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Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)
What is Gleevec used for?
Who should not take Gleevec?
What should I tell my health care provider?
What are some possible side effects?
What is Gleevec used for?
Gleevec is used to treat Gleevec is used to treat certain types of cancer including Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST).
It is also used in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in blast crisis, accelerated phase, or in chronic phase after failure of interferon-alpha therapy.
At this time it is not known whether Gleevec will improve symptoms or help patients live longer.
Special Warnings with Gleevec:
Women of childbearing age should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Gleevec.
Gleeve is often associated with edema and occasionally serious fluid retention
What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?
Tell your doctor if you experience swelling or weight gain from water retention.
Because Gleevec interacts with certain other medications, review all medications that you are taking with your doctor, including those that you take without a prescription.
Your health care provider may have to adjust your dose or monitor you more closely if you take certain medicines.
Examples of medications that may increase the amount of Gleevec in your blood include :
- ketoconazole
- itraconazole
- erythromycin
- clarithromycin
Examples of medications that may decrease the amount of Gleevec in your blood include:
- dexamethasone
- phenytoin
- carbamazepine
- rifampicin
- phenobarbital
- St. John's Wort
Gleevec may affect other medications so it is important to review all medicines that you take with your doctor.
What are some possible side effects of Gleevec?
Commonly reported side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fluid retention (sometimes severe)
- Muscle cramps
- Skin rash
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Headache
- local or general fluid retention including pleural effusion
Although some of the serious side effects occur less frequently, severe side effects include severe fluid retention (edema), liver problems, and the potential for bleeding (hemorrhage), especially in the elderly.
For more detailed information about Gleevec, ask your health care provider.
Common misspelling of Gleevec - gelevec, glevac, gleevac, glevic, glavic, gleavac |
