WHAT IS GLEEVEC?
Gleevec is a brand-name prescription medication. It’s used to treat certain types of blood cancers in adults and children. Gleevec is also used to treat a type of skin cancer and a type of gastrointestinal cancer.
Gleevec contains the drug imatinib mesylate, which belongs to a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Gleevec comes as a tablet that you take by mouth. You take the drug either once or twice a day, depending on the dosage your doctor prescribes.
USES
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gleevec to treat certain types of blood cancers, including:
- Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in adults and children
- Ph+ acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) that’s relapsed* or refractory* in adults
- newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL in children
- myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (bone marrow cancers) in adults with platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) gene rearrangements
- hypereosinophilic syndrome or chronic eosinophilic leukemia in adults
- aggressive systemic mastocytosis in adults without the D816v c-Kit mutation
Relapsed cancer has returned after remission, which is a decrease in cancer signs and symptoms. Refractory cancer hasn’t responded to previous cancer treatments.
Gleevec is also approved to treat:
- a type of skin cancer called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) in adults
- a type of gastrointestinal cancer called Kit-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in adults
For details, see the sections for “Gleevec for CML” and “Other uses for Gleevec.”
GLEEVEC EFFECTIVENESS
Gleevec has been found effective in treating several different types of blood cancers. In one clinical study, adults with newly diagnosed CML in the chronic phase took Gleevec for seven years. In this group, 96.6 % of people had a complete response to the drug. This means that no cancerous cells were found in their blood, and they had no symptoms of cancer. Complete response is one way to describe the success rate. In the group of people who received standard chemotherapy, 56.6% had a complete response.
Gleevec has also been found effective in treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in clinical studies. The overall survival rate was about four years. This means that half the people in the study lived for about four years after they started taking Gleevec. People who took Gleevec after having surgery lived for about five years after starting the drug.
To learn how effective Gleevec is in treating other types of cancers, see the “Other uses for Gleevec” section.
GLEEVEC SIDE EFFECTS?
Common Gleevec side effects may include:
- 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.
Many of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
STORAGE AND HANDLING
Store your medication in the original, labeled container at room temperature and in a dry location (unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider or pharmacist). This medication should not be stored in a pillbox. Keep containers out of reach of children and pets.
If a caregiver prepares your dose for you, they should consider wearing gloves or pour the pills directly from their container into the cap, a small cup, or directly into your hand. They should avoid touching the pills. They should always wash their hands before and after giving you the medication. Pregnant or nursing women should not prepare the dose for you. Ask your oncology team where to return any unused medication for disposal. Do not flush down the toilet or throw in the trash.
USA Script Helpers offers best priced* guaranteed. Although USA Script Helpers is not covered by Medicare, USA Script Helpers offers medical expense reports that you may submit to your local insurance companies. Should you be reimbursed that is separate from us. USA Script Helpers also offers best priced* guaranteed for all medications for more information simply give us a call at 1-888-646-7749.
