Imatinib

 
Generic Name: imatinib (oral)

Brands: Gleevec

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What is the most important information I should know about Imatinib?

· Because Imatinib is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby, women of childbearing age should not become pregnant during treatment.

· Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if you have an unexpected rapid weight gain, swelling, or water retention.

· Imatinib should be taken with a meal.

 

What is Imatinib?

· Imatinib interferes with the growth of some cancer cells.

· Imatinib is used to treat the blood cancer chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and certain types of stomach cancer (stromal GI tumors or GISTs).

· Imatinib may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

 

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

· Before taking Imatinib, tell your doctor if you have     ·liver disease or a history of liver problems;     ·kidney disease; or     ·a history of low levels of neutrophils or platelets in the blood.

· You may not be able to take Imatinib, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

· Imatinib is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is known to be harmful to an unborn baby.Do not take this medication if you are pregnant. Pregnancy should be avoided during treatment with Imatinib.

· It is not known whether Imatinib passes into breast milk. Do not take Imatinib without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

· The safety and effectiveness of Imatinib in patients younger than 18 years of age have not been established.

 

How should I take Imatinib?

· Take Imatinib exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

· Take each dose with a large glass of water.

· Imatinib should be taken with a meal.

· Imatinib is usually taken once a day. Follow your doctor's instructions.

· Your doctor may want you to have blood tests and/or other types of tests performed to monitor for side effects and effectiveness of the medication.

· Store Imatinib at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

 

What happens if I miss a dose?

· If the missed dose is remembered shortly after the last meal, take it immediately with a large glass of water. Alternatively, wait until the next meal and take the missed dose then, with a large glass of water. If the missed dose is not remembered until the next day, skip the missed dose and take only the regularly scheduled dose for that day. Do not take a double dose of the medication.

 

What happens if I overdose?

· Seek emergency medical attention.

· Symptoms of a Imatinib overdose are not known.

 

What should I avoid while taking Imatinib?

· Because Imatinib is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby, women of childbearing age should not become pregnant during treatment.

 

What are the possible side effects of Imatinib?

· If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Imatinib and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:     ·an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of the throat; difficulty breathing; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives);     ·yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark urine, or pale stools that may indicate liver problems;     ·decreased white blood cells (fever, chills, or signs of infection);     ·decreased blood platelets (unusual or prolonged bleeding or bruising or black, bloody, or tarry stools); or     ·an unexpected rapid weight gain, swelling, or water retention.

· Other less serious side effects may occur more frequently. Continue to take Imatinib and talk to your doctor if you experience:     ·nausea or vomiting;     ·muscle or joint pains;     ·a skin rash;     ·diarrhea;     ·tiredness;     ·fever;     ·heartburn or stomach pain; or     ·headache.

· Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

 

What other drugs will affect Imatinib?

· Before taking Imatinib, tell your doctor if you are taking     ·an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);     ·an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., E-Mycin, others), or troleandomycin (TAO);     ·rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate, others) or rifabutin (Mycobutin);     ·a steroid medication such as dexamethasone (Decadron, others) or prednisolone (Orapred, Prelone, others);     ·an anti-seizure drug such as phenytoin (Dilantin, others), carbamazepine (Tegretol, others), clonazepam (Klonopin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, others);     ·St. John's Wort;     ·cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, and others);     ·pimozide (Orap);     ·warfarin (Coumadin);     ·a blood pressure medicine such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat, others), amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nimodipine (Nimotop), or nisoldipine (Sular);     ·a medicine for anxiety or insomnia such as alprazolam (Xanax); diazepam (Valium), or triazolam (Halcion); or     ·a cholesterol-lowering drug such as lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), or simvastatin (Zocor) .

· You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment with Imatinib if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Imatinib. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal supplements.

 

Where can I get more information?

· Your pharmacist has additional information about Imatinib written for health professionals that you may read.

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