Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat the following conditions in adults. (These are its indications.):

Calquence is a targeted therapy for these types of cancer. Targeted therapies block certain features of cancer cells that make them grow and multiply rapidly.

Calquence comes as an oral capsule. It belongs to a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors. There’s currently no generic version of Calquence available.

Dosage summary

The following chart summarizes Calquence’s form, strength, and dosing. Your doctor will determine the dosage that’s best for you.

FormStrengthTypical dosage
oral capsule100 milligrams (mg)100 mg twice per day (every 12 hours)

For information about the dosage of Calquence and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Calquence, see this article.

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

Calquence form

Calquence comes as a capsule that you swallow.

Calquence strength: 100 mg

Calquence comes in one strength: 100 milligrams (mg).

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used 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 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Calquence may be prescribed for CLL in adults. The typical dosage for this use is 100 mg twice per day (every 12 hours).

Dosage for small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)

Calquence may be prescribed for SLL in adults. The typical dosage for this use is 100 mg twice per day (every 12 hours).

Dosage for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)

Calquence may be prescribed for MCL in adults who’ve already tried at least one treatment for their cancer. The typical dosage for this use is 100 mg twice per day (every 12 hours).

Long-term treatment

Calquence is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Calquence is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

The Calquence dosage your doctor prescribes may depend on factors such as:

  • other medications you take
  • side effects that you may have with Calquence

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Calquence dosage.

Dose modifications

Certain people taking Calquence may need a different dosage than what the manufacturer typically recommends for their condition.

For example, if you take Calquence with certain other medications, your doctor may increase your dosage to 200 mg twice per day. That’s because some medications can lower the amount of Calquence in your body, which could make it less effective.

Certain other medications can increase the amount of Calquence in your body, which could raise your risk of Calquence side effects. If you take Calquence with one of these medications, your doctor may prescribe Calquence once per day instead of twice per day.

If you have certain side effects on your blood cells with Calquence, your doctor may ask you to stop treatment temporarily until your blood cells recover. Your doctor will tell you when to start Calquence again. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a dose reduction when you restart treatment. In this case, your doctor may prescribe Calquence once per day instead of twice per day.

To learn more about Calquence’s side effects, see this article.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions for Calquence administration.

Calquence comes as an oral capsule. You can take your dose of Calquence with or without food.

Calquence is usually taken twice per day. Try to take your doses about 12 hours apart — for example, at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. This helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body so Calquence can work effectively.

You should swallow Calquence whole with a glass of water. Do not open, crush, or chew the capsules. If you have trouble swallowing capsules, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take antacids, such as TUMS (calcium carbonate), in the 2 hours before or after taking Calquence. These drugs can prevent Calquence from being absorbed into your body properly, which can make it less effective. For the same reason, you should take Calquence at least 2 hours before taking a histamine-2 blocker, such as Pepcid AC (famotidine).

Note: If you have chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma that hasn’t been treated before, your doctor may prescribe Calquence in combination with another drug called Gazyva (obinutuzumab). A healthcare professional will administer Gazyva by IV infusion on certain days. On the days you receive a Gazyva infusion, be sure to take your first Calquence dose of the day before your Gazyva infusion.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 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 putting Calquence in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss your dose of Calquence, take it as soon as possible. If you miss your dose by more than 3 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose. And do not take extra doses to make up for missed doses. Doing so can raise your risk of Calquence side effects.

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

It’s important that you do not use more Calquence than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Calquence

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

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

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

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

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.