Imatinib Mesylate, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: imatinib mesylate, oral; Gleevec

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat:

• acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM)
• chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL)
• chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
• dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
• hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES)
• myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• myeloproliferative disease (MPD)
• metastatic malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• chemotherapy
• edema (fluid retention)
• heart problems such as heart failure
• kidney or liver disease
• thyroid problems

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Treatment will be continued for as long as you continue to benefit and can tolerate the side effects.

This medicine may irritate your stomach. Taking it with meals and with a large glass of water may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Do not crush or chew the capsules. Swallow them whole.

Depending on your condition, your healthcare provider may adjust your daily dosage. Follow your healthcare provider's directions exactly.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: severe muscle cramps.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine can cause fluid retention (edema) in your body. If you notice swelling of your hands or feet, around your eyes, or any unexplained swelling, contact your healthcare provider.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for tests.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe stomach pain, unexplained swelling, unusual bruising or bleeding, trouble breathing, fever, yellowish eyes or skin, light-colored bowel movements.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, rash, night sweats, joint or muscle pain, headache, trouble sleeping, dizziness, sore throat, hoarseness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• alcohol
• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, E.E.S., EryPed), doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin), and ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and phenobarbital
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, Tiamate), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), nisoldipine (Sular), amlodipine (Norvasc), isradipine (DynaCirc), and nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat)
• dexamethasone
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus (Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune) and cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)
• narcotic pain medicines such as alfentanil (Alfenta), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
• nefazodone
• pimozide (Orap)
• pimecrolimus (Elidel)
• quinidine
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane) and rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• St. John's wort
• simvastatin (Zocor)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.