was 203,000. Also a CT scan showed that the number and size of enlarged lymph nodes had increased dramatically. So my oncologist decided it was time to start treatments. He was able to get me into a research study using a combination of three drugs, Ibrutinib, Obinutuzumab and Venetoclax. After the first dose of Ibrutinib my WBC dropped to 83,000 within a couple of days . A week later it was down to 19,400 and after another 2 weeks it was at 9,500. I also had another CT scan done after 2 months on Ibrutinib and the enlarged lymph nodes had almost disappeared completely. I've had zero side effects. This has been a miracle drug for me."

• Still...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2022

For Mantle Cell Lymphoma "For me this has been a wonder drug. I was riddled with tumors when I started 560 mg daily. With additional treatment with Rituxan, all the tumors disappeared. I had practically no side effects. At the end of chemo, I was in remission and off of medication for 4 years. The mantle cell lymphoma then began to reactivate, and I was put back on 560 mg of Imbruvica, and went back into remission immediately. After a year, the dosage was reduced to 280 mg daily. Nearly two further years on, I am still in remission, and I have no side effects at all. I could not recommend this drug more highly for mantle cell lymphoma."

• larry...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 19, 2023

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I was diagnosed with 4th stage Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2011. I was prescribed Imbruvica and I have been taking it for five years now. Imbruvica saved my life, my oncologist had given me one year to live in about 2016."

• Muki
• October 2, 2020

For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia "I've been on Imbruvica for only 6 weeks because of bad side effects my doctor stopped the medication. Since I started taking the medication in October 2019 and now is October 2020 still have the diarrhea. I tried all medications and some teas to stopped it. Really don't know what to do."