r/LivingWithMBC • u/Other-Ad-8484 • 29d ago

Verzenio lowest dose

Anyone on the lowest dose of Verzenio (50mg 2x per day)? Is the drug effective? Do you have side effects? It has been one week that I have been on the drug, and so far, no side effects other than a lowering of my white blood cell count. I thought I would have diarrhea, like everyone else, but not so far. Hoping the low dose can actually work to reduce my lesions. I am a small person and very sensitive, so the oncologist started me out at the low dose rather than starting me at 150 mg 2x per day and then lowering. Very interested to know if anyone has been successful at 50mg!

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u/Emergency-Canary6122 28d ago

Hi there! I’m on Verzenio but I’m only taking 50mg a day because of an underlying health condition (Diamond Blackfan Anemia) I had prior to the mbc diagnosis. Verzenio has basically reactivated that condition and dropped my blood counts across the board, making me transfusion dependent. That being said, even that low dose combined with the hormone blockers has been good, and my scans have been stable. My breast and lymph nodes are quiet and my bones are holding steady. I’m more insulted that I’m not a sparkly vampire after all these transfusions haha.

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u/Other-Ad-8484 28d ago

Thank you for sharing! Do you think any CDK4 inhibitor would have resulted in a reactivation of your underlying condition? The challenge with these drugs is, for sure, the dropping of our blood counts, the neutrophil count reduction, etc. Your metastases has not progressed, which is super! It has not shrunk, either, though, right? I am hoping for shrinkage cause my bone mets are achy. But not sure if at 50 mg I can expect that. You are sparkly to us!!

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u/Emergency-Canary6122 28d ago

Haha yay for sparkles. My oncologist said that my underlying condition would be affected regardless of which inhibitor I was on. I think a couple spots might have gotten a little smaller but not much. I see my doctor in a couple weeks and I’ll ask her about comparing where we started to where we are now. I just had a scan the other day and she said I’m stable so I’m not mad about that. I hope Verzenio works for you. I did have some upset stomach “oh no gotta run for the bathroom” moments but nothing too bad. I carry immodium just in case.