Package Leaflet: Information for the Patient
IBRANCE 75mg hard capsules
IBRANCE 100mg hard capsules
IBRANCE 125mg hard capsules
palbociclib
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
Contents of the pack
IBRANCE is a medicine for the treatment of cancer that contains the active substance palbociclib.
Palbociclib works by blocking certain proteins called cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, which regulate cell growth and division. Blocking these proteins can slow down the growth of cancer cells and delay the progression of cancer.
IBRANCE is used to treat patients with certain types of breast cancer (hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative) that have spread beyond the original tumor and/or to other organs. It is given together with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant, which are used as hormonal treatments against cancer.
Do not take IBRANCE
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before you start taking IBRANCE.
IBRANCE may reduce the number of white blood cells and weaken your immune system. Therefore, you may be at a greater risk of getting an infection while taking IBRANCE.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you have signs or symptoms of an infection, such as chills or fever.
You will have regular blood tests during treatment to check if IBRANCE affects your blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets).
IBRANCE may cause severe or life-threatening lung inflammation during treatment that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare professional immediately if you have any new or worsening symptoms, including:
Children and adolescents
IBRANCE is not indicated for the treatment of children or adolescents (under 18 years of age).
Other medicines and IBRANCE
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. IBRANCE may affect the way other medicines work.
In particular, the following medicines may increase the risk of side effects with IBRANCE:
IBRANCE may increase the side effects associated with the following medicines:
The following medicines may decrease the effectiveness of IBRANCE:
Taking IBRANCE with food and drinks
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking IBRANCE, as it may increase the side effects of IBRANCE.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
Do not take IBRANCE if you are pregnant.
Avoid becoming pregnant while taking IBRANCE.
Talk to your doctor about the use of contraceptive methods if there is any possibility that you or your partner may become pregnant.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Women of childbearing age who are taking this medicine or their partner must use adequate contraceptive measures (e.g., double-barrier contraception such as condoms and diaphragm). These measures should be used during treatment and for at least 3 weeks after finishing treatment in women and up to 14 weeks in men.
Breastfeeding
Do not breastfeed while taking IBRANCE. It is not known whether IBRANCE passes into breast milk.
Fertility
Palbociclib may decrease fertility in men.
Therefore, men should consider sperm preservation before starting treatment with IBRANCE.
Driving and using machines
Fatigue is a very common side effect of IBRANCE. If you feel unusually tired, be careful when driving or using machines.
IBRANCE contains lactose and sodium
This medicine contains lactose (present in milk and dairy products). If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult them before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per capsule; this is essentially "sodium-free".
Follow exactly the instructions of administration of this medicine given by your doctor or pharmacist. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
The recommended dose is 125 mg of IBRANCE once daily for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week without taking IBRANCE. Your doctor will tell you how many IBRANCE capsules to take.
If you experience certain side effects while taking IBRANCE (see section 4 "Possible side effects"), your doctor may reduce your dose or stop treatment temporarily or permanently. The dose may be reduced to one of the available doses of 100 mg or 75 mg.
Take IBRANCE once daily, approximately at the same time every day, and with food, preferably in a meal.
Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the capsules. Do not open the capsules.
If you take more IBRANCE than you should
If you take too much IBRANCE, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. You may need emergency treatment.
Take the pack and this leaflet with you.
If you forget to take IBRANCE
If you forget a dose or vomit, take the next dose as planned. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed capsules.
If you stop taking IBRANCE
Do not stop taking IBRANCE unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Seek medical help immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
Other side effects of IBRANCE may include:
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
Infections.
Reduction in the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Feeling tired.
Decreased appetite.
Inflammation of the mouth and lips (stomatitis), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Rash.
Hair loss.
Weakness.
Fever.
Liver changes in blood tests.
Dry skin.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
Fever with a reduced white blood cell count (febrile neutropenia).
Blurred vision, increased tearing, dry eye.
Taste disorder (dysgeusia).
Nosebleeds.
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
Skin inflammation that causes red scaly patches and may be accompanied by joint pain and fever (cutaneous lupus erythematosus [CLE]).
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Spanish Medicines Surveillance System for Human Use: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton or blister and on the bottle after EXP. The expiry date is the last day of the month stated.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not use this medicine if you notice that the packaging is damaged or shows signs of deterioration.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of IBRANCE
Capsule content: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, sodium starch glycolate type A, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate.
Capsule shell: gelatin, red iron oxide (E172), yellow iron oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171). Printing ink: shellac, titanium dioxide (E171), ammonium hydroxide (28% solution), propylene glycol, simethicone (see section 2 "IBRANCE contains lactose and sodium").
Appearance and packaging
IBRANCE 75 mg, 100 mg, and 125 mg are available in blisters of 21 or 63 hard capsules and in plastic bottles of 21 hard capsules.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorisation holder
Pfizer Europe MA EEIG
Boulevard de la Plaine 17
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Manufacturer
Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH
Betriebsstätte Freiburg
Mooswaldallee 1
79090 Freiburg
Germany
You can ask for more information about this medicine from the local representative of the marketing authorisation holder:
Spain
Pfizer, S.L.
Tel: +34 91 490 99 00
Date of last revision of this leaflet:
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu.