iMAtinib
iMAtinib
Pronunciation:
i-MA-ti-nib
Other Name(s):
Gleevec®
Appearance:
tablet in various strengths, shapes and sizes
This handout gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the medication is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on medication
This handout was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
My cancer health care provider is: _____________________________________________
During the day I should contact: _______________________________________________
Evenings, weekends and holidays: _____________________________________________
This page gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the medication is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on this medication
This information was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
For treating certain blood cancers (leukemias), blood disorders, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and sarcomas.
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
-
heart problems,
-
liver disease (including hepatitis),
-
kidney problems,
-
bleeding problems,
-
a thyroid condition,
-
if you are taking blood thinners,
-
or have any allergies.
Remember To:
-
Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
-
Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
You will have a blood test to check for hepatitis B before starting treatment. See the Hepatitis B and Cancer Medications pamphlet for more information.
-
Imatinib is usually taken once a day by mouth. Talk to your health care team about how and when to take your medication.
-
If you are taking the 800 mg daily dose, it should be taken as 400 mg twice a day, to prevent your body from absorbing too much iron.
-
Swallow your imatinib tablets whole. Take them with a full glass of water either during or just after a meal.
-
The 400 mg tablet may be split in half, but do not crush or chew the tablet.
-
If you cannot swallow the tablet, place it in a glass of water or apple juice, (use 200 mL for 400 mg tablet or 50 mL for 100 mg tablet). Stir with a spoon to completely break up the tablet, then drink the contents right away. Rinse the glass with water or apple juice and then drink this mixture to pick up any tablet left.
-
You may need tablets of more than 1 strength to have the correct dose. Ensure you identify the tablets correctly to get the right dose.
-
Do not eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while taking this drug. They may increase the amount of drug in your blood and increase side effects.
-
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as you normally do. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.
-
If you vomit (throw up) after taking your medication, talk to your health care team about what to do.
Warning: If you take too much of this medication by accident, or if you think a child or a pet may have swallowed your medication, you must call the Ontario Poison Control Center right away at: 1-800-268-9017.
To Prevent Hepatitis B Flare Ups
If you have ever been infected with hepatitis B, there is a risk that this treatment can cause it to flare up (come back). Tell your health care team if you have had hepatitis B. You may need to take medication to prevent a hepatitis B flare-up.
To Prevent Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
TLS can happen when a large number of cancer cells die quickly and your body cannot get rid of them fast enough. TLS can make you very sick. Ask your health care team if you are at risk for TLS.
If you are at risk for TLS, you may be given medications before your imatinib treatment to help prevent it.
- These are called anti-uricemics (such as allopurinol), or others.
-
DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
-
DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now or have had in the past.
-
DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
-
DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
-
DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medications, without checking with your health care team.
-
DO NOT eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while taking this drug. They may increase the amount of drug in your blood and increase side effects.
-
DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
-
DO tell your health care team about any serious infections that you have now or have had in the past.
-
DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
-
DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.
-
DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic medications, without checking with your health care team.
-
DO NOT eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while taking this drug. They may increase the amount of drug in your blood and increase side effects.
Yes, this medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make this medication not work as well or cause severe side effects.
Tell your health care team about all of your:
- prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications
- natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
If you are taking a blood thinner (such as warfarin), your health care team may need extra blood tests and may change your dose.
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or Aspirin®.
- Over-the-counter products such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol®)
- Natural health products such as St. John’s Wort
- Supplements such as vitamin C
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tobacco
- All other drugs, such as marijuana or cannabis (medical or recreational)
-
Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
-
Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
-
If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
-
How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
-
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
-
38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
-
-
OR
-
38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
-
If you do have a fever :
-
Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
-
Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
- Ask your health care team about the right medication for you.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
Talk to your health care team about:
-
How this medication may affect your sexual health.
-
How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
-
If there is any chance you may become pregnant, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until at least 15 days after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
-
If you are a patient that can get somebody pregnant, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until at least 6 months after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
-
Do not breastfeed while on this medication and for at least 15 days after the last dose.
-
Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
-
Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
If you are a patient:
-
Wash your hands before and after touching your oral anti-cancer medication.
If you are a caregiver:
-
Wear nitrile or latex gloves when touching tablets, capsules or liquids.
-
Wash your hands before putting on your gloves and after taking them off, even if your skin did not touch the oral anti-cancer medication.
-
Throw out your gloves after each use. Do not re-use gloves.
-
Do not touch oral anti-cancer medications if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If medication gets on your skin:
-
Wash your skin with a lot of soap and water.
-
If your skin gets red or irritated, talk to your health care team.
If medication gets in your eyes:
-
Rinse your eyes with running water right away. Keep water flowing over your open eyes for at least 15 minutes.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting imatinib. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on imatinib treatment.
|
|||||
|
Mild swelling in arms and legs; puffiness (may be severe) To help prevent swelling :
If you have swelling in your legs, keep your feet up when sitting. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Mild joint, muscle pain (may continue for months after treatment is stopped)
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild) May occur in hours to days after your treatment. If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your healthcare team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
|||||
|
Diarrhea May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. If you have diarrhea :
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Rash; dry, itchy skin Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. To prevent and treat dry skin,
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Fatigue (tiredness)
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Pains or cramps in the belly
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Headache
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Infection; Low neutrophils (white blood cells) in the blood (neutropenia) When neutrophils are low, you are at risk of getting an infection more easily. Ask your health care team for the Neutropenia (Low white blood cell count) pamphlet for more information.
You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low neutrophils:
If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away. |
If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. | ||||
|
|||||
|
Salt imbalances It may cause muscle twitching, severe weakness or cramping, confusion and irregular heartbeat. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
|
Cough; feeling short of breath You may have cough and feel short of breath without any signs of infection, such as a sore throat or a stuffed nose. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Dizziness
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Heartburn; stomach upset To help prevent heartburn:
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Flu-like symptoms
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Depression Everyone feels sad sometimes and having cancer can cause you to feel down. Depression is when these feelings last for weeks or months. To help prevent depression :
If you have suicidal thoughts or think about hurting yourself contact your health team or go to your closest Emergency Department right away. See our Depression pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Trouble falling asleep
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Abnormal liver lab tests
|
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Constipation To help prevent constipation :
To help treat constipation :
See the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
|
Unusual bleeding or bruising; Low platelets in the blood When platelets are low, you are at risk for bleeding and bruising. Ask your health care team for the Low Platelet Count pamphlet for more information. What to look for?
What to do? If your health care team has told you that you have low platelets:
If you have signs of bleeding:
If you have bleeding that does not stop or is severe (very heavy), you must get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if you have any signs of bleeding. If you have bleeding that doesn’t stop or is severe, you MUST get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, pain in your arm or belly
- feeling confused, sudden loss of vision, trouble speaking or moving your arms or legs
- severe pain, swelling and hardening of a vein in your arm or leg
- severe pain in a bone or joint (especially around your hip)
- irregular heartbeat, fainting spells or swelling in your legs, ankles or belly
- any problems with your vision
- unusual muscle spasms, cramping, twitching, or seizures
- severe rash with fever, swollen glands, yellow skin or eyes, shortness of breath or chest pain
- sudden, severe pain in your belly (may extend to your back)
- signs of thyroid problems such as feeling very tired, dry skin, brittle nails or hair and intolerance to the cold
- signs of kidney problems such as lower back pain, swelling, peeing less than usual and unusual weight gain
- severe muscle pain or weakness and dark pee
For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
November 2024 Updated/revised information sheet
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.