Understanding Calquence Interactions: A Guide to Medications, Supplements, and Lifestyle Factors

If you're taking Calquence (acalabrutinib) for leukemia or lymphoma, understanding potential interactions is crucial for your safety and treatment effectiveness. This guide breaks down Calquence interactions with other medications, supplements, alcohol, food, and health conditions, empowering you to have informed conversations with your doctor.

What is Calquence and Why Are Interactions Important?

Calquence is a prescription medication used to treat specific types of leukemia and lymphoma, including:

• Mantle cell lymphoma (after previous treatment)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Small lymphocytic lymphoma

Understanding drug interactions is essential because these interactions can change how Calquence works in your body, potentially leading to reduced effectiveness or increased side effects.

Alcohol and Calquence: What You Should Know

Currently, there is no known direct interaction between Calquence and alcohol. However, it's always prudent to discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor while taking Calquence to ensure it's safe for your individual circumstances.

Key Medication Interactions with Calquence

Sharing a complete list of all medications you're taking with your doctor and pharmacist is vital to preventing harmful interactions. Here's a breakdown of notable drug interactions with Calquence:

1. Drugs That Block the CYP3A4 Enzyme

• Examples: ketoconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, cyclosporine, amiodarone
• What Happens: These drugs can increase the level of Calquence in your body, raising the risk of side effects.
• What to Do: Your doctor will likely advise avoiding these drugs and explore alternative treatments.

2. Drugs That Speed Up the CYP3A4 Enzyme

• Examples: carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, apalutamide, primidone
• What Happens: These drugs can decrease Calquence levels in your body, potentially making it less effective.
• What to Do: Your doctor will likely suggest avoiding them and discuss alternative treatment options.

3. Drugs Transported by BCRP

• Examples: topotecan, ubrogepant, imatinib, tenofovir, sofosbuvir
• What Happens: Calquence can interfere with BCRP, a transport protein, leading to a buildup of these other drugs in your body and increasing their side effects.
• What to Do: Your doctor might closely monitor you for side effects, adjust dosages, or suggest alternative treatments.

Supplement and Herbal Interactions

St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort, used by some to improve mood, can speed up the CYP3A4 enzyme, potentially reducing Calquence's effectiveness. Your doctor will likely recommend avoiding this supplement.

Vitamins

While there are no known interactions between Calquence and vitamins currently, it’s still important to consult your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.

Food, Vaccines, and Other Potential Interactions

Grapefruit

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with the enzyme that breaks down Calquence, increasing the risk of side effects. Your doctor might advise against consuming grapefruit during Calquence treatment.

Vaccines and Lab Tests

Currently, Calquence is not known to interact with vaccines or lab tests. However, always discuss these with your doctor.

Cannabis and CBD

There are no current reports of interactions between Calquence and cannabis or CBD, but it's important to consult your doctor before using them together.

Health Conditions That May Affect Calquence Treatment

Certain health conditions can increase the risk of interactions or complications with Calquence. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have:

• Bleeding problems: Calquence can increase the risk of bleeding.
• Irregular heart rhythm: Calquence can sometimes cause irregular heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation.
• Liver problems: Calquence may not be safe for those with moderate to severe liver issues, and it could reactivate hepatitis B.
• Current infection: Calquence may make it harder to treat infections.
• Recent or planned surgery: Due to the increased risk of bleeding, surgery may affect Calquence treatment.
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: The safety of Calquence during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not fully known, so discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
• Allergic reaction: If you've had an allergic reaction, your doctor will likely prescribe an alternative.

Steps to Avoid Interactions

• Open Communication: Discuss all medications, supplements, herbs, alcohol consumption, and cannabis use with your doctor and pharmacist.
• Medication List: Keep an updated medication list and share it with healthcare providers.
• Read Labels: Pay attention to warning labels on medications.
• Follow Prescriptions: Take Calquence exactly as prescribed.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• If there's an interaction, will I be monitored more closely?
• Do other treatments have similar interactions?
• Does my Calquence dosage affect the interaction risk?
• Is Calquence still safe if I have a related health condition?

By understanding these potential interactions and maintaining open communication with your healthcare team, you can optimize your Calquence treatment and minimize potential risks.