Calquence interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

There are no known interactions between Calquence and alcohol.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Calquence, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Before you start treatment with Calquence, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Calquence interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Calquence and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Calquence. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Calquence. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

* To learn more about the side effects of Calquence, see this article.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Calquence.

Certain antibiotics

Antibiotics are prescribed to treat bacterial infections.

Interaction result. Taking Calquence with certain antibiotics can increase the risk of side effects of Calquence. Other antibiotics can also make Calquence less effective.

Interaction explained. Calquence is broken down by a certain enzyme called CYP3A4. (An enzyme is a type of protein.)

Certain antibiotics are inhibitors of this enzyme, which means they block the action of the enzyme. If Calquence is taken with a drug that blocks CYP3A4, it can lead to more Calquence remaining in the body. This can increase your risk of side effects of Calquence.

Other antibiotics are inducers of this enzyme, which means they can speed up the activity of the enzyme. If Calquence is taken with a drug that speeds up the activity of CYP3A4, it can cause Calquence to leave your body more quickly than usual. This may lead to lower levels of Calquence in your body, which means it won’t work as well to treat your condition.

Examples of antibiotics. Here are some antibiotics that may interact with Calquence:

• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• clarithromycin
• erythromycin (Ery-Tab, EryPed, others)

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you need antibiotics during treatment with Calquence, be sure to tell your doctor that you’re taking Calquence. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take the antibiotic while taking Calquence or if a different antibiotic may be better for you.

In some cases, you may stop treatment with Calquence while on an antibiotic. In other cases, your Calquence dosage may be adjusted while on an antibiotic. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about interactions with antibiotics while taking Calquence.

Certain antiseizure drugs

Antiseizure drugs are prescribed to treat seizures.

Interaction result. Taking Calquence with certain seizure drugs can make Calquence less effective.

Interaction explained. Calquence is broken down by a certain enzyme called CYP3A4. (An enzyme is a type of protein.)

Certain seizure drugs are inducers of this enzyme, which means they can speed up the activity of the enzyme. If Calquence is taken with a drug that speeds up the activity of CYP3A4, it can cause Calquence to leave your body more quickly. This may lead to lower levels of Calquence in your body, which means it may not work as well to treat your condition.

Examples of antiseizure drugs. Examples of antiseizure drugs that may interact with Calquence include:

• carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, others)
• phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
• fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)

Steps you or your doctor may take. Tell your doctor if you take antiseizure drugs before you start treatment with Calquence. They can advise on whether it’s safe to take these medications together. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a different treatment option for you. In other cases, they may adjust your dosage of Calquence.

Calquence may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Calquence.

Calquence interactions with supplements

Before you start treatment with Calquence, tell your doctor and pharmacist which supplements, herbs, and vitamins you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Calquence interactions with herbs

Calquence may interact with the herbal supplement St. John’s wort, which is used to help treat depression and other conditions. Taking Calquence with this supplement can make Calquence less effective.

Before you start Calquence treatment, tell your doctor if you take St. John’s wort. They can tell you whether it’s safe to take them together.

Your doctor will most likely try to avoid utilizing St. John’s wort with Calquence. If it can’t be avoided, since St. John’s Wort is a CYP3A4 inducer, they may give you a higher dosage of Calquence.

Calquence’s interaction with St. John’s wort can cause the level of Calquence in your body to decrease. Because of this, your doctor may prescribe a higher dosage to help increase the level of Calquence in your body. This can help maintain the drug’s effectiveness. To learn about the dosage of Calquence, see this article.

Calquence and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Calquence oral capsules or oral tablets. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Calquence.

Calquence and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Calquence oral capsules or oral tablets. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Calquence, talk with your doctor.

Calquence interactions with vaccines

Certain vaccines have been reported to interact with Calquence. These include vaccines for cholera (Vaxchora) and COVID-19 (Comirnaty, Spikevax).

Calquence may lower your immune system’s ability to fight infection. Getting these vaccines while taking Calquence may increase your risk of getting the infections these vaccines protect against.

Before taking Calquence, ask your doctor to review your vaccine history. If you need a vaccine for cholera or COVID-19, they may give you the vaccine before you start Calquence treatment. Your doctor can also tell you whether it’s safe to receive any other vaccines while you’re taking Calquence.

Calquence and lab tests

There are no specific reports of lab tests interacting with Calquence oral capsules or oral tablets. To learn more about getting specific lab tests while taking Calquence, talk with your doctor.

CALQUENCE AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Calquence oral capsules or oral tablets. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Calquence. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Calquence treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Calquence. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Calquence may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Calquence include:

• Infection, including hepatitis B. Before taking Calquence, tell your doctor if you have an infection. Also tell them if you have or had hepatitis B. Calquence may reactivate the hepatitis B virus in people who already have this virus in their bodies. With reactivation, the virus becomes active again and causes symptoms. If you have an infection, including hepatitis B, your doctor may delay the start of Calquence treatment until after your infection is managed.
• Bleeding problems. Before starting Calquence treatment, tell your doctor if you have a bleeding problem such as hemophilia. Calquence may cause serious bleeding. Your risk of this side effect may be greater if you already have a bleeding problem. Your doctor can advise whether Calquence is the right treatment option for your condition.
• High blood pressure or heart problems. Calquence may cause side effects of irregular heart rate or rhythm. Your risk may be increased if you have high blood pressure or heart problems, such as having an irregular heart rhythm in the past. Your doctor can recommend whether Calquence is a safe treatment option for you.
• Severe liver problems. Before taking Calquence, tell your doctor if you have a severe liver problem such as liver failure. It isn’t known whether the drug is safe for people who have severe liver problems. Your doctor may recommend a different treatment option instead.
• Planned surgery. Before surgery, be sure your surgeon knows that you’re taking Calquence. Taking this drug before surgery can increase your risk of bleeding during the procedure. To reduce this risk, your surgeon may recommend temporarily stopping Calquence before surgery.
• Pregnancy. It’s likely not safe to take Calquence during pregnancy. The drug may cause labor complications and harm to a fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before you start Calquence treatment.
• Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether Calquence passes into breast milk or if the drug causes side effects in a breastfed child. To be safe, your doctor is likely to recommend that you avoid breastfeeding while taking Calquence and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before you take Calquence.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Calquence or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Calquence. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Calquence. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Calquence label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Calquence doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Calquence by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Calquence. These resources might help:

• Overview of Calquence. For a general overview of Calquence, you can see this article.
• Side effects. If you’re interested in the side effects of Calquence, see this article. Another option is to refer to the prescribing information for Calquence oral capsules or oral tablets.
• Dosage specifics. To learn about the dosage of Calquence, see this article.
• Drug comparison. For information about how Calquence compares with Imbruvica and Venclexta.
• Facts about your condition. To learn more about cancer, see our cancer hub and lists of lymphoma articles and leukemia articles.

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.