Ibrance (palbociclib) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a certain type of breast cancer in adults.

The breast cancer must be metastatic or advanced, HER2-negative, and hormone receptor-positive. The term hormone receptor-positive means that hormones such as progesterone or estrogen make the cancer grow. For this purpose, Ibrance is prescribed in combination with other cancer medications.

Here are some fast facts about Ibrance:

  • Active ingredient: palbociclib
  • Drug class: targeted therapy
  • Drug forms: oral capsules, oral tablets

Like other drugs, Ibrance can cause common, mild, and serious side effects. Read on to learn what they are and find tips about managing side effects. For a general overview of Ibrance, including details about its uses, see this article.

Ibrance 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. But 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 Ibrance in clinical studies of the capsules and tablets:

* To learn more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

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

Mild side effects that have been reported with Ibrance include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But 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 side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Ibrance and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* To learn more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Ibrance may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Ibrance’s prescribing information for capsules and tablets.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Ibrance, 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.

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

* To learn more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Ibrance. But this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical studies of the capsules and tablets.

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

What are the side effects when Ibrance is taken with Faslodex?

Common side effects reported by people who took Ibrance with Faslodex (fulvestrant) in clinical studies of Ibrance capsules and tablets include:

Ibrance is prescribed with Faslodex when your breast cancer has come back or spread after having tried a different type of hormone therapy. (Faslodex is a kind of hormone therapy.)

You can see the rest of this article for additional side effects. You can also refer to Ibrance’s prescribing information for capsules and tablets.

* To learn more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Can taking Ibrance affect my eyes?

It’s possible. There were rare reports of a few eye-related side effects in Ibrance’s clinical studies of capsules and tablets. These side effects included:

  • blurred vision
  • dry eye
  • increased tear production

None of these were serious or caused people to stop taking the drug.

If you have side effects involving your eyes while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor. They may want to see you to examine your eyes in person. Your doctor may also be able to recommend ways to treat the side effects. But if the eye problems are bothersome to you and don’t go away, your doctor may suggest a different treatment for your cancer.

How do the side effects of Ibrance compare with those of chemotherapy?

Ibrance and chemotherapy have some of the same side effects, but they have different ones as well. Both Ibrance and chemotherapy can cause:

Chemotherapy’s other side effects can include dry nails, dry skin, and hearing loss. For some other side effects that Ibrance can cause, see the rest of this article.

Chemotherapy works by attacking cells in your body that are rapidly dividing. This includes cancer cells and some healthy cells. This is why chemotherapy can cause such serious side effects.

Ibrance is a type of targeted therapy for cancer. Targeted therapies are designed to target just cancer cells, so the treatment tends to cause fewer side effects than chemotherapy. But it’s possible for Ibrance to affect some healthy cells and cause side effects, some of which may be serious. Keep in mind that side effects are less likely to occur with Ibrance than with chemotherapy.

If you have additional questions about how Ibrance and chemotherapy compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Ibrance may cause.

Hair loss

Hair loss may occur with Ibrance. This was a common side effect reported by people who took the medication in clinical studies of capsules and tablets. But your hair is more likely to get thinner than fall out completely.

Keep in mind that hair loss is also a side effect of Femara (letrozole) and Faslodex (fulvestrant). These are the hormone therapies that may be prescribed with Ibrance.

What you can do

If you have hair loss while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a treatment for this side effect. Or they may suggest other treatment options for your cancer.

Lung-related side effects

Ibrance can cause lung-related side effects. These weren’t common in clinical studies of Ibrance capsules and tablets. But the side effects are serious and can be life threatening in rare instances.

Ibrance can cause inflammation in your lungs, which may be referred to as pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Symptoms of pneumonitis or ILD can include new or worsening:

  • chest pain
  • cough
  • trouble breathing

What you can do

If you have symptoms of pneumonitis or ILD while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor right away. They’ll likely pause your Ibrance treatment and further evaluate your lungs.

If your doctor confirms that you have pneumonitis or ILD, they’ll likely have you stop taking Ibrance. In this case, they can also advise you on other treatment options for your cancer.

Neutropenia

Neutropenia is a low level of white blood cells called neutrophils, and it’s a possible side effect of Ibrance treatment. This was one of the most common side effects in people taking the medication in clinical studies of capsules and tablets.

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell in your body. They’re part of your body’s defense against infection. With neutropenia, levels of neutrophils become too low. This increases your risk of infection. In fact, infection was another commonly reported side effect of Ibrance.

Neutropenia itself often doesn’t cause symptoms. But if it does, you may notice symptoms of infection, such as cough, fever, and other flu-like symptoms.

What you can do

If you develop symptoms of an infection while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor right away.

Before and during your Ibrance treatment, your doctor will order blood tests to monitor your neutrophil level. If your level is severely low, they may reduce your Ibrance dose. Or they may pause or stop your Ibrance treatment.

Mouth sores

Mouth sores are a possible side effect of Ibrance. These were common in clinical studies of Ibrance capsules and tablets.

The sores are often small and don’t affect the ability to eat. They usually go away on their own with time. But there have been rare reports of sores causing tongue and lip swelling that interfere with eating. People had this swelling in addition to mouth sores.

What you can do

If you develop mouth sores while taking Ibrance and they bother you or interfere with your ability to eat, talk with your doctor. You may be advised to pause your treatment until your symptoms go away. Then your doctor will likely have you start taking Ibrance again, but at a lower dose.

Nausea

Nausea is a possible side effect of Ibrance treatment. It was a common side effect in clinical studies of Ibrance capsules and tablets.

What you can do

If you have nausea that bothers you or continues while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor. They’ll likely pause your treatment until your symptoms go away. Your doctor may also prescribe or recommend medication that can treat nausea. Then they’ll likely restart your Ibrance treatment at a lower dose.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Ibrance can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical studies of Ibrance capsules or tablets.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious and may include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Ibrance. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

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

Current infection. Taking Ibrance can increase your risk of infection. It can also make it harder for your body’s immune system to fight off an infection. If you currently have an infection, your doctor will likely want to treat it before you start treatment with Ibrance.

Liver or kidney problems. If you have a mild or moderate liver or kidney problem, Ibrance is typically safe to take.

If you have a severe liver problem, you’ll likely need a lower dose of Ibrance than usual. This is because your liver helps your body get rid of Ibrance after you take a dose. Having a severe liver problem can interfere with your body’s ability to remove the drug.

Also, if you have a kidney problem that’s severe enough to require dialysis, it’s not known if it’s safe to take Ibrance.

Your doctor can help determine whether Ibrance is safe for you to take.

Lung problems. Ibrance can cause serious lung-related side effects, but this is rare. In extreme cases, these have been fatal. If you currently have a lung problem, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may have an increased risk of these side effects.

Having lung problems can also make it harder to recognize symptoms of serious lung-related side effects from Ibrance. Your doctor can help determine whether Ibrance is safe for you to take if you have a lung problem.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Ibrance or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Ibrance. Talk with them about which other treatments may be better choices for you.

Alcohol and Ibrance

There’s no known direct interaction between drinking alcohol and being treated with Ibrance. But it’s possible for alcohol to worsen certain side effects of Ibrance, such as nausea or mouth sores. (For more information about these side effects, see “Side effect specifics” above.)

Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you to consume while you take Ibrance.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Ibrance

Here’s some information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and Ibrance.

Pregnancy. Ibrance is not safe to take while pregnant. Talk with your doctor about birth control methods that may be right for you during treatment. If you become pregnant or think you’re pregnant while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor right away.

Breastfeeding. It is not safe to breastfeed while taking Ibrance and for at least 3 weeks after your last dose. It’s not known if Ibrance passes into breast milk. Your doctor can recommend safe ways to feed your child if you take Ibrance.

Ibrance can cause some side effects, but they’re usually mild. Most mild side effects of the drug go away with time and don’t require medical attention. However, serious side effects are possible, as with most medications.

If you develop mild side effects that are bothersome or don’t go away, talk with your doctor. You should also tell them if you have serious side effects while taking Ibrance.

In addition, if you become pregnant or think you’re pregnant while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor right away. It is not safe to take the drug during pregnancy.

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