Do Gleevec side effects go away?
In one study, some people reported bone pain and muscle pain after stopping Gleevec. These side effects went away within 3 months to about 1 year. Do not stop taking Gleevec without speaking with your doctor first.
Is Gleevec well tolerated?
Treatment with imatinib is generally well tolerated, and the risk for severe adverse effects is low. Adverse effects most commonly include mild-to-moderate edema, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and cutaneous reactions.
Why is Gleevec bad?
Some of the side effects seen in clinical studies can happen with long-term use of Gleevec. These include heart problems, such as congestive heart failure and left-sided heart failure. In a clinical study, more than 500 people who took Gleevec for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were followed for up to 11 years.
How long do you stay on Gleevec?
Life Expectancy Improves. CML patients taking Gleevec (imatinib) were followed for up to eight years. In order to be enrolled in the study, patients needed to be incomplete remission after two years of starting the drug, and the study confirmed that they could expect to live as long as people without cancer.
Does Gleevec cause muscle pain?
Muscle cramps and pain can occur during cancer treatment, and it is a common side effect of Gleevec. Treatment with Gleevec can cause a reduction in levels of calcium and magnesium in the blood. It is believed that this can be one of the causes of muscle cramps.
Does Gleevec make you tired?
The most common side effects of Gleevec are swelling around the eyes and legs as well as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, muscle or bone pain, abdominal pain, fatigue, excessive gas and rash. Many side effects are managed by other medications.
How can I reduce the side effects of imatinib?
Imatinib sometimes causes side effects due to the rapid destruction of cancer cells (tumor lysis syndrome). To lower your risk, drink plenty of fluids unless your doctor directs you otherwise. Also, your doctor may prescribe an additional medication.
Is Gleevec oral chemo?
Imatinib (Gleevec) oral chemo for CML | ChemoExperts.
Is Gleevec chemo?
When compared with harsher chemotherapy drugs, Gleevec has been shown to produce fewer, milder side effects. Swallowing a pill is also easier on patients than injections or lengthy infusions. It may well turn out to be a transformative treatment for other cancers and other types of diseases.
Can you take a break from Gleevec?
New treatment guidelines in the U.S. say certain patients can consider stopping Gleevec or similar drugs which were long thought to be needed for the rest of their lives. It’s just a pill or two a day but the drugs are expensive and have side effects.
Does imatinib cause weight gain?
The median weight at the start of imatinib therapy was 76.8 kg (range 49.7-123). There was a statistically significant gain in weight in evaluable patients even at 6 months (P < . 0001), with more than 75% of patients gaining weight (Tables 1 and 2).