Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain cancers of the blood. The drug comes as a tablet that you swallow. It’s usually taken every 12 hours.

Calquence is used to treat the following kinds of lymphoma and leukemia in adults:

For the latter two uses, you may take Calquence by itself or with another medication called Gazyva (obinutuzumab).

The active ingredient in Calquence is acalabrutinib. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

This article describes Calquence’s dosages, as well as the drug’s strength and how to take it. To learn more about Calquence, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Calquence’s usual dosages, which are provided by the drug’s manufacturer. But when taking Calquence, always take the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

The information below discusses usual dosages of Calquence.

What is Calquence’s form?

Calquence comes as a tablet that you swallow.

Calquence used to come as a capsule that you take by mouth. But the manufacturer has discontinued the capsule form of Calquence. This is because Calquence capsules can interact with certain heartburn medications, such as antacids. For more information, see the “Ask a pharmacist” section below.

What strength does Calquence come in?

Calquence comes in a strength of 100 milligrams (mg).

What are the usual dosages of Calquence?

Usually, your doctor will have you start taking a certain dosage of Calquence. They’ll see how you respond to this dosage for your condition. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the appropriate dosage that provides the desired effect.

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

In some cases, you may need to take a dosage that’s different from what’s usually prescribed. See the “What factors affect my dosage?” section below for more information.

Dosing for mantle cell lymphoma

The usual recommended dosage of Calquence for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is 100 mg (one tablet) taken every 12 hours. You’ll likely continue taking this dose as long as the drug is an effective and safe MCL treatment for you.

If you have serious side effects, your doctor may have you stop taking Calquence. They may also end treatment if it stops working effectively.

Dosing for small lymphocytic lymphoma

Your dosage of Calquence to treat small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) will likely be 100 mg (one tablet) taken every 12 hours. You’ll probably continue this dosage as long as the drug is working effectively and you don’t have serious side effects.

If your SLL has not been treated before, your doctor may recommend that you take Calquence with another medication called Gazyva (obinutuzumab).

You’ll take Calquence before you take Gazyva if you’re prescribed both medications. You’ll receive Gazyva as an intravenous (IV) infusion at a doctor’s office or clinic. An IV infusion is an injection given into a vein over time.

If you’re prescribed both treatments for your cancer, your doctor will explain dosage specifics and how you’ll take these medications.

Dosing for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The usual dosage of Calquence for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is 100 mg (one tablet) taken every 12 hours. You’ll take this dose as long as the drug is working effectively and safely for your CLL.

Your doctor may prescribe Calquence with another medication called Gazyva if your CLL has not been treated before.

When you’re prescribed both medications, you’ll take Calquence before you take Gazyva. You’ll receive Gazyva as an IV infusion in a doctor’s office or clinic.

Your doctor can provide more information about the dosage and timing of both medications.

Is Calquence taken long term?

Yes, Calquence is usually a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Calquence is safe and effective for you, it’s likely that you’ll take it long term.

Your doctor will monitor how you do with treatment and keep you informed about how Calquence is working for your condition.

Dose modifications

In certain cases, you may need a dose reduction or increase for Calquence. Your doctor will discuss the correct dosage for you based on your health, any side effects you have, and other medications you’re taking.

Certain medications can interact with Calquence and change how they work, affecting your treatment. Your doctor may need to change your dosage of Calquence depending on other medications you’re taking.

Before you start taking Calquence, talk with your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you take.

The dosage of Calquence you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:

  • taking certain medications that affect how Calquence works
  • having certain health conditions, such as severe liver disease, including hepatitis B
  • having serious side effects

You’ll take Calquence tablets by swallowing them with water. You can take the medication with or without food, but be sure to swallow the tablet with water.

Do not break, chew, dissolve, or crush the tablets.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

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

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 or 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 Calquence in an easy-open container. Your pharmacist may also have some tips that can help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.

If you accidentally forget to take your dose of Calquence and it’s been less than 3 hours, take the missed dose.

But if it’s been longer than 3 hours since your missed dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

Do not take two doses of Calquence to catch up on a missed dose. This may increase your risk of serious side effects.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Calquence 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.

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

What to do in case you take too much Calquence

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Calquence. 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 usual dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Calquence for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Calquence without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Calquence 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 a lower dosage of Calquence still work for my condition?
  • Would my dosage be increased if Calquence isn’t working for me?
  • Does my Calquence dosage need to be lowered if I experience side effects?

To learn more about Calquence, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Q:

Will my dosage of Calquence need to be reduced if I’m taking an antacid?

Anonymous

A:

No, your dosage of Calquence will likely not need to be reduced if you’re taking an antacid. Calquence tablets don’t interact with antacids.

The manufacturer of Calquence used to produce this drug as an oral capsule, but it has discontinued the capsule form. When taken with Calquence capsules, antacids may decrease the amount of Calquence in your body. This can make Calquence less effective for treating your condition. Antacids don’t have this effect on the tablet form of Calquence.

To find out whether Calquence tablets interact with any drugs you may already take, 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.
Was this helpful?

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.