Dosages for Imbruvica (ibrutinib) may vary based on age and body weight. The typical starting dosage for adults is 420 milligrams (mg) daily. The recommended starting dosage for most children depends on their weight. Your doctor may adjust your dosage over time.

Imbruvica (ibrutinib) is a prescription drug used to treat certain white blood cell problems. The drug comes as a tablet, capsule, or liquid that you swallow. It’s usually taken once per day. Imbruvica is used to treat the following conditions in adults:

It’s also used to treat cGVHD in some children ages 1 year and older.

The active ingredient in Imbruvica is ibrutinib. Imbruvica belongs to a group of drugs called kinase inhibitors.

This article describes the dosages of Imbruvica, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Imbruvica, including its side effects and uses, read this in-depth Imbruvica article.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for Imbruvica. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those shown here.

What are the forms of Imbruvica?

Imbruvica is available as a tablet, capsule, or liquid suspension that you swallow.

What strengths does Imbruvica come in?

Imbruvica capsules come in strengths of:

  • 70 milligrams (mg)
  • 140 mg

Imbruvica tablets come in strengths of:

  • 140 mg
  • 280 mg
  • 420 mg

Imbruvica’s liquid suspension comes in one strength: 70 mg per milliliter (mL) of liquid.

Imbruvica is approved to treat the following conditions in adults:

  • chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  • small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
  • Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM)
  • chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD)

The dosage of Imbruvica for adults is typically the same for each condition it’s approved to treat: 420 mg.

Your doctor may prescribe this as one 420-mg tablet or three 140-mg capsules to equal the 420-mg dose.

Depending on your specific treatment plan, your doctor may prescribe Imbruvica in combination with another drug, such as:

If you have questions about Imbruvica’s dosage for CLL, SLL, WM, or cGVHD, talk with your doctor.

Dosage reduction

Your doctor might prescribe a dose reduction if you’re taking other medications with Imbruvica or if you have a liver problem. This includes mild to moderate liver disease. If you have severe liver disease, Imbruvica likely won’t be prescribed for your condition.

You also may need a dose adjustment if you experience certain severe side effects of Imbruvica.

Your doctor will discuss your exact dosage and any adjustments you may need.

Imbruvica is used to help treat cGVHD in children ages 1 year and older.

The dosage for children ages 1 to 11 years will depend on their body surface area (BSA). Your child’s doctor will calculate your child’s BSA based on their height and weight. This BSA measurement is given in meters squared (m2).

The typical dosage for children ages 1 to 11 years old is 240 mg/m2 daily, up to a maximum daily dose of 420 mg. Depending on your child’s specific dosage, their doctor may prescribe the capsule, tablet, or liquid suspension.

The dosage for children ages 12 and older is the same as it is for adults: 420 mg per day.

Imbruvica comes as tablets or capsules you’ll swallow. Take your dose once per day with a glass of water. Try to take Imbruvica at the same time each day.

Do not crush, chew, or break your Imbruvica tablets or capsules. You also should not open the capsules. Imbruvica tablets and capsules should be swallowed whole.

If you have a very low dose or difficulty swallowing pills, your doctor may prescribe Imbruvica as a liquid suspension. To give the Imbruvica suspension, you or a caregiver will measure your dose with the provided syringe. Then, you’ll place the tip of the syringe along the inside of your cheek and slowly release the dose into your mouth. You’ll do this one to two times, depending on your specific dosage.

Avoid taking Imbruvica with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, or Seville oranges. These foods can raise the amount of Imbruvica in your blood. This can increase your risk of Imbruvica side effects.

For tips on swallowing pills, this article may be helpful.

Accessible drug containers and labels

If you find it hard to read the prescription label on your medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies may provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • feature a code that you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

If you have trouble opening medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to supply Imbruvica in an easy-open container. Your pharmacist may also have some tips that can help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.

How long do you take Imbruvica?

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

If you forget to take your dose of Imbruvica, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it’s on the same day. If it’s the next day, just take your next regularly scheduled dose. If you miss several doses of Imbruvica, contact your doctor to talk about your options.

Do not double your dose of Imbruvica. This could increase your risk of serious side effects.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Imbruvica on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

The dosage of Imbruvica your doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These include:

  • the condition you’re taking Imbruvica to treat
  • the form of Imbruvica you’re using
  • if you have liver problems (see “Dosage reduction” under “Imbruvica dosage for adults”)
  • if you’re taking other medications
  • if you experience certain severe side effects

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

What to do in case you take too much Imbruvica

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Imbruvica. 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 manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Imbruvica for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Imbruvica without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Imbruvica 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:

  • Will my dosage of Imbruvica be different if I’m taking it with other medications?
  • Would my dosage increase if Imbruvica is not working for my condition?
  • Does my risk of side effects increase with a higher dosage of Imbruvica?

Q:

How does my doctor decide whether I should take the tablet or capsule form of Imbruvica?

Anonymous

A:

You and your doctor will decide together whether you should take the tablet or capsule form of Imbruvica. This may depend on several factors, including:

  • your health history and the condition you’re taking Imbruvica for
  • the dosage you’re prescribed
  • whether you have trouble swallowing pills
  • your insurance coverage, such as the cost of each form

Your doctor will recommend the dosage and form of Imbruvica that’s right for you, based on these and other factors.

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.