Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a quickly progressing malignancy that starts in immune system cells, is treated with acalabrutinib in patients who have received at least one additional chemotherapy drug. It is also used to treat small lymphocytic lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL; a form of cancer that starts in the white blood cells) (SLL: a type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells). Acalabrutinib belongs to the group of drugs known as kinase inhibitors. It functions by preventing the aberrant protein from signalling the growth of cancer cells. This slows the growth of cancerous cells.

Acalabrutinib is available as a pill to swallow. It is typically taken every 12 hours (twice a day), with or without food, for however long your doctor suggests you receive treatment. Acalabrutinib should be taken every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Administer acalabrutinib exactly as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

With a glass of water, swallow the capsules whole; do not open, chew, or break them.

Depending on the negative effects you experience, your doctor may shorten or discontinue your acalabrutinib medication altogether. Make careful to discuss your feelings during treatment with your doctor. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking acalabrutinib.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking acalabrutinib,

• If you have an allergy to acalabrutinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in acalabrutinib capsules, tell your doctor and pharmacist right away. For a list of the ingredients, consult the patient information or speak with your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbal items, and nutritional supplements you are now taking or intend to take. Mention blood-thinning drugs like warfarin (Coumadin), antiplatelet drugs like aspirin, cilostazol, clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine, in Aggrenox), prasugrel (Effient), ticagrelor (Brilinta), and ticlodipine, diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Diltzac, others); the antifungal drug itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox); the proton pump inhibitors lansoprazole (Prevacid, in Prevpac), omeprazole (Prilosec, in Yosprala, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex); and the antibiotic rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifater, Rifamate). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Tell your doctor about all the drugs you are taking, including any not on this list, as many other drugs may also interact with acalabrutinib.
• Take acalabrutinib at least two hours before taking cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid, in Duexis), nizatidine (Axid), or ranitidine (Zantac) if you are taking any of these medications.
• Take acalabrutinib at least 2 hours before or after using antacids (such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, or other brands).
• Infections, recent surgery, liver disease, particularly hepatitis B, issues with your heart’s rhythm, and bleeding issues should all be disclosed to your doctor.
• If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Pregnancy should not occur when taking acalabrutinib. Use birth control to avoid pregnancy throughout treatment and for at least a week after your final dosage. You shouldn’t begin taking acalabrutinib until a pregnancy test reveals that you are not pregnant. Acalabrutinib might be harmful to the unborn child. In the event that you conceive while taking acalabrutinib, contact your physician right away.
• Inform your doctor if you are nursing a child. Breastfeeding is not advised during therapy and for two weeks following the last dose, according to your doctor.
  Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking acalabrutinib if you are having surgery, including dental surgery. You could be instructed by your doctor to cease taking acalabrutinib for a while both before and after the procedure.
• Make a plan to limit your time spent in the sun and to use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective clothes. Acalabrutinib may increase your risk of developing skin cancer and make your skin more vulnerable to the harmful effects of sunlight.

If you plan to consume grapefruits or grapefruit juice while taking this medication, consult your doctor.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. Skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing plan if more than three hours have passed since the missed dose. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

There may be negative consequences from acalabrutinib. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Continent pain
• Rash
• Small red or purple patches or light bruises on the skin
• Muscle or joint pain
• Extreme fatigue

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Stop taking acalabrutinib and contact your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms, or seek emergency medical attention:

• Fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of infection
• Chest pain when you cough or breathe, shortness of breath, and fever
• Palpitations, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, feeling faint or lightheaded, these symptoms, shortness of breath, and chest pain
• Abnormally heavy or severe bruising or bleeding
• Having pink or brown urine, vomiting blood or coffee grounds, passing blood when you cough, or having blood in your stools or black, tarry stools
• Changes in speech, weakness, or confusion; the presence of a persistent headache

Acalabrutinib may make you more likely to get other cancers. The dangers of using this drug should be discussed with your doctor.

Other negative effects of acalabrutinib are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to acalabrutinib, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.