What is imatinib?

Imatinib interferes with the growth of some cancer cells.

Imatinib is used to treat certain types of leukemia (blood cancer), bone marrow disorders, and skin cancer. Imatinib is also used to treat certain tumors of the stomach and digestive system. Imatinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. Who wants to be diagnosed with skin cancer, leukemia, some major diseases like bone marrow problem, intestinal tumors? I am pretty none. What if this happens to your loved ones? Is there any precautions? Yes, there is and Imatinibis a great one.

It is not at all easy to find the accurate treatment for those mentioned diseases but with the invention of imatinib, situations are getting better. The major function of this drug is that it stops the growth of the very dangerous cells which are cancer cells. Imatinib mesylate is an ideal package for patients suffering from various cancers. Before the intake of awesome drug, make sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients used in the making of this medicine. If you are, then it is wise to stay away from it. You also need to check that you are not taking warfarin. If these two conditions are checked, you are good to go.

Doctors should be aware of certain facts before you start the dose of imatinib generic. The doctor should know that you are on the verge of having a baby or if you have had any allergies in the past. Medical history is crucial in any treatment, so he should also know if you have any problems pertaining to liver or kidney or lungs or even heart failure. If so, the doctor will recommend an alternative for you.

Imatinib prescribing information will have all that you need to know before you start the dose. You will be told about the dos and don’ts. It is said that this drug reacts very easily with other medicines and cause you problem, so you should inform the doctor about it too. The dose needs to be had with meal in a full glass of water without a miss.

Almost all the medicines available in the chemist have side effects and similar is that with this medicine. Imatinib side effects can vary depending on the immune system. You can have minor or major side effects. A few minor side effects may be anxiety, loss of hair, increase in the quantity of tear production, nausea, nose as well as throat irritation, change in taste, sensation of vomiting, either runny nose or stuffy nose, frequent tiredness and many more. If we mention the major ones, they may be pain in the bones, numbness, swelling of your limbs, bleeding, change in the color of sputum, you may also have trouble while talking or swallowing, vaginal bleeding, no healing wound and more. After we know the effects, we should definitely be cautious and have a proper discussion with doctor before the consumption.

With so many positive effects despite the side effects, imatinib gleevec is a recommended drug for cancer and imatinib mesylate price too is not too high that the middle class suffering from the disorders can’t afford. It has been made available for everyone so that the diseases are taken care of without any class distinction. In fact imatinib price makes it the most sold medicine for crucial disorders. Stay safe and stay healthy.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking imatinib?

You should not use imatinib if you are allergic to it.

To make sure imatinib is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease (especially hepatitis B);
• kidney disease;
• underactive thyroid, recent or upcoming thyroid surgery;
• heart disease, congestive heart failure;
• a stomach ulcer or bleeding;
• diabetes; or
• chemotherapy.

Do not use imatinib if you are pregnant. 

It could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 14 days after your last dose.  You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Imatinib can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in the nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while taking imatinib and for at least 1 month after your last dose.

How should I take imatinib?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Imatinib should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water. Do not take imatinib on an empty stomach.

You may dissolve an imatinib tablet in a glass of water or apple juice to make the pill easier to swallow. Be sure to use the correct number of tablets to get an entire dose. Use about 2 ounces of liquid for each 100-milligram tablet, or 7 ounces of liquid for each 400-milligram tablet. Stir the mixture and drink all of it right away.

Do not crush, chew, or break an imatinib tablet. The medicine from a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If this occurs, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose of a crushed or broken tablet.

Imatinib can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.

You will also need frequent tests to check your liver function.

Do not stop using imatinib without your doctor’s advice.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, making sure you also eat a meal and drink a large glass of water. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What should I avoid while taking imatinib?

This medicine may cause blurred vision and may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with imatinib and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking imatinib. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.

This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient’s body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• fluid retention–shortness of breath (even while lying down), swelling, rapid weight gain;
• fluid build-up in the lungs–pain when you breathe, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus;
• liver problems–upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• low blood cell counts–fever, cold or flu symptoms, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, mouth sores, pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed, cold hands and feet;
• signs of stomach bleeding–bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
• signs of tumor cell breakdown–confusion, fast or slow heart rate, fluttering in your chest, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tingling in your hands or feet, tingling around your mouth; or
• thyroid symptoms–tiredness, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, depression, slow heart rate, unusual weight gain, feeling more sensitive to cold temperatures.

Imatinib can affect growth in children and teenagers. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
• joint or muscle pain;
• skin rash; or
• feeling tired.

Imatinib dosing information

Imatinib dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

Chronic phase: 400 mg orally once a day
Accelerated phase or blast crisis: 600 mg orally once a day

A dose increase may be considered in the absence of a severe adverse drug reaction and severe non-leukemia related neutropenia or thrombocytopenia in the following circumstances: disease progression (at any time), failure to achieve a satisfactory hematologic response after at least 3 months of treatment, failure to achieve a cytogenetic response after 6 to 12 months of treatment, or loss of a previously achieved hematologic or cytogenetic response:
Disease progression chronic phase: 600 mg orally once a day
Disease progression accelerated phase or blast crisis: 400 mg orally 2 times a day

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Uses:
-Newly diagnosed patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+CML) in chronic phase
-Patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+CML) in blast crisis (BC), accelerated phase (AP), or in chronic phase (CP) after failure of interferon-alpha therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia:

600 mg orally daily

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL)

Usual Adult Dose for Myeloproliferative Disorder:

400 mg orally once a day

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-Determine PDGFRb gene rearrangements status prior to initiating treatment. Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of PDGFRb rearrangements is available at http://www.fda.gov/companiondiagnostics.
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative (MDS/MPD) diseases associated with PDGFR (platelet-derived growth factor receptor) gene rearrangements as determined with an FDA-approved test

Usual Adult Dose for Myelodysplastic Disease:

400 mg orally once a day

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-Determine PDGFRb gene rearrangements status prior to initiating treatment. Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of PDGFRb rearrangements is available at http://www.fda.gov/companiondiagnostics.
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative (MDS/MPD) diseases associated with PDGFR (platelet-derived growth factor receptor) gene rearrangements as determined with an FDA-approved test

Usual Adult Dose for Systemic Mastocytosis:

-For patients with ASM without the D816V c-Kit mutation: 400 mg orally daily
-If c-Kit mutational status is not known or unavailable: 400 mg orally daily may be considered for patients with ASM not responding satisfactorily to other therapies
-For patients with ASM associated with eosinophilia, a clonal hematological disease related to the fusion kinase FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha, a starting dose of 100 mg/day is recommended. Dose increase from 100 mg to 400 mg for these patients may be considered in the absence of adverse drug reactions if assessments demonstrate an insufficient response to therapy.
-For patients with ASM associated with eosinophilia (a clonal hematological disease related to the fusion kinase FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha: 100 mg orally daily; a dose increase from 100 mg to 400 mg for these patients may be considered in the absence of adverse drug reactions if assessments demonstrate an insufficient response to therapy

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-Determine D816V c-Kit mutation status prior to initiating treatment.
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For patients with aggressive systemic mastocytosis without the D816V c-Kit mutation as determined with an FDA-approved test

Usual Adult Dose for Hypereosinophilic Syndrome:

-For patients with HES/CEL: 400 mg orally daily
-For patients with HES/CEL with demonstrated FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha fusion kinase: 100 mg orally daily; dose increase from 100 mg to 400 mg for these patients may be considered in the absence of adverse drug reactions if assessments demonstrate an insufficient response to therapy

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome and/or chronic eosinophilic leukemia who have the FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha fusion kinase (mutational analysis or FISH demonstration of CHIC2 allele deletion) and for patients with HES and/or CEL who are FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha fusion kinase negative or unknown

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia:

-For patients with HES/CEL: 400 mg orally daily
-For patients with HES/CEL with demonstrated FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha fusion kinase: 100 mg orally daily; dose increase from 100 mg to 400 mg for these patients may be considered in the absence of adverse drug reactions if assessments demonstrate an insufficient response to therapy

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome and/or chronic eosinophilic leukemia who have the FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha fusion kinase (mutational analysis or FISH demonstration of CHIC2 allele deletion) and for patients with HES and/or CEL who are FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha fusion kinase negative or unknown

Usual Adult Dose for Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans:

100 mg orally daily

Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Use: For patients with unresectable, recurrent and/or metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)

Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor:

-For patients with unresectable and/or metastatic, malignant GIST: 400 mg orally daily; the dose may be increased up to 800 mg daily (given as 400 mg 2 times a day) may be considered, as clinically indicated, in patients showing clear signs or symptoms of disease progression at a lower dose and in the absence of severe adverse drug reactions; therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.
-For the adjuvant treatment of adult patients following complete gross resection of GIST: 400 mg orally daily; in clinical trials, therapy was administered for one year; the optimal treatment duration is not known

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a large glass of water.

Uses:
-Kit+ Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST): Patients with Kit (CD117) positive unresectable and/or metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors
-Adjuvant Treatment of GIST: Adjuvant treatment of adult patients following complete gross resection of Kit (CD117) positive GIST

Usual Pediatric Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

1 year and older:
340 mg/m2 orally once a day or 170 mg/m2 orally 2 times a day
Maximum Dose: 600 mg daily
Duration of therapy: Therapy may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-Therapy can be given as a once daily dose or the daily dose may be split into 2 doses, with one portion dosed in the morning and one portion in the evening.
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a glass of water.
-There is no experience with this drug in children under 1 year of age.

Use:
-Newly diagnosed patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+CML) in chronic phase

Usual Pediatric Dose for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia:

1 year and older:
340 mg/m2 orally once a day
Maximum Dose: 600 mg once a day
Duration of therapy: Treatment may be continued as long as there is no evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Comments:
-This drug should be taken with a meal and a glass of water.
-There is no experience with this drug in children under 1 year of age.

Use: For pediatric patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in combination with chemotherapy

What other drugs will affect imatinib?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can interact with imatinib. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• an antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral medicine;
• seizure medicine;
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); or
• a vitamin or mineral supplement that contains iron.

This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with imatinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Which drugs or supplements interact with imatinib-oral?

The blood concentration of imatinib may be increased by several drugs that reduce its break down by the liver. Examples include ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox), clarithromycin (Biaxin), atazanavir(Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), telithromycin(Ketek), voriconazole (Vfend), and grapefruit juice. Increased blood concentrations of imatinib may increase the occurrence of adverse effects.

Certain drugs decrease the blood concentration of imatinib resulting in decreased blood levels and possibly reduced effect. Examples include carbamazepine, phenobarbital, rifampin, phenytoin, fosphenytoin, primidone, and St John’s Wort.

Imatinib increases the blood concentration of simvastatin (Zocor) by reducing the activity of enzymes that break down simvastatin in the liver. This may increase the side effects of simvastatin. Imatinib may interact with other drugs that are broken down in a similar way as simvastatin.

What is the dosage for imatinib-oral?

The recommended dose range is 300-800 mg orally daily depending on the condition being treated. All doses should be administered with a meal and a large glass of water. A dose of 800 mg should be administered as 400 mg twice daily. Doses less than 800 mg may be administered once daily. It can be dissolved in apple juice or water for those with difficulty swallowing.

Is imatinib-oral safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Imatinib is harmful to the fetus and should not be used during pregnancy.

Imatinib is excreted in human milk; therefore, nursing mothers should either discontinue imatinib or stop breastfeeding.

Storage and Handling

Store your medication in the original, labeled container at room temperature and in a dry location (unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider or pharmacist). This medication should not be stored in a pillbox. Keep containers out of reach of children and pets.

If a caregiver prepares your dose for you, they should consider wearing gloves or pour the pills directly from their container into the cap, a small cup, or directly into your hand. They should avoid touching the pills. They should always wash their hands before and after giving you the medication. Pregnant or nursing women should not prepare the dose for you. Ask your oncology team where to return any unused medication for disposal. Do not flush down the toilet or throw in the trash.

Nausea and/or Vomiting

Talk to your oncology care team so they can prescribe medications to help you manage nausea and vomiting. In addition, dietary changes may help. Avoid things that may worsen the symptoms, such as heavy or greasy/fatty, spicy or acidic foods (lemons, tomatoes, oranges). Try saltines, or ginger ale to lessen symptoms.

Call your oncology care team if you are unable to keep fluids down for more than 12 hours or if you feel lightheaded or dizzy at any time.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be a serious side effect that can lead to dehydration. Notify your care team if you develop diarrhea.

Your oncology team can recommend medications to relieve diarrhea. Also, try eating low-fiber, bland foods, such as white rice and boiled or baked chicken. Avoid raw fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals and seeds. Soluble fiber is found in some foods and absorbs fluid, which can help relieve diarrhea. Foods high in soluble fiber include: applesauce, bananas (ripe), canned fruit, orange sections, boiled potatoes, white rice, products made with white flour, oatmeal, cream of rice, cream of wheat, and farina. Drink 8-10 glasses on non-alcoholic, un-caffeinated fluid a day to prevent dehydration.

Rash

Some patients may develop a rash or very dry skin. Use an alcohol free moisturizer on your skin and lips; avoid moisturizers with perfumes or scents. Your doctor or nurse can recommend a topical medication if itching is bothersome. If your skin does crack or bleed, be sure to keep the area clean to avoid infection. Be sure to notify your healthcare provider of any rash that develops, as this can be a reaction. They can give you more tips on caring for your skin.

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