Abemaciclib Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Aug 24, 2023.

Applies to abemaciclib: oral tablet.

Serious side effects of abemaciclib

Along with its needed effects, abemaciclib may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking abemaciclib:

More common

• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
• blood in the urine or stools
• chest pain
• chills
• confusion
• cough
• decreased urination
• diarrhea
• difficulty with breathing
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fainting
• fever
• hoarseness
• increased heart rate
• irregular heartbeat
• lightheadedness
• lower back or side pain
• pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• rapid breathing
• rapid weight gain
• severe, sudden headache
• slurred speech
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• stomach pain
• sudden loss of coordination
• sudden, severe weakness or numbness in the arm or leg
• sunken eyes
• swollen glands
• thirst
• tingling of the hands or feet
• trouble breathing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight gain or loss
• vision changes
• wrinkled skin

Less common

• anxiety
• bloated stomach
• numbness of the hands
• pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg
• pain and fullness in the right upper abdomen or stomach
• weight gain
• yellow eyes and skin

Rare

• blurred vision
• clay-colored stools
• dark urine
• decreased appetite
• fast heartbeat
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• itching or skin rash
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs
• rapid, shallow breathing
• severe headache
• stomach pain or tenderness
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• thickening of bronchial secretions
• trouble speaking or walking
• vomiting

Other side effects of abemaciclib

Some side effects of abemaciclib may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• change in taste
• discoloration of the fingernails or toenails
• loss of taste
• loss or thinning of the hair
• redness or soreness around the fingernails or loosening of the fingernails
• swelling or inflammation of the mouth

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to abemaciclib: oral tablet.

General

The most common adverse reactions (20% or greater incidence) reported across clinical trials were diarrhea, neutropenia, nausea, abdominal pain, infections, fatigue, anemia, leukopenia, decreased appetite, vomiting, headache, alopecia, and thrombocytopenia.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Venous thromboembolic events, arterial thromboembolic events^[Ref]

Venous thromboembolic events included deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, pelvic venous thrombosis, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, subclavian vein thrombosis, axillary vein thrombosis, DVT inferior vena cava, device-related thrombosis, jugular vein thrombosis, catheter site thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, hepatic vein thrombosis, jugular vein occlusion, ovarian vein thrombosis, and embolism.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Alopecia (up to 27%), pruritus (up to 13%), rash (up to 14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dry skin, nail disorder^[Ref]

Rash included exfoliative rash, mucocutaneous rash, rash erythematous, rash follicular, rash generalized, rash macular, rash maculopapular, rash maculovesicular, rash morbilliform, rash papular, rash papulosquamous, rash pruritic, rash vesicular, and vulvovaginal rash.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (up to 90%), nausea (up to 64%), abdominal pain (up to 35%), vomiting (up to 35%), constipation (up to 17%), stomatitis (up to 15%), dry mouth (up to 14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspepsia^[Ref]

Abdominal pain included upper and lower abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, and tenderness.

Stomatitis included mouth ulceration, mucosal inflammation, and oropharyngeal pain.^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased white blood cell count (up to 90%), decreased neutrophil count (up to 88%), anemia (up to 84%), decreased lymphocyte count (up to 63%), decreased platelet count (up to 53%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Febrile neutropenia
• Frequency not reported: Neutropenic sepsis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Increased ALT (up to 48%), increased AST (up to 37%)^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased appetite (up to 45%), decreased weight (up to 14%), dehydration (up to 10%), hypokalemia (up to 11%)^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (up to 15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Muscle weakness^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 20%), dysgeusia (up to 18%), dizziness (up to 13%)

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased lacrimation^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Infections (up to 51.2%), fatigue/asthenia (up to 65%), peripheral edema (up to 12%), pyrexia (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Influenza-like illness^[Ref]

Infections included upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, lung infection, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, sinusitis, vaginal infection, and sepsis.^[Ref]

Renal

• Very common (10% or more): Increased creatinine (up to 99.3%)^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Cough (up to 19%), dyspnea (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Interstitial lung disease, pneumonitis^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• How long do you take Verzenio for?
• Is Verzenio better than Ibrance?
• Can you take Verzenio after Ibrance fails?
• How long does it take Verzenio to work?
• Is Verzenio (abemaciclib) a chemo drug?
• How effective is Verzenio?

Further information

Abemaciclib side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer