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 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a cancer of the bone marrow. It may also be used to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

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
• heart problems such as heart failure
• kidney or liver disease.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant because it may harm the baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. This medicine may make it difficult to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without discussing with your healthcare provider.

How do I take it?

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 should I watch out for?

This medicine can cause fluid retention (edema) in your body. If you notice any rapid weight gain or swelling of your hands or feet, or around your eyes, 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, rapid weight gain or swelling (edema), unusual bruising or bleeding, trouble breathing.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, diarrhea, tiredness, night sweats, increased sweating, joint pain, muscle pain, headache, trouble sleeping, dizziness.

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)
• 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)
• cholesterol medicines such as simvastatin (Zocor) and lovastatin (Mevacor)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• dexamethasone
• pimozide (Orap)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• St. John's wort
• simvastatin (Zocor)
• warfarin (Coumadin).

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

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. 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.