Ibrance (palbociclib) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat some forms of breast cancer. The drug comes as oral capsules and tablets. It’s usually taken in cycles of 21 days followed by 7 days of no treatment.

Ibrance is used in adults to treat:

The active ingredient in Ibrance is palbociclib. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Ibrance belongs to a group of drugs called kinase inhibitors. It’s taken with certain other breast cancer medications.

This article describes the dosages of Ibrance, including its forms, strengths, and how to take the drug. To learn more about Ibrance, see this in-depth article.

This section covers common dosage information for Ibrance. Before you start taking this medication, your doctor will discuss details that are specific to your condition.

What are the forms of Ibrance?

Ibrance comes as capsules and tablets you take by mouth.

What strengths does Ibrance come in?

Ibrance capsules and tablets are available in the following strengths:

  • 75 milligrams (mg)
  • 100 mg
  • 125 mg

What are the typical dosages of Ibrance?

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Your Ibrance treatment will consist of 28-day cycles. You’ll begin by taking a 125-mg tablet once daily for 21 days. Then you’ll stop taking Ibrance for 7 days. This is one cycle. You’ll repeat this cycle for as long as you and your doctor decide it’s safe and beneficial to take Ibrance.

Note: Your doctor might prescribe medications in addition to Ibrance. They can advise you on the dosages of these other drugs.

Is Ibrance taken long term?

Yes, Ibrance is typically taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Ibrance is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Dosage adjustments

There are a few reasons you may need an Ibrance dosage adjustment. Your doctor will recommend a dosage that is right for your situation.

You may need an Ibrance dose reduction if you develop neutropenia while taking the drug. With neutropenia, you have low levels of white blood cells. These types of blood cells help you fight infection.

You may also need a dose reduction if you have bothersome side effects from Ibrance. In this case, your doctor will lower your dosage until the side effects decrease or go away. If lowering the dosage doesn’t relieve these side effects, your doctor may have you stop taking Ibrance. Or they may switch you to a different treatment.

Some medications processed by the liver may increase Ibrance levels in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects. If you need to take a medication that interacts this way with Ibrance, your doctor may decrease your Ibrance dosage.

If you have liver problems, your doctor may also decrease your Ibrance dosage.

For more information about dosage adjustments, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor will prescribe the right Ibrance dosage for you based on several factors, including:

  • other medications you may take
  • side effects caused by Ibrance
  • other conditions you may have (see “Dosage adjustments” just above)

Take Ibrance capsules once daily with food. You can take Ibrance tablets with or without food.

You should swallow the capsules or tablets whole. Avoid chewing, cutting, crushing, or opening them.

If you take Ibrance with food, avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice. These can increase the amount of Ibrance in your body, which may increase your risk of side effects.

For information on Ibrance expiration, storage, and disposal, see this article.

If you miss a dose of Ibrance, take the next dose at your regularly scheduled time. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Ibrance on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not take more Ibrance than your doctor prescribes. Taking more than this can lead to serious side effects.

What to do in case you take too much Ibrance

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Ibrance. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers, or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Ibrance for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you shouldn’t change your dosage of Ibrance unless your doctor recommends it. Only take Ibrance exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • In case you need to adjust my dosage of Ibrance for neutropenia, what are some of the symptoms to watch for?
  • Can I take my other medications at the same time as Ibrance?
  • What should I do if I throw up after taking Ibrance?

To learn more about Ibrance, see these articles:

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Q:

Will I need to stop taking Ibrance if I get an infection?

Anonymous

A:

It’s possible you may need to stop taking Ibrance if you get an infection.

If you have symptoms of an infection while taking Ibrance, contact your doctor right away. Because Ibrance can increase your risk of serious and possibly fatal infections, they’ll probably want to examine you.

Your doctor will likely order lab tests, including a test that measures your white blood cell levels. This is to check for neutropenia (low levels of white blood cells), a known side effect of taking Ibrance. White blood cells help your body fight infection.

If your doctor confirms you have an infection and low white blood cell levels, they’ll likely have you stop taking Ibrance for a while. They’ll monitor you to make sure your infection clears and your white blood cell levels return to normal. Then your doctor will likely have you restart Ibrance at a lower dose.

You may also need to stop Ibrance for a while if your doctor prescribes an antibiotic for your infection that interacts with it. Or your doctor may have you take a lower dose of Ibrance while you’re treating your infection with the antibiotic. Certain antibiotics can affect Ibrance levels in your body. This can prevent the drug from working or increase your risk of side effects.

You shouldn’t stop taking Ibrance unless your doctor recommends it.

If you have questions about infections while taking Ibrance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.