Key takeaways

  • The most commonly reported side effects of Calquence include diarrhea, headaches, muscle pain, and tiredness. Calquence may also increase your risk of developing an infection.
  • Serious side effects of Calquence include heart rhythm problems and excessive bleeding. You should tell your doctor right away if you have a fever, irregular heartbeat, or unusual bruising.
  • Because of how Calquence works, it can lower your blood cell counts and increase your risk of developing new cancers, especially skin cancer. Your doctor will check your blood regularly, and you should use sun protection while outside during treatment.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects of Calquence. For information on the drug, including details about its uses, see this Calquence overview.

Calquence can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Calquence in clinical trials:

Mild side effects can occur with Calquence use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Calquence’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Calquence include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Calquence and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Calquence may cause serious side effects. The list that follows may not include all the possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Calquence’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of Calquence that have been reported and their symptoms include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Calquence, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Calquence can cause an allergic reaction. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Calquence, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Calquence may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Calquence may cause certain types of cancer, such as skin cancer. Examples of other long-term side effects of the drug include liver damage, irregular heart rhythms, and muscle and joint pain.

However, such side effects are rare. The more common side effects of Calquence tend to be mild and eventually go away.

During treatment, your doctor will likely monitor you for certain long-term side effects, especially if you have a higher risk for them. Be sure to tell your doctor about any conditions you have and any medications or supplements you take before starting Calquence treatment. This will help them determine your risk of certain side effects.

If you have concerns about long-term side effects caused by Calquence, talk with your doctor.

Calquence and Imbruvica (ibrutinib) cause many of the same side effects. This is because both medications belong to the same drug class, kinase inhibitors. The drugs work similarly in the body, which can lead to side effects that are alike.

In a clinical trial that involved people with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Calquence caused fewer cardiovascular side effects than Imbruvica. However, more research is needed to determine whether Calquence causes fewer side effects overall. This would require clinical trials that compare Calquence with Imbruvica for all conditions and side effects.

To learn more about how the side effects of Calquence compare with those of Imbruvica, see this Calquence vs. Imbruvica comparison. You can learn more about Imbruvica by reading this Imbruvica overview. Your doctor or pharmacist can also provide details of the side effects these drugs cause.

No, Calquence isn’t known to cause any eye-related side effects. These weren’t reported in clinical trials of the drug.

However, medications that are similar to Calquence may cause eye-related side effects. For example, Imbruvica is known to cause eye-related side effects such as blurry vision and dry eyes.

If you have any concerns about your eyes or taking Calquence, talk with your doctor.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Calquence may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Calquence.

Irregular heart rate or rhythm

Taking Calquence may cause atrial flutter (irregular heart rate) or atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm). In clinical trials, these side effects were sometimes severe. However, they occurred rarely.

Heart rate is how often your heart beats per minute. Heart rhythm is the pattern or speed of your heartbeats.

Symptoms of irregular heart rate or rhythm can include:

Your risk of an irregular heart rate or rhythm with Calquence may be increased if you’ve had an irregular heart rate or rhythm in the past. Your risk may also be higher than usual if you have an infection, high blood pressure, or other heart problems. (To learn more, see the “Precautions for Calquence” section later in this article.)

What you can do

Before taking Calquence, tell your doctor about all your health conditions. They can advise you on whether it’s safe for you to take the drug.

If you have symptoms of an irregular heart rate or rhythm while taking Calquence, talk with your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your condition.

Bleeding

Calquence may cause mild or serious bleeding. Mild bleeding was common in clinical trials of the drug. However, in rare cases, Calquence caused severe bleeding that was life threatening.

While you take Calquence, watch for the following symptoms of serious bleeding:

  • bloody stool or urine
  • bleeding that isn’t easily managed
  • bruising more easily than usual

Keep in mind that having a low platelet level is a common side effect of Calquence. (Platelets are a type of blood cell that helps your blood clot.) A low platelet level can cause you to bleed or bruise more easily than usual.

Your risk of bleeding with Calquence may increase if you take certain drugs. An example is the blood thinner drug warfarin (Jantoven).

What you can do

Before taking Calquence, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you take. They can tell you whether any of these drugs increase your risk of bleeding.

Also tell your doctor if you have an upcoming surgery. They may have you stop taking Calquence for up to 1 week before and after the surgery to lower your risk of bleeding.

If you have mild bleeding while taking Calquence, talk with your doctor. They may order a blood test to see whether a low platelet level is the cause.

If you have symptoms of severe bleeding, see your doctor right away. If your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Upper respiratory infection

Calquence may cause an upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold. This was one of the most common side effects in clinical trials of the drug.

Symptoms of an upper respiratory infection include:

What you can do

If you have symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, it’s recommended that you stay hydrated and rest.

Your doctor can also suggest ways to ease your symptoms. They can recommend over-the-counter medications that may be helpful. However, before taking any of these medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They’ll make sure these drugs are safe to take in combination with Calquence.

Calquence can also increase the risk of serious infections. If your symptoms do not ease, reach out to your doctor. They can recommend the appropriate treatment. If you have an increased risk of infections, your doctor may prescribe medications to help reduce your risk.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Calquence. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

  • liver problems, including history of hepatitis B
  • heart problems, including high blood pressure
  • bleeding problems or clotting disorders
  • active or recurrent infections
  • previous allergic reaction to Calquence or any of its ingredients
  • planned surgery
  • alcohol consumption
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding

Calquence may cause mild or serious side effects. Most of the drug’s side effects should go away with time.

Tell your doctor if you have any symptoms of side effects while taking Calquence. They can help you manage them. Your doctor can also advise you on whether it’s safe to keep taking the drug.

If you’d like to learn more about Calquence, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

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.