Imatinib: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What is the drug Imatinib?

What is imatinib used for?

Imatinib is an oral medication that is available in tablet form. This drug belongs to a type of kinase inhibitor drug, which is a drug that works by blocking abnormal protein activity and giving signals to cancer cells to multiply their numbers. By using this drug, the spread of cancer cells in the body can be stopped.

This drug is used to treat certain types of cancer, such as the following:

• Several types of leukemia cancers, which are cancers that start in white blood cells
• Diseases related to blood cells, including blood cancer.
• Stromal gastrointestinal tumors, which are tumors that grow on the walls of the digestive tract and may spread to other parts of the body).
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, which is a tumor that forms under the outer layer of skin).

This drug is included in the types of prescription drugs. You can only get and buy it at a pharmacy if you are accompanied by a prescription from your doctor.

How do I use Imatinib?

Here are the procedures for using imatinib that you should pay attention to if you want to use it:

• Use this drug by mouth. You better eat first before taking this drug. Then help by drinking a glass of water.
• Swallow the drug whole without destroying this drug first. If you accidentally touch crushed medicine, immediately wash the affected area.
• If you can't swallow the medicine, put it in a glass of water or a glass of apple juice. The amount of fluid needed depends on the amount of dose you are using.
• Use this medicine at the same time every day. To get the maximum benefit from using the drug, try not to skip doses.
• Use this medication until the time determined by your doctor.
• While taking this medicine, you are also required to consume lots of water or drinks that do not contain caffeine, unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
• The dosage for you is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
• In children, the dosage is based on body size. Do not increase your dose or use this medication more often than prescribed. Your condition won't get better any sooner, and the risk of serious side effects can increase.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medicine unless your doctor or pharmacist says you can do it safely. Grapefruit can increase the risk of side effects of this drug. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How is Imatinib stored?

The following are procedures for storing imatinib that must be considered:

• This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places.
• Do not store this medication in the bathroom.
• Do not freeze this medication in the freezer.
• Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist.
• Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

If you are not using this medicine or if the medicine has expired, it is mandatory for you to discard this medicine. However, you still have to follow the rules for disposing of the right and safe drugs for health.

For example, do not flush medicine in the toilet or other drains. Then, don't mix medicinal waste with household waste. Better, if you do not know the procedure for disposing of drug waste that is safe for the environment, please ask your pharmacist or officer from the local waste disposal agency about the procedure for disposing of your medicine.

Imatinib dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.

What is the dose of imatinib for adults?

Adult dosage for chronic myeloid leukemia

• Chronic phase: 400 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once a day.
• Accelerated or critical phase: 600 mg orally once a day.

Adult dosage for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

• Usual dosage: 600 mg taken by mouth daily.

Adult dosage for myeloproliferative disease

• Usual dosage: 400 mg taken by mouth daily.

Adult dosage for myelodysplastic disease

• Usual dosage: 400 mg taken by mouth daily.

Adult dosage for gastrointestinal stromal tumors

• Usual dose: 400 mg and taken daily. However, the dosage can be increased up to 800 mg daily.

Adult dosage for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

• Usual dosage: 100 mg taken by mouth daily.

What is the dose of imatinib for children?

Children's dosage for chronic myeloid leukemia

• Dosage for children from 1 year of age and older:
  • Dosage: 340 milligrams / m2 taken once a day or 170 mg / m2 used twice a day.
  • Maximum daily dose: 600 mg

Children's dosage for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

• Dosage for children from 1 year of age and older:
  • Dosage: 340 milligrams / m2 orally once a day.
  • Maximum daily dose: 600 mg

In what dosage is imatinib available?

Tablet, orally 100 mg
Tablet, orally 400 mg

Imatinib side effects

What side effects can I experience due to imatinib?

As with the use of other drugs, imatinib certainly has a risk of side effects that may be experienced by its users. Therefore, if you want to use this drug, first learn about its side effects. The following are symptoms of possible side effects:

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms
• easy bruising, abnormal bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red spots under the skin
• swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath (even with light exertion)
• black, bloody, or difficult to pass stool
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, cloudy urine, pale pup, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• bloody cough or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• hip pain, blood in the urine
• urinating infrequently or not at all
• numbness or tingling around the mouth
• muscle weakness, stiffness, or contraction, exaggerated reflexes
• fast or slow heart rate, fat pulse, feeling short of breath, confused, fainting
• a severe allergic reaction, usually characterized by fever, sore throat, swelling of the face or tongue, burning eyes, skin pain, followed by a reddish or purplish skin rash that spreads (especially on the face and upper body) and causes blistering and peeling

Less serious side effects can include:

• mild nausea or stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea
• muscle cramp
• joint or muscle pain
• headache, feeling tired
• stuffy nose, sinus pain

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you are concerned about the side effects please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Imatinib Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using imatinib?

Before using imatinib, there are a number of things you should know first, such as the following.

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have an allergy to imatinib.
• Tell your doctor all types of allergies you have, including to other drugs, food, preservatives and dyes, to allergies to animals.
• Tell your doctor all the drugs you are currently using, whether prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, herbal medicines, multivitamins, and dietary supplements.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, diabetes, or heart, lung, thyroid, and liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you smoke, or have ever drank large amounts of alcohol.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You should not get pregnant while using imatinib. Tell your doctor about the family planning methods you use with your medication. If you become pregnant while using imatinib, call your doctor. Imatinib can warm the fetus
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while using imatinib
• Talk to your doctor about what to do if you experience diarrhea while on your medication. Do not use any medication to treat diarrhea without talking to your doctor first.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking such fruit juice while using this medicine without a doctor's permission. This fruit can increase the risk of side effects of this drug. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Is imatinib safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category D according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in Indonesia.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Additionally, there are not sufficient studies in women to find out the risk to the baby when the mother takes this drug during breastfeeding. Consider the potential benefits and potential risks before taking this medication during breastfeeding.

Imatinib Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with imatinib?

Interactions with other drugs can affect how the drug works and increase the risk of dangerous side effects. This article does not list all possible drug interactions. Record all medicinal products you use (including prescription, non-prescription and herbal medicines) and share them with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine without your doctor's permission. The following are drugs that have the potential to interact with imatinib:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• aprepitant
• certain antibacterial agents including erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and rifampin (Rifadin, in Rifamate)
• anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• antifungals such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox)
• bosentan
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc, in Caduet), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (Dynacirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia, etc.), nimodipine (Nimotop), Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).
• cimetidine
• cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• dexamethasone
• hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, injections or implants)
• pimozide (Orap)
• medicine for restlessness
• medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• sedatives and sedatives
• haloperidol
• St. John's wort
• antidepressant – desipramine, nefazodone, sertraline
• blood thinners such as warfarin, Coumadin
• heart or blood pressure medicine - amiodarone, diltiazem, dronedarone, lidocaine, nicardipine, quinidine, verapamil
• hepatitis C medicine - boceprevir, telaprevir
• HIV / AIDS drugs --atazanavir, delavirdine, darunavir when given with ritonavir, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir, saquinavir

Does food or alcohol interact with imatinib?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with imatinib?

The presence of other medical problems can affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, specifically:

• anemia
• ascites (fluid in the stomach)
• bleeding problems
• congestive heart failure
• hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• infection
• neutropenia (low white blood cells)
• pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart)
• pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs)
• pulmonary edema (fluid around the lungs)
• stomach bleeding
• perforation of the stomach (hole in the stomach)
• thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood)
• Kidney illness
• liver disease

Imatinib overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of an overdose include:

• stomach cramps
• swelling or flatulence

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.