How have you tolerated Kisquli (ribociclib)?

@mir123
Yes, the cancer center's pharmacist called me yesterday. We reviewed what medications are in question. He wasn't much help though. He said a couple of times "possible side effects"...emphasizing the word "possible". He was very low keyed in the conversation. It was me who said I will contact my cardiologist since it seems the ranolazine I am on is the most worrisome. I am also in a "cancer resource program" within my health insurance. I plan on calling them also to discuss my medications and interactions with Kisqali. Hopefully they can give me more information to help me with my decision. It's not easy. No one has a crystal ball to predict anything. It's almost like the roll of the dice.

@briarrose I hope you get additional useful information! I know from my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment that there is indeed a lot of (nerve wracking) gray zone.

77y/o F. 2017 breast cancer treated successfully with radiation & Letrozole for 5 years. June this year developed groin pain. X-rays negative. Pain didn’t improve but got considerably worse. MRI showed end stage bone metastases. Started back on Letrazole. Five radiation treats SBRT in a study. After all the work up started on Kisqali 600 mg and Zometa. Took Kisqali for 5 days. Nausea and throwing up 2-3 times a day. 2 weeks ago Dose reduced to 200 mg daily + Letrozole. . I take a ginger Gravol at same at Lisqali & Letrozole in the morning. I chose mornings to monitor side effects. Has been pretty good. My problem is around 7:00pm I start to feel nauseous and have thrown up twice in last week. I’m of two minds whether this is still effects from radiation, Kisqali. Sometimes I think I am just hungry but afraid to eat anything. One regular Gravol at night seems to help. This is all they want to recommend. I have app’t with Oncologist in 2 days for bloodwork and ECG. I expect she will want to up the dose of Kisqali. How do you all manage constant nausea.

@masaryk452
My cardiologist never approved Kisquli for me so I never started it. Thank goodness, it would have an adverse effect on me since I have chronic heart disease.
I haven't heard of Gravol, certainly heard of ginger for nausea but it never worked for me, i.e. motion sickness or migraine nausea.
I take ondansetron disintergrating tablets 4 mg. for nausea (prescription)...which I get often for reasons I don't really know even without a migraine. I do know I will get nausea every time if I skip meals. My opinion is that it's important for you to have something in your stomach to quell nausea...the BRAT diet (bananas, white rice, apple juice and plain toast) for example. Saltine crackers for sure, chicken broth, applesauce, plain Greek yogurt. You could speak to a nutritionist about more food options for your situation. Ondansetron can cause constipation so perhaps that is the reason it is not recommended to you. And there is always over the counter - bonine or Dramamine. Also scopolamine patches are used for motion sickness, nausea (if using, never get into your eyes). Also a prescription. Some folks like those antinausea wrist bands for cruising to avoid motion sickness (which always includes nausea).
Nausea is truly awful, being a frequent sufferer myself. Sometimes I think it's the morning laundry list of medications I take in the AM that does it to me - but not really sure.
My feelings there are options for you besides ginger but if it is working, great.
I wish you all the best as you fight this nausea and your present cancer battle!
Blessings!

My cancer is Oncotype 29. I've been on Kisqali for the past 18 months. I also take exemestane and two blood pressure meds, diltiazim and telmisartan. As best I can tell, there are no interactions by Kisqali with anything else I take, and I get no side effects. I was diagnosed in Aug 2024. So far, no recurrence.

Kisqali can affect heart rhythms. I had to have weekly EKGs for the 1st month of taking it, since if there will be heart effects, they start right away. But that didn't happen to me.

BTW, I think you are making a mistake to assume that just because you have other cardiac problems that Kisqali would necessarily worsen them. IMHO (and I'm not an MD) I think you should try it and see.

I did not make the assumption that Kisquli would definitely worsen my cardiac condition. But it was a concern.
However, my oncologist and cardiologist consulted each other and it was decided by my MEDICAL TEAM the "risk" of a cardiac arrhythmia for me would be too great to take the chance of this possible side effect of Kisquli.
You have hypertension...I do also. But it's my specific cardiac condition that puts me in a high risk category for this particular cancer medication. I continue with my aromatase inhibitor. My oncologist is very happy I can tolerate it and I am compliant with it. My surgeon in New York City told me that 25% of women eventually stop their aromatase inhibitor due to their inability to tolerate its many side effects. That's a high percentage.
Consider yourself blessed you can take your recommended medical/oncology medication regimen without side effects. If you frequent Mayo Clinic Connect - Breast Cancer Forum, you already know so many women can not tolerate or actually develop serious side effects from their breast cancer medications and make their personal decision - "I am done with this medication".
You are fortunate! May it remain so, all the best.

To @briarrose: Kisqali can (but does not always)cause a heart problem called long-QT syndrome. According to the web, long QT syndrome is a heart signaling disorder that causes the lower chambers of the heart to take too long to recharge between beats. I suppose that would count as an arrhythmia.

In my particular case, my cancer was a lot more invasive than expected--so I was very happy that I could tolerate Kisqali--chemo in pill! All the best, PegDobbs

@peggydobbs
I am very familiar what a prolonged QT interval means & what can happen to the heart. It can possibly throw the heart into an emergency arrhythmia called ventricular tachycardia which can translate into ventricular fibrillation & cardiac arrest.
Yes, I suppose you can call that an arrhythmia.
All the best in your cancer journey.

I have bouts with severe AFIB, a heart murmur, atherosclerosis, and constant palpitations; yet my doctor prescribed Kisqali . I am afraid to take this drug. Any suggestions?

Which doctor?
Your breast oncologist, right?
I not only had one breast oncologist want to start me on Kisquli (less GI problems?) but a second breast oncologist wanted me to start its cousin - Verzenio.
The oncologist who wanted me to go on Kisquli - as I was leaving the exam room fully dressed - came back into the room, hand on the door knob and said "you are on 5 medications that interact with Kisquli, speak to your cardiologist". Which I did, my breast oncologist called him (when he did not approve it for me) and it was still a no-go for me.
With your cardiac history you must have a cardiologist. If your cardiologist does not know about your oncologist wanting to start you on this medication, contact her/him. You need medical clearance from your heart doctor to start this drug. This is the way it played out for me. And with severe Afib, it certainly seems to me this is a no-brainer, you must get your cardiologist involved.
I called my cardiologist and first spoke to the cardiology nurses...who relayed the message to my doctor and then the RN got back to me with his decision. I then informed my breast oncologist - who ended up speaking with him on the phone. My cardiologist did not change his medical recommendation much to her dismay.
But thankfully, he had the final word on this drug.
Good luck and all the very best to you!