Does imatinib cause edema?

Edema and fluid retention are characteristic side effects of imatinib. The edema is usually mild, localized to the periorbital region or legs, and may respond to diuretics.

Can Gleevec cause water retention?

The adverse effects of imatinib include fluid retention (FR), hepatotoxicity, skin rash, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea. Fluid retention is a common adverse effect and one of the important dose limiting toxicities (2).

What are the most common side effects of Gleevec?

The following side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking Gleevec:

• Low blood counts.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Edema (swelling of the face, feet, hands)
• Muscle cramps and bone pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Hemorrhage (see bleeding problems)
• Skin rash (see skin reactions)
• Fever.

Can Gleevec cause eye problems?

Periorbital edema and epiphora are the two most common ocular side-effects related to imatinib mesylate therapy. Clinical characteristics of imatinib mesylate induced periorbital edema are described. Management of ocular side-effects is conservative except in very rare cases of visually significant periorbital edema.

What happens if I stop taking Gleevec?

In essence, these cells “wake up” when the drug is discontinued. Post-imatinib recurrences of GIST have been found to be highly aggressive, placing the patient at risk for marked acceleration of tumor growth and a rapidly fatal course.

Does Gleevec make you tired?

When you take Gleevec, it can reduce the amount of red blood cell production—this varies among patients. This low blood count causes a lack of oxygen to be carried to the tissues, in turn, causing weakness and exhaustion.

What happens when you stop taking Gleevec?

Is Gleevec a form of chemotherapy?

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.

What happens if you stop taking Gleevec?

How long can 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.

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