Acalabrutinib for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia User Reviews

• DKJ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 7, 2020

Acalabrutinib "Have had CLL for 10 years. Joined early MD Anderson ACP196 trial for previously untreated 6 years ago, after having a great buildup of fluid around the lungs. All problems went away within a couple of months after starting treatment. Life is normal with no side effects. Have traveled the world since. Still a trial participant."

• JRM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 24, 2023

Acalabrutinib "I was prescribed Calquence several months ago. Within 24-36 hours of taking the first dose, I began to have excruciating cramping in my upper thighs and buttocks. My doctor was not aware of such cramping as a result of Calquence, so I continued taking one pill per day rather than two. The cramps continued and left me screaming on the bed, with my husband using a massaging wand on the cramping areas. My primary care doctor prescribed me a muscle relaxant. Neither offered any relief. There was no decrease in the cramping, so I discontinued Calquence completely. The cramping subsided within several hours. After approximately ten days, I began taking one pill daily to see if the cramping would resume; it did not. After a few weeks, I introduced the second pill on alternate days, with no cramping. After another week, I began taking the second pill daily, and I've had no problem with cramping since. A pharmacist told my husband that cramping is a known side effect of this drug."

• Edw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2023

Acalabrutinib "It has been wonderful. I was really sick, and after they made the diagnosis and then determined I had CLL, they put me on Calquence. I gained most of my lost weight back. Blood work has been really good. Side effects: sore knees, bad muscle aches, but lymph nodes are back to normal size."

• Eds...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2023

Acalabrutinib "Calquence has worked extremely well for me. My CLL is now under control. I had headaches at first - I hadn't heard about coffee helping with the headaches. Easy to take - it's a tablet now. The dosage is 100mg twice a day. Overall, I'm extremely pleased."

• Pet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2023

Acalabrutinib "I have been on Calquence for a little over two years (2021 - 2023). My starting WBC was about 100k. On a typical dosage (100 mg b.i.d.), the count has since dropped steadily to 12.78k as of 06/2023 (ref. range 3.8k - 10.8k / μL). My oncologist and I are pleased with these results. Although the condition persists, I should be less likely to endure large-scale damage to my lymph system with these more manageable numbers. In addition, β2 microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase have maintained levels within their reference ranges. Fortunately, I have not yet experienced any of the commonly listed side effects – even the milder ones. Of course, I do take extreme precaution with sun exposure. With these results, we feel confident about chronic usage of Calquence until CAR-T cell therapy (or whatever is next) becomes approved and widely available."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2023

Acalabrutinib "I was diagnosed with an 'accelerated' form of CLL/SLL several months ago that required immediate treatment intervention, including blood transfusions. Calquence has been taken for the past 3 months with no other medication included. Response has been excellent with leukocytes decreased from 150K to a normal range. I am still anemic with HgB at 9.0, but gradually improving. No side effects other than bruising without any severe bleeding. At this time, Calquence works extremely well and I have been able to resume my usual daily living activities."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2023

Acalabrutinib "I started on this medication seven weeks ago. Within a week, my lymphocytosis went away. But I think I’ve had every side effect that was mentioned, and now, after seven weeks, I feel better. My blood cancer is still high, but it’s going down. I’m tired a lot. But so far, it’s working well for me."

• Dar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 29, 2024

Acalabrutinib "Very quickly brought my very high WBC down to within the normal range. RBC is still low, but platelets are good. I had a mild headache for a couple of days, but that went away and hasn't come back. It took maybe 3 or 4 months before I started feeling better overall with more energy. I have been taking Calquence for four years with no problems."

• Nel...
• February 1, 2024

Acalabrutinib "I have taken Calquence since March of 2023 and treatment has been successful in decreasing the spleen size and other nodes. I have not experienced side effects of any kind and, in general terms, tolerate the medication well. Very happy with the results thus far."

• OTM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2022

"Diagnosed with CLL 7 months now, August 2021. WBC was 453. Two weeks after starting treatment with Calquence (acalbrutinib), my WBC dropped to almost half, 226. To date, I am below 10. Very happy with the results. My only side effect from the medication, long time exposure to direct sun, causes headaches and could cause skin problems. Told to use sunblock. It is working for me. Pill 100 mg, 2x a day."

• Jim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 18, 2024

Acalabrutinib "I feel this is a good medication for CLL. It has significantly lowered my WBC and Absolute Lymphocytes. Side effects I have: bruising, joint pain, swollen left ankle, blood thinning, I cut easily and my scabs are dark black, some tiredness, AFIB."

• Doo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2024

Acalabrutinib "In the beginning, my immune system and Hb were extremely low. What I got from the beginning till today, 8 months later, are dizziness followed by shortness of breath. Since one month or more, a light lung inflammation. Thinking of stopping or taking half of the Calquence. A shame, as the leukocytes went down rapidly."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2024

Acalabrutinib "After 5 years of going in for blood work, my oncologist put me on Calquence. I feel really good. I do get sleepy in the afternoons at times, and I take a nap sometimes. The only side effects I have had are diarrhea and bruising. However, I take Eliquis, which also causes bruising. I just started having a discharge. I take 1 tablet in the mornings and 1 at night. Calquence is very easy to take."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2024

Acalabrutinib "I bruise more easily, and they last longer. It takes more effort to do things, and I am more easily tired, occasionally exhausted. Some dizziness occasionally. Blood does not immediately stop after a needle prick, unnoticed scratches from bushes or plants that send blood dripping from my hands, arms, legs!"

• DDH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2024

"Good results, if slow in coming. I take Diltiazem for chronic a-fib in the morning that interacts with the acalabrutinib that I take in the evening. Hence, my dosage is reduced to one tab daily. I have gained back 20 lost pounds since starting the drug 6 months ago. Most annoying side effect is muscle pain in the back. Pain is worse in the evenings. Reduced by PT exercises twice daily. Fatigue is also an issue. General health, appearance, and well-being much improved and worth tolerating the side effects. Platelets are an issue, 80-100 most recently. Prevents minor surgeries and some eye treatment on hold for a year or more. To be fair, platelets were low before acalabrutinib."

• R B...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 21, 2024

Acalabrutinib "I have been on Calquence for over 5 years. I have not had any problems; however, I take prebiotics and probiotics to ensure a healthy gut. I started using prebiotics and probiotics when I would take antibiotics. Then, when I developed CLL, it only made sense to take them since most cancer drugs kill fast-growing cells like the bacteria in your gastric system. I have had great results and have labs that are better than many patients without cancer."

• Dut...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 3, 2025

Acalabrutinib "I have been on Calquence for CLL now for almost 5 years. My blood counts are now very good. As a person now 84 years old, I am happy for that. No side effects at all for me for years. I exercise properly most days of the week over the years. I have extreme osteoarthritis in my feet, and it does cause more pain increases in that. I also believe in the last few months, after many years of taking it, that it may cause vertigo issues, as I have had some extreme issues with that lately. Overall, it has kept me alive with CLL quite a few years now, with just a few side effects now coming on. I have very good prescription drug coverage, but it is getting more and more difficult to receive the drug free over the last few years. I do believe the cost of it is absurd! I had a severe attack of CLL, was hospitalized for weeks, then 3 months of rehab, but after that, I've led a pretty much normal life. It has worked for me! Not sure about extended long-term effects of it though?"

• JAH...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 6, 2025

Acalabrutinib "Blood test results for an annual physical predicted that I might have leukemia. Multiple tests, including a bone marrow biopsy, gave a diagnosis of CLL with a massively enlarged spleen. The oncologist started me on two 100 mg Calquence per day. After about one year, my spleen was back to almost normal size and blood cell counts improved, but not enough. It is now over 2 years since my diagnosis. The major side effect of taking Calquence is that it generates gas in my intestines, causes me to sometimes have multiple bowel movements each day, and diarrhea too often. I also get tired very easily, but that can partially be attributed to my age, which is 91. My platelet count has improved from 50 to 120 - still too low."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 18, 2023

Acalabrutinib "June 9th, my father passed away from a brain bleed. He took that medicine for three years."

• Aug...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 29, 2023

Acalabrutinib "Have used Calquence for over a year, it has brought my white blood cell count back to an acceptable level. I had lost 40 lbs and have gained back 30. For me, this has truly been a Godsend."

• EMC...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 14, 2024

Acalabrutinib "Severe dizziness developed approx. 5 months after starting treatment. Dry mouth. Sore on tongue."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2024

Acalabrutinib "A life saver! Lowered my white cell count and somehow radically improved my ulcerative colitis."

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 23, 2023

Acalabrutinib "Helped alleviate fatigue. No identifiable side effects. 100mg@12hrs"

• pla...
• January 19, 2025

Acalabrutinib "I continually have a stuffed nose and can't breathe easily. At this moment in time, I'm only taking one pill a day, which is 100 mg."

• Edw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2024

Acalabrutinib "Daily headaches most days, sometimes migraine. Sometimes skin feels sunburned, even though no visible signs of sunburn and haven't been outside for days."