What side effects does Calquence (acalabrutinib) cause?
Calquence can cause side effects that range from mild and temporary to serious. Commonly reported effects include infections (because it can lower parts of your immune response), bruising or bleeding more easily, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and nausea. [1]
What are the serious side effects patients are told to watch for?
Serious risks linked with Calquence include infections that may be severe, bleeding problems, and rarely conditions like second cancers. Patients are also advised to report symptoms that could signal a serious infection (such as fever or worsening illness) or unusual bleeding (such as blood in stool/urine or prolonged bleeding). [1]
What side effects are most common early on?
Early in treatment, many people notice effects such as headache and fatigue, along with gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea or nausea. Bruising can also become more noticeable because of changes in blood clotting. [1]
Can Calquence increase infection risk? What should you do if you get sick?
Yes. Calquence can increase susceptibility to infections. If you develop signs of infection (especially fever or symptoms that worsen), clinicians generally recommend prompt evaluation and timely treatment rather than waiting it out. [1]
Is hair loss, rash, or breathing problems a known issue?
Rash can occur with kinase inhibitors, and some patients report skin-related reactions. Breathing problems are less typical than infection or bruising/bleeding, but any new trouble breathing should be treated as urgent. What to monitor depends on your other medicines and health conditions. [1]
How do side effects compare with similar BTK inhibitors?
Calquence is in the same drug class as ibrutinib (and others). Across BTK inhibitors, infections and bleeding/bruising risks are shared concerns, while the exact pattern of side effects (and how often they happen) can differ from drug to drug. [1]
When should you contact a doctor urgently?
Seek urgent care for signs that could represent serious infection (such as fever) or significant bleeding (such as bleeding that won’t stop, vomiting blood, black/tarry stools, or blood in urine). [1]
Where can you see a full side-effect list?
The most complete, up-to-date side-effect information comes from the prescribing information and the official patient materials for Calquence. Those documents list adverse reactions and provide guidance on what to do if symptoms occur. [1]
Sources:
[1] https://www.calquence.com/