Skip to main content

Abemaciclib and Diarrhea: What Users Say

Brand names: Verzenio

Diarrhea: mentioned by 13 users (38.2%)

Based on user experiences from 34 Abemaciclib reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

diarrhea 38.2%
fatigue 20.6%
tiredness 14.7%

Reviews for Abemaciclib

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Swi...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • May 21, 2023

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "I’ve been taking Verzenio for just over 1.5 years and have about 5 months to go. I'm taking it because I’m at high risk for recurrence. I take 150 mg twice daily. I have diarrhea just about every day, often multiple times per day. Imodium helps, but I have to take that sparingly or I will have the opposite problem. I am exhausted all the time and have very low energy. I have terrible GERD also, but Pepcid has really helped that. I will finish this medication because I’ll do anything to have as much time as possible with my family. I feel the side effects are worth the potential benefits."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
68 Report
  • C H...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 21, 2023

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "Started on Verzenio. At first, I had diarrhea when eating milk products, including small amounts of dairy in any foods. This was at 150 mg twice daily. The diarrhea got worse and would not stop no matter what I ate. It slowed to a stop when I went on the 100 mg. My lungs have a bit of a problem, my creatinine levels are a bit high, and my white count is down. I am tired and need 1-2 naps a day. But I am managing. I am back to work 1-3 days a week. Loving my job. I found Gatorade and Powerade to help along with my vitamins."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
36 Report
  • Cla...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • June 27, 2024

For Breast Cancer "I am on this to help reduce the chance of breast cancer recurrence. I have nearly completed the two years of medication and am still on the full dosage. I did have a bit of trouble with diarrhea to start with, but I discovered that if I gave up wheat then my digestive system was much happier. I also started following the Zoe advice to increase my gut biome, I have a 14-hour daily fast, and lots of foods that promote a healthy gut. Since then, I have had absolutely no problems with diarrhea or any other gut problems. I have developed very high HDL cholesterol, and I don't know if this is due to the abemaciclib or letrozole. It is unfortunate that my lipid levels were not taken before treatment, so I am comparing with results from a long time ago. I am extremely fit and healthy and do a lot of exercise. I have found all the cancer drugs fairly easy to cope with, including chemotherapy. My nails are soft, and my lymphocyte count is low, but neutrophil count is normal."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • March 19, 2025

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "I took the 150 mg dosage of Verzenio twice a day for two years. I experienced terrible, out-of-control diarrhea for the entire time. I would have zero urge to go to the bathroom, and then suddenly had to go so badly that I had mere seconds to get to the toilet. I was very nervous about leaving the house, as there seemed to be no schedule or way to plan for an incident. As a result, there were plenty of 'accidents.' The diarrhea was always the color of the medication - kind of a turmeric yellow - and the accidents permanently stained many pieces of clothing. I have now been off the Verzenio for eight months, and I still have only diarrhea - I haven't had a normal bowel movement in nearly three years. I have not had a recurrence of breast cancer at this point, so hopefully, it was effective. I chose to stay on it at the higher dose because the hope that the drug would work was more important to me than the side effects."

6 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report
  • Hil...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 5, 2023

For Breast Cancer "I was prescribed 150 mg twice a day because I am at high risk of recurring lobular breast cancer. After 5 weeks, I could no longer tolerate it due to diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and many other side effects. I was given a 4-week break to recover and restarted on 50 mg twice a day. I have been taking the low dose for 6 weeks, and I am tolerating it very well. The intention is to increase the amount again gradually, and I hope I can cope with it because I am concerned that just 50 mg twice daily will not be very effective."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • JNi...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 19, 2024

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "I have been prescribed this as a preventative treatment. I’ve just finished 24 rounds. Started on 150 mg twice daily and struggled with diarrhea, lost quite a bit of weight, and had dosage reduced to 100 mg twice daily. This was much more manageable. Fatigue was the main side effect throughout. It peaked at round 22, which then caused another reduction to 50 mg twice daily. My last round was at 100 mg twice daily. The drug was easy to take morning and night. Overall, worth the fatigue to protect me moving forward. 24 rounds seemed excessive when I was told after other treatments, but it has gone quickly, and I did like that I still was checked in regularly through the period. I can’t really comment on its effectiveness as my reason for taking it cannot be evidenced at this point."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
3 Report
  • ann...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 4, 2025

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "Took for 5 months, beginning of March 2024 to the last week of July 2024. Occasional diarrhea, treated effectively with diarrhea medication. July 2024, began having shortness of breath. Last week of July, went to my pulmonologist. Chest CT done. I had pneumonitis, bilateral. Hospitalized for 2 days. Treated with corticosteroids. On discharge, treated with oral prednisone. Started with 40 mg, then weaned off initially after 4 weeks, then restarted for another 4 weeks. Last dose was the 3rd week of October. Pneumonitis resolved."

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report

More FAQ

  • Luc...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • February 19, 2020

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "Verzenio has worked after my wife’s initial treatment failed and her cancer returned. She had some initial diarrhea, but our doctor adjusted the dose, and now all is going well."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
55 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 19, 2025

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "I had a lot of diarrhea for several months. Then I started taking anti-diarrhea medication at the same time that I took Verzenio, and I didn't have as much diarrhea."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report
  • Ama...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 12, 2024

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "Some diarrhea, and fatigue. Otherwise, it’s easy to take and doesn’t bother me."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
8 Report
  • BP1...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 3, 2023

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "I experienced stomach cramps, severe diarrhea, elevated blood pressure, and stomach bloating while taking this."

6 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
12 Report
  • kan...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 31, 2025

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "First 6 months... diarrhea twice a week... now hardly ever have this side effect for the last 5 months. Have given up sugar too."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
1 Report
  • dmo...
  • February 3, 2025

Abemaciclib for Breast Cancer "I have had on and off liquid diarrhea since starting Verzenio with a pill related to Faslodex (not approved yet - Giredestrant)"

6 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
0 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.