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Ibrance

Pronunciation: EYE-brans
Generic name: palbociclib
Dosage form: oral tablet, oral capsule
Drug class: CDK 4/6 inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 20, 2024.

What is Ibrance?

Ibrance is used to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Ibrance is used in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as the first hormonal-based therapy, or fulvestrant in those with breast cancer progression following hormonal therapy.

Ibrance's mechanism of action involves blocking proteins involved in cell division called cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK), specifically CDK 4 and 6, preventing the cancer from dividing and multiplying uncontrollably. HR+ breast cancer cells rely heavily on CDK 4/6 for growth. Ibrance belongs to the drug class CDK 4/6 inhibitors.

Ibrance is a targeted treatment, it is not chemotherapy (see: Is Ibrance a form of chemo? for more information).

Ibrance gained FDA approval on February 3, 2015. An Ibrance generic is available under the name palbociclib (see generic Ibrance availability).

Ibrance uses

Ibrance is used to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women or men. Ibrance should always be used in combination with:

Ibrance side effects

The most common side effects of Ibrance are:

These Ibrance side effects are the most common ones that occur when used with either letrozole or fulvestrant.

Hair loss is not considered a common side effect of Ibrance. Ibrance is more likely to cause hair thinning (see How common is hair loss with Ibrance?).

Ibrance may cause fertility problems in males. This may affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider about family planning options before starting Ibrance if this is a concern for you.

Serious side effects and warnings

Ibrance may cause the following serious side effects.

Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cell counts are very common when taking Ibrance and may cause serious infections that can lead to death. Your healthcare provider should check your white blood cell counts before and during treatment.

If you develop low white blood cell counts during treatment with Ibrance, your healthcare provider may stop your treatment, decrease your dose, or tell you to wait to begin your treatment cycle. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs and symptoms of low white blood cell counts or infections such as fever and chills.

Lung problems (pneumonitis). Ibrance may cause severe or life-threatening inflammation of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms, including:

Your healthcare provider may interrupt or stop treatment with Ibrance completely if your symptoms are severe.

It is not known if Ibrance is safe and effective in children.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Ibrance. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking

Before taking Ibrance, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Pregnancy

Ibrance can harm your unborn baby. Females who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose of Ibrance. Your healthcare provider may ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Ibrance.

Males with female partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with Ibrance for at least 3 months after the last dose of Ibrance. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you during this time.

If you become pregnant or think you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider right away.

Breastfeeding

It is not known if Ibrance passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Ibrance and for 3 weeks after the last dose.

How should I take Ibrance?

Take Ibrance exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.

Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit products during treatment with Ibrance. Grapefruit may increase the amount of Ibrance in your blood.

Do not change your dose or stop taking Ibrance unless your healthcare provider tells you.

Ibrance dosage

The recommended initial Ibrance dosage for breast cancer is Ibrance 125 mg 1 time daily with or without food for 21 days followed by 7 days without treatment.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of Ibrance or vomit after taking a dose of Ibrance, do not take another dose on that day. Take your next dose at your regular time.

What happens if I take too much Ibrance?

If you take too much Ibrance, call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

What other drugs will affect Ibrance?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Ibrance and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit products.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine. This is not a full list of interactions with Ibrance. See the Ibrance prescribing information for a complete list.

Does Ibrance interact with my other drugs?

Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker.

How should I store Ibrance?

Store Ibrance at 68 °F to 77 °F (20 °C to 25 °C) in the original blister pack.

Keep out of reach of children.

Ibrance ingredients

Active ingredient: Ibrance

Ibrance inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, succinic acid, HPMC 2910/hypromellose, titanium dioxide, triacetin, and FD&C Blue #2/Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake. In addition, the 75 mg and 125 mg tablets contain red iron oxide and the 100 mg tablets contain yellow iron oxide.

Who makes Ibrance?

Pfizer Labs makes Ibrance.

Popular FAQ

How long does Ibrance extend life?

The length of time Ibrance may extend life depends on many factors, such as your overall health and other treatments. In combination with Faslodex (fulvestrant), Ibrance may extend overall survival by about 7 months compared to taking fulvestrant alone. Continue reading

Is Verzenio better than Ibrance?

Verzenio may be more effective than Ibrance in certain HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients but it does not seem to be as well tolerated. Clinical trials have shown more people stop Verzenio treatment due to gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, when compared with Ibrance. Ibrance appears more likely than Verzenio to cause Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia. Continue reading

Will insurance pay for the cost of Ibrance?

Ibrance (palbociclib) is an expensive medicine used to treat breast cancer, but most people do not pay the full price for this drug. Your insurance, the manufacturer of Ibrance, or patient assistance programs may be available to help you pay for this medication. Continue reading

What are 10 key Ibrance side effects to watch out for?

Common side effects of Ibrance include low blood cell counts, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, hair loss, and fatigue. Most side effects go away after pausing or stopping treatment. More serious side effects of Ibrance that are less common or rare include interstitial lung disease and pneumonitis. Continue reading

Can you take Verzenio after Ibrance fails?

Although guidelines do not currently recommend it, using Verzenio after Ibrance is common in clinical practice. A recent clinical trial published in the Journal of Oncology also reported patients were more likely to live for longer without their breast cancer getting worse if they were given Verzenio + fulvestrant after previous CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment (such as Ibrance + endocrine therapy). Continue reading

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.