Brukinsa (zanubrutinib) is a brand-name drug prescribed for certain blood cell-related cancers in adults. Brukinsa comes as an oral capsule typically taken once or twice per day.

Brukinsa is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in certain adults:

Brukinsa received accelerated approval from the FDA for certain cases of MCL, MZL, and FL. Accelerated approvals are based on the results of early clinical trials. The FDA will decide on full approval for these uses after more trials have been completed.

Brukinsa belongs to a drug class called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors (blockers). It’s not available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Brukinsa, including its strength and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Brukinsa, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Brukinsa provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Brukinsa, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about Brukinsa’s form, strength, and dosages.

Brukinsa form

Brukinsa comes as an oral capsule.

Brukinsa strength

Brukinsa comes in one strength of 80 milligrams (mg).

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)

Brukinsa has accelerated approval for MCL in adults who have had at least one prior MCL treatment.

If your doctor prescribes Brukinsa for your MCL, they have two dosing options. They can prescribe 160 mg (2 capsules) twice per day or 320 mg (4 capsules) once per day. This is the typical recommended dosage of Brukinsa for people with MCL.

If your MCL worsens or Brukinsa has certain harmful effects, your doctor may stop Brukinsa. For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM)

Brukinsa is also approved to treat WM.

The dose for this condition is 160 mg (2 capsules) twice per day or 320 mg (4 capsules) once per day. The doctor will usually continue with this dosage until either the WM advances or the medication causes certain harmful effects.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Dosage for marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)

Brukinsa has accelerated approval to treat MZL that is relapsed (the condition has come back) or refractory (the condition is hard to treat).

It’s specifically for adults with MZL who have had at least one anti-CD20-based treatment regimen. Anti-CD20 drugs are a type of immunotherapy that can treat certain lymphomas.

Brukinsa’s approved dose for MZL is 160 mg (2 capsules) twice per day or 320 mg (4 capsules) once per day. You’ll typically take this until the MZL progresses or Brukinsa has specific harmful effects.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Dosage for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)

Brukinsa has also been approved to treat CLL or SLL.

The recommended dose for either condition is 160 mg (2 capsules) twice per day or 320 mg (4 capsules) once per day. The doctor usually continues with this dosage until the condition worsens or Brukinsa has certain harmful effects.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Dosage for follicular lymphoma (FL)

Brukinsa has accelerated approval to treat FL that is relapsed (the condition has come back) or refractory (the condition is hard to treat). It’s part of a combination treatment with obinutuzumab (Gazvya).

The recommended dose is 160 mg (2 capsules) twice per day or 320 mg (4 capsules) once per day. The doctor usually continues with this dosage until the condition worsens or Brukinsa has certain harmful effects.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Long-term treatment

Brukinsa is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor feel that Brukinsa is safe and effective for you, you may take Brukinsa long term. However, your doctor may stop Brukinsa if your condition worsens or the medication causes harmful effects. Your doctor will assess your case and let you know if you should continue or stop Brukinsa.

Before starting Brukinsa, your doctor will discuss the treatment plan with you. You can ask them any questions you may have about how long you can expect to take Brukinsa.

The Brukinsa dosage your doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These include:

  • your age
  • how your body responds to Brukinsa
  • the severity of the condition you’re taking Brukinsa to treat
  • other medications or conditions you may have
  • side effects or harmful effects you may have with Brukinsa
  • results from lab tests your doctor orders
  • your liver function

It’s important to inform your doctor of any other health conditions you may have. Let them know about any medications, supplements, or over-the-counter drugs you take, too.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage if you take (or stop) certain medications or supplements. This is especially true for certain liver enzyme* inhibitors and inducers. These can affect Brukinsa’s levels in your body. To find out more about what drugs may interact with Brukinsa, see the “Interactions” section of this article.

Your doctor may also need to make adjustments if you’re 65 years old or older.

They may alter your dose if you have liver damage or certain side effects. Brukinsa can cause harmful effects, such as abnormal heart rhythms or blood cell counts, bleeding, infections, or other cancers. Your doctor may pause, stop, or alter your treatment or dose in such cases.

Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of bleeding, infection, palpitations, or dizziness. You will also need to tell them about all medications you take and any health conditions or side effects you have. This can help your doctor prescribe a safe, effective dosage for you.

* A liver enzyme is a type of protein in the liver that breaks down medications.

Brukinsa comes as an oral capsule that you swallow whole with a glass of water. It’s very important not to open, break, crush, or chew the capsules. Take Brukinsa with or without food, in the manner and dose prescribed by your doctor. If you have trouble swallowing capsules, see this article or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

It may be helpful to take Brukinsa around the same time (or times) every day. If you take Brukinsa twice per day, doses are best timed 12 hours apart. Do not stop taking Brukinsa or change your dose unless your doctor advises you to do so.

For safety, store Brukinsa at room temperature, out of the reach of children. It’s also a good safety practice to ensure you go to any appointments for lab tests. Your doctor may need blood tests to monitor your condition and treatment. The test results may also help your doctor make any needed dosage adjustments.

If you have questions about how to take or store Brukinsa, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. There’s also information on the manufacturer’s website.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss a dose of Brukinsa, take it on the same day as soon as you remember. On the next day, return to your regular dosing schedule. If you miss a dose and aren’t sure what to do, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note somewhere you’ll see it. You can also download a reminder app on your phone.

It’s important that you don’t take more Brukinsa than your doctor prescribes for you. For some medications, doing this may lead to side effects, harmful effects, or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Brukinsa

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Brukinsa. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911, call your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

You can find answers to some frequently asked questions about Brukinsa below.

Is the dosage of Brukinsa similar to the dosage of Revlimid?

No. The drugs have similar forms, but the dosing schedules and dosages in milligrams can differ.

Both Brukinsa and lenalidomide (Revlimid) are capsules. However, Brukinsa can be prescribed once or twice per day. Revlimid is generally prescribed once per day for a certain number of days in a 28-day cycle. The dose in milligrams for each also differs since they use different active ingredients.

Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Brukinsa to start working?

Brukinsa can affect people differently, so the time it takes to notice its effects can vary. Your doctor will monitor you and your test results during treatment to gauge Brukinsa’s effect. They’ll be able to tell you when it starts working and how well it’s working for you.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Brukinsa treatment.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Brukinsa for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, you should never change your dosage of Brukinsa without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Brukinsa that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Brukinsa. These additional articles might be helpful:

  • More about Brukinsa: For information about other aspects of Brukinsa, refer to this article.
  • Side effects: To learn about the side effects of Brukinsa, see this article. You can also look at the Brukinsa prescribing information.
  • Drug comparison: To find out how Brukinsa compares with bortezomib (Velcade) or ibrutinib (Imbruvica), read this article.
  • Details about certain cancers: For details about certain cancers, see our cancer hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.