IMATINIB

(im MA ta nib) Brand: Gleevec

What is the most significant information I must know about imatinib?

• Imatinib can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).

• Imatinib may magnify the risk of liver problems. Speak your doctor if you have upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Imatinib may magnify the risk of fluid retention or heart problems. Speak your doctor if you have swelling or rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, quick or slow heart course, weak pulse, or fainting.

What is imatinib?

• Imatinib interferes with the growth of some cancer cells.

• Imatinib is used to treat determined types of leukemia (blood cancer), bone marrow disorders, and skin cancer, or determined tumors of the stomach and digestive system.

• Imatinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking imatinib?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to imatinib.

• To create certain imatinib is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· liver disease;

· kidney disease;

· underactive thyroid, last or upcoming thyroid surgery;

· heart malady, congestive heart failure;

· history of stomach ulcer or bleeding; or

· if you are receiving chemotherapy.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use imatinib if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

• It is not known whether imatinib passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while using this medicine.

• Do not give this medicine to anyone under 1 year old without medical advice.

• Imatinib can affect growth in children. Conversation with your doctor if you think your baby is not growing at a usual course while using this medicine.

How must I take imatinib?

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

• Take this medication with a big glass of water.

• You may dissolve the imatinib tablet in water or apple juice to create swallowing easier.

• Imatinib must be taken with a meal. Do not take imatinib on an empty stomach.

• 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.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember, making certain you also ate a meal and drink a big glass of water. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking imatinib?

• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

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

• This medication can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a doze, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or another surfaces. Patients and caregivers must wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands till and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens apart from another laundry.

• Body fluids must not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with imatinib and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit commodity while taking imatinib.

What are the possible side effects of imatinib?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

· swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion);

· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

· lower back pain, blood in your urine, few or no urinating;

· numbness or tingly feeling near your mouth;

· muscle weakness, tightness, or contraction, overactive reflexes;

· quick or slow heart course, weak pulse, confusion, fainting; or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• General side effects may include:

· mild nausea or stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea;

· joint or muscle pain; or

· headache, feeling tired.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect imatinib?

• Much drugs can interact with imatinib. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Speak your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with imatinib, especially:

· acetaminophen (Tylenol);

· aprepitant;

· bosentan;

· cimetidine;

· cyclosporine;

· haloperidol;

· St. John's wort;

· an antibiotic--clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, erythromycin, metronidazole, nafcillin, norfloxacin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, tetracycline;

· antifungal medication--clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

· an antidepressant--desipramine, nefazodone, sertraline;

· a blood thinner such as warfarin, Coumadin;

· heart or blood pressure medication--amiodarone, diltiazem, dronedarone, lidocaine, nicardipine, quinidine, verapamil;

· hepatitis C medications--boceprevir, telaprevir;

· HIV/AIDS medication--atazanavir, delavirdine, darunavir when given with ritonavir, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir; or

· seizure medication--carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone.

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

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about imatinib.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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