Verzenio

The usual dose of Verzenio (Abemaciclib) when it is used in combination with another drug for breast cancer is 150 mg taken by mouth twice daily.

When used alone, the usual dose of Verzenio (Abemaciclib) is 200 mg taken by mouth twice daily.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Verzenio (Abemaciclib) may be taken with or without food. It should be taken at approximately the same times each day.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Verzenio (Abemaciclib) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose or vomit after taking a dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Verzenio (Abemaciclib) at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause diarrhea; it may cause dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may cause unusual tiredness; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

50 mg
Each modified oval, beige tablet with "Lilly" debossed on one side and "50" on the other side, contains 50 mg of Verzenio (Abemaciclib). Nonmedicinal ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose 101, microcrystalline cellulose 102, silicon dioxide, and sodium stearyl fumarate; film coating: iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

100 mg
Each modified oval, white-to-practically-white tablet with "Lilly" debossed on one side and "100" on the other side, contains 100 mg of Verzenio (Abemaciclib). Nonmedicinal ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose 101, microcrystalline cellulose 102, silicon dioxide, and sodium stearyl fumarate; film coating: polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

150 mg
Each modified oval, yellow tablet with "Lilly" debossed on one side and "150" on the other side, contains 150 mg of Verzenio (Abemaciclib). Nonmedicinal ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose 101, microcrystalline cellulose 102, silicon dioxide, and sodium stearyl fumarate; film coating: iron oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

200 mg
Each modified oval, beige tablet with "Lilly" debossed on one side and "200" on the other side, contains 200 mg of Verzenio (Abemaciclib). Nonmedicinal ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose 101, microcrystalline cellulose 102, silicon dioxide, and sodium stearyl fumarate; film coating: iron oxide red, iron oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Do not take Verzenio (Abemaciclib) if you are allergic to Verzenio (Abemaciclib) or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between Verzenio (Abemaciclib) and any of the following:

• Apalutamide
• Aprepitant
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• BCG
• Baricitinib
• Bosentan
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Cladribine
• Clozapine
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• Cyclosporine
• Deferasirox
• Deferiprone
• Denosumab
• Digoxin
• Dronedarone
• echinacea
• Enzalutamide
• Fingolimod
• grapefruit juice
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Leflunomide
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Mesalamine
• Metformin
• mifepristone
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• Natalizumab
• Nivolumab
• Pimecrolimus
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, imatinib, Palbociclib)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• Roflumilast
• St. John's wort
• seizure medications (e.g., Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, primidone)
• siltuximab
• Tacrolimus
• Tocilizumab
• Tofacitinib
• Trastuzumab
• vaccines

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Verzenio (Abemaciclib). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Verzenio (Abemaciclib).

Blood Clots: Verzenio (Abemaciclib) may increase the chance of blood clot formation, causing reduction of blood flow to organs or the extremities.

If you have a history of clotting you may be at increased risk of experiencing blood clot-related problems such as heart attack, stroke, or clots in the deep veins of your leg. Discuss with your doctor how Verzenio (Abemaciclib) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Verzenio (Abemaciclib), and whether any special monitoring is needed.
If you experience symptoms such as sharp pain and swelling in the leg, difficulty breathing, or sudden chest pain, contact your doctor immediately.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea is a common side effect of Verzenio (Abemaciclib). It is most likely to occur in the first few months that you are taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib). Severe diarrhea that is not treated may lead to dehydration and severe complications affecting blood pressure, kidneys, and other organs. If you experience watery or runny bowel movements while you are taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib), contact your doctor as soon as possible. If your doctor has recommended an antidiarrheal medication (e.g., Loperamide), you should start taking it, as well as increase the amount of fluids you are drinking.

Drowsiness/dizziness: Verzenio (Abemaciclib) may cause drowsiness or dizziness, affecting your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how Verzenio (Abemaciclib) affects you.

Infection: Like other medications to treat cancer, Verzenio (Abemaciclib) can reduce the number of cells that fight infection in the body (white blood cells). If possible, avoid contact with people with contagious infections. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice signs of an infection, such as fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headache, stiff neck, weight loss, or listlessness. Your doctor will do blood tests regularly to monitor the number of specific types of blood cells in your blood.

Interactions with food: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice affect how Verzenio (Abemaciclib) is removed from the body, and may cause the medication to build up in the body. This can lead to potentially harmful side effects. Avoid these foods taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib) for treatment.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause Verzenio (Abemaciclib) to build up in the body, causing side effects.

Verzenio (Abemaciclib) can also reduce liver function. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how Verzenio (Abemaciclib) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Verzenio (Abemaciclib), and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor will order routine blood tests to test your liver function while you are taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib).

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy: Verzenio (Abemaciclib) should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib), contact your doctor immediately. Women who may become pregnant should use effective birth control while taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib) and for at least 3 weeks after taking the last dose.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Verzenio (Abemaciclib) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib), it may affect your baby. Women taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib) should avoid breast-feeding while taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib) and for at least 3 weeks after taking the last dose.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Verzenio (Abemaciclib) have not been established for children.

Seniors: People over the age of 65 may be more likely to experience side effects from taking Verzenio (Abemaciclib).

To fully benefit from the effect of this medication, and to limit any adverse reactions, make sure that the health care facility overseeing your treatment has provided you with all the information needed to properly administer this drug. This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Take it regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. This medication should be swallowed whole. It should not be split, crushed or chewed. If you forget a dose, simply skip it and then apply the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication may be taken with or without food. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during your treatment. Grapefruit can seriously affect how this medication works.