Verzenio: Side Effects, How To Take, Uses, And More - Healthline

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Key takeaways

Verzenio is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer in adults, including early-stage and advanced or metastatic forms of the disease.
Verzenio can be used alone or in combination with other therapies like hormone therapy or fulvestrant. Studies have shown it can extend the time before cancer spreads and improve overall life expectancy.
Common side effects of Verzenio include diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue. Less common but more serious side effects can include blood clots and liver problems, requiring monitoring by a healthcare professional.

Verzenio is a prescription drug that’s used to treat breast cancer in some situations. Verzenio comes as a tablet that you swallow.

Verzenio is used in adults to treat breast cancer that’s hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) and HER2-negative in some situations, including:

early breast cancer, which is cancer that has not spread outside of the breast
advanced or metastatic breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body

To learn more about Verzenio’s uses, see the “How is Verzenio used?” section.

Verzenio medication basics

Verzenio contains the active ingredient abemaciclib. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) It belongs to a group of medications called cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors.

Verzenio is a brand-name medication. It’s not available as a generic medication.

How is Verzenio used?

If you have breast cancer, your doctor may prescribe Verzenio for you. Verzenio is a prescription drug that’s used to treat early breast cancer and advanced or metastatic breast cancer in some situations.

Early breast cancer means the cancer has not spread outside of the breast. Advanced or metastatic breast cancer has spread from your breast to other parts of your body.

Verzenio treats breast cancer that’s hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) and HER2-negative. Having HR-positive breast cancer means that hormones encourage the cancer to grow. And having HER2-negative breast cancer means the cancer cells don’t have certain proteins on them.

Verzenio can be prescribed:

as an add-on treatment, together with hormone therapy in adults with early breast cancer that has spread to lymph nodes near the breast and has a high risk of coming back after treatment
by itself in adults with advanced or metastatic breast cancer after past hormone treatment and chemotherapy didn’t work and the cancer has become more advanced
together with a kind of drug called an aromatase inhibitor (a hormone blocker) in adults with advanced or metastatic breast cancer who haven’t used a hormone treatment for the cancer in the past
together with a drug called fulvestrant (Faslodex) in adults who have used hormone treatment in the past but it didn’t work and the cancer has become more advanced

Verzenio works by helping to prevent cancer cells from making more cancer cells. By doing this, Verzenio helps people with cancer to live longer and have a better quality of life.

What is Verzenio’s dosage?

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Verzenio that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you take will be determined by your doctor.

Form and strengths

Verzenio comes as tablets that you’ll swallow. It’s available in the following strengths:

50 milligrams (mg)
100 mg
150 mg
200 mg

Recommended dosage

Verzenio is taken twice per day. You’ll take the medication around the same times every day.

Your doctor may prescribe Verzenio by itself or together with other medications for your condition.

If you’re taking Verzenio by itself, the usual recommended dosage is 200 mg twice per day. If you’re taking Verzenio with other medications, the usual recommended dosage is 150 mg twice per day.

Your exact dosage also depends on your overall health, any other medications you take, and other conditions you may have.

»Learn more about Verzenio's dosage.

How is Verzenio taken?

Your doctor will explain how you should take Verzenio. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Taking Verzenio

Verzenio comes as tablets that you swallow.

You can take Verzenio with or without food. But you should not take Verzenio with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Doing so can change how Verzenio works in your body. If you have questions, ask your pharmacist for more information about taking Verzenio with food.

Taking Verzenio with other medications

In certain situations, your doctor may have you take Verzenio with other medications. These other medications include:

fulvestrant (Faslodex)
letrozole (Femara)

Questions about taking Verzenio

Here are some answers to common questions about taking Verzenio.

Can Verzenio be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not crush, split, or chew Verzenio tablets. There isn’t any information available to know whether doing so changes how the medication works. If you have trouble swallowing Verzenio tablets, talk with your doctor about your treatment options.
Should I take Verzenio with food? Verzenio can be taken with or without food. Keep in mind that the drug can cause side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. So, you can see if it works better for you to take it with food or on an empty stomach. And be sure to talk with your doctor if you have any serious side effects, including abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

What are Verzenio’s side effects?

Like most drugs, Verzenio may cause mild or serious side effects.

More common side mild effects of Verzenio include diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.

Serious side effects can include blood clots and liver problems. These require monitoring by a healthcare professional.

»Learn more about Verzenio side effects.

Verzenio cost and savings

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Verzenio. What you’ll pay for Verzenio may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

Comparing pharmacies: The price of Verzenio may vary depending on which pharmacy you use, so it can help to compare prices across pharmacies to find the lowest cost.
Drug coupons: You may be able to find drug coupons on prescription discount websites that can reduce the cost of your medication. These coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits, but the discounted price may be lower than what you would pay through insurance.
Financial assistance: Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
- Medicine Assistance Tool
- NeedyMeds

Savings programs sponsored by Lilly (the manufacturer of Verzenio) may also be available to help you save money on your prescription. See this Verzenio Savings and Support webpage for details.

»MORE:Search for your medication on Optum Perks to see available coupons and download a free Optum Perks discount card.

Discover more about Verzenio

Verzenio Cost

Verzenio Interactions

Verzenio Dosage

Verzenio Side Effects

Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions about Verzenio

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Verzenio.

How does Verzenio compare with Ibrance?

Verzenio and Ibrance belong to the same group of drugs called kinase inhibitors. And they work in similar ways to stop cancer cells from growing.

Verzenio and Ibrance have a lot in common. But they also have some differences, including how they’re used. Here’s an overview of some of the key differences between Verzenio and Ibrance:

Verzenio is approved to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer and early breast cancer, and Ibrance is only used for advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
They contain different active ingredients.
Verzenio comes as a tablet, and Ibrance comes as a tablet and a capsule.
They come in different strengths.
They have some different side effects.
Verzenio can be prescribed by itself in certain situations, but Ibrance is used together with other drugs.
Verzenio is taken twice per day for as long as it’s prescribed, but Ibrance is taken on cycles of 21 days on, followed by 7 days off for as long as it’s prescribed.

In one study, Verzenio was shown to be helpful when used by itself after other therapies didn’t work. (These other therapies include hormone treatment and chemotherapy.) Ibrance, on the other hand, isn’t used alone when hormone treatments and chemotherapy haven’t worked. Instead, it’s always used with certain other drugs.

Compared with Ibrance, Verzenio causes more stomach and intestinal side effects. These include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. It can also cause more fatigue. One common side effect of both Ibrance and Verzenio is neutropenia (low level of certain white blood cells). And this condition can increase your risk of serious infections.

If you’d like, your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information on how Ibrance and Verzenio compare with each other.

How does Verzenio affect the life expectancy of someone with breast cancer?

It’s important to know that cancer can affect each person differently. And our bodies can respond differently to various treatments. How your body responds to treatment can depend on things such as:

your genetic makeup
your overall health and any medical conditions you have
your age
any medications you may be taking

Survival rate, which is also sometimes called life expectancy, is an estimate of how long someone may live. For people with certain cancers, this estimate is based on everyone who has that kind of cancer. But the estimate doesn’t take into account everyone’s individual factors.

Over the past few years, several new medications, including Verzenio, have shown promise for metastatic breast cancer. They’re improving both survival rates and quality of life in people with this kind of cancer.

Studies have shown that Verzenio increases people’s life expectancy. And the drug slows cancer from spreading in the body when it’s used either alone or together with other medications.

If you’d like to know more about possible outcomes with Verzenio treatment, talk with your doctor.

What’s the effectiveness of Verzenio?

In studies, Verzenio was effective for treating certain kinds of breast cancer. (For more information about this kind of cancer, see the “How is Verzenio used?” section.)

The studies showed that Verzenio was effective when it was used:

alone, after hormone treatment and chemotherapy didn’t work
together with hormone treatment
together with a drug called fulvestrant (Faslodex)

In these studies, Verzenio extended the length of time that people’s cancer didn’t spread or worsen. And more people using Verzenio didn’t have their cancer spread or worsen compared with people not using Verzenio.

If you’d like to learn more about how effective Verzenio is, talk with your doctor.

Is it safe to drink coffee while taking Verzenio?

Yes, in most cases it’s safe to drink coffee during Verzenio treatment. Verzenio and coffee aren’t known to interact with each other.

But diarrhea was a common side effect in studies of Verzenio. For some people, coffee may cause or worsen episodes of diarrhea. If you have this side effect after drinking coffee during Verzenio treatment, talk with your doctor. They may recommend that you consume less (or no) coffee to help ease your symptoms.

For more information about Verzenio and coffee, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also read this article to learn more about Verzenio and interactions.

»Learn more about Verzenio interactions.

What should be considered before taking Verzenio?

Some important points to discuss with your doctor when considering Verzenio treatment include:

your overall health
any medical conditions you may have

See the sections below to learn about these and other things to consider before starting this drug.

Interactions

Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions. Verzenio can interact with some medications, foods, and supplements.

Before taking Verzenio, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take (including prescription and over-the-counter types). Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these products may cause with Verzenio.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Many medications, including Verzenio, are broken down in your liver by an enzyme (type of protein) called CYP3A. This is how the medications get cleared from your body.

Some medications affect how CYP3A works. For instance:

CYP3A inhibitors slow the removal of Verzenio from your body. And this can increase your side effects from Verzenio.
CYP3A inducers speed up the removal of Verzenio from your body. And this can make Verzenio less effective for you.

Examples of medications that are CYP3A inhibitors include:

the antibiotic clarithromycin
the antifungal ketoconazole

Examples of medications that are CYP3A inducers include:

the antibiotic rifampin (Rimactane)
the HIV drug efavirenz
the narcolepsy drug modafinil (Provigil)

These lists don’t contain all types of drugs that may interact with Verzenio. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with the use of Verzenio.

Other interactions

You should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit with Verzenio. Doing so can increase the effect of Verzenio in your body. And this may lead to increased side effects of the drug.

Other warnings

Verzenio may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Verzenio. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

Liver or kidney problems: If you have severe liver or kidney problems, your doctor may adjust your dosage of Verzenio. Before you start taking Verzenio, your doctor will order blood work to check the health of your liver and kidneys. And they’ll order these tests during your treatment to make sure your liver and kidneys are working well.

Infection: If you have an infection, your doctor may wait to have you start Verzenio until the infection is treated. This will help you to avoid having complications of the infection.

Blood disorders: Verzenio can lower your blood cell levels. If your blood cell levels are already low, your doctor may have you wait to start Verzenio. This is because it can be dangerous to take the drug while your blood cell levels are low.

Increased risk of blood clots: Verzenio can cause blood clots, which can be life threatening. Verzenio has not been studied in people who have early breast cancer and a history of blood clots. If you have an increased risk of blood clots, such as if you’ve had one in the past, let your doctor know. They’ll determine whether Verzenio treatment is safe for you.

Problems with your immune system: Verzenio may lower the activity of your immune system. And this increases your risk of getting infections. Before you start Verzenio, your doctor will order tests to see how well your immune system is working. And they’ll continue to check on your immune system during your treatment with Verzenio.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Verzenio or any of its ingredients, you should not take Verzenio. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options.

Verzenio with alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Verzenio and alcohol. But alcohol and Verzenio can both affect your liver. If you drink alcohol, be sure to ask your doctor whether it’s safe to drink it while you’re taking Verzenio.

Also, keep in mind that alcohol may increase some side effects with Verzenio, such as:

dizziness
dehydration
nausea
tiredness

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You should not take Verzenio if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You should also avoid taking this drug if you’re breastfeeding. There isn’t any information available on taking Verzenio during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you have questions about the risks and benefits of using Verzenio during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor.

What should be done in case of overdose?

Do not take more Verzenio than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

What to do in case you take too much Verzenio

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Verzenio. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

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.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Breast cancer facts and figures (2022-2024). (2022).https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/2022-2024-breast-cancer-fact-figures-acs.pdf
Food and Drug Administration. (2025). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
Ibrance (palbociclib) capsules, for oral use. (2025).https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e0e6412f-50b4-4fd4-9364-62818d121a07/spl-doc
Ibrance (palbociclib) tablets, for oral use. (2025).https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fecbdd7d-b729-41b5-9872-231b8fe104ce/spl-doc
Verzenio (abemaciclib) tablets, for oral use. (2025).https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/be4bc0de-0fdc-4d46-8d25-be43c79e6a06/spl-doc

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Medically reviewed by Alyssa Walton, PharmD — Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS — Updated on November 20, 2025

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Key takeaways

Verzenio medication basics

How is Verzenio used?

What is Verzenio’s dosage?

Form and strengths

Recommended dosage

How is Verzenio taken?

Taking Verzenio

Taking Verzenio with other medications

Questions about taking Verzenio

What are Verzenio’s side effects?

Verzenio cost and savings

Discover more about Verzenio

Frequently asked questions about Verzenio

How does Verzenio compare with Ibrance?

How does Verzenio affect the life expectancy of someone with breast cancer?

What’s the effectiveness of Verzenio?

Is it safe to drink coffee while taking Verzenio?

What should be considered before taking Verzenio?

Interactions

Interactions with drugs or supplements