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| Pronunciation |
|
 (eye
MAT eh
nib) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Gleevec™ |
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|
| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Antineoplastic, Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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|
If you have an allergy to imatinib or any other part of this
medicine.
Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding. |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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This medicine is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia.
This medicine is used to treat gastrointestinal
cancer. |
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|
| How does it work? |
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Imatinib injures cancer cells causing their
death. |
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|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
Use prescription as directed, even if feeling better.
Take this medicine at a similar time of day.
Take this medicine with food.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink
less liquid by healthcare provider. |
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and
return to your regular schedule.
Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider. |
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
If you have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have a weakened heart, talk with healthcare provider.
Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin,
aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.
Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while
taking this medicine. |
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
Low white blood cell count or low platelet count. Medicine may need
to be stopped.
Risk of infection. Avoid crowds and people with infections, colds, or
flu.
Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in
thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require
you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects
you.
Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care,
sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
Diarrhea.
Muscle pain.
Liver damage can rarely occur. |
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| What should I monitor? |
|
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Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
Check blood work (white blood cells, platelets, liver function). Talk
with healthcare provider. |
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center
immediately or dial 911.
Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest
tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5
degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough,
increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that
will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
Difficulty breathing.
Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
Swelling of legs or belly.
Severe headache.
Severe belly pain.
Severe nausea or vomiting.
Severe diarrhea.
Not hungry.
Significant weight gain.
Unusual bruising or bleeding.
Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
Feeling extremely tired or weak.
Any rash.
No improvement in condition or feeling
worse. |
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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|
Store at room temperature.
Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or
kitchen. |
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| General statements |
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Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products,
supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare
provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter, natural products, or
vitamins. |
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