Gleevec

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Gleevec (generic name: Imatinib; brand names include: Glivec, Imatib) is a drug used for the treatment of certain cancers.

Gleevec is used to treat adults and children who have chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).

Gleevec is also used to treat adults with:

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph-positive ALL).
Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD).
Systemic mastocytosis (SM).
Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and/or chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL).
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST).
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

Gleevec works by inhibiting the growth of abnormal cells in the diseases listed above.

Gleevec is available under the trade name Imatib manufactured by Cipla.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Gleevec exactly as prescribed.

For CML, the usual dose for an adult is 400 to 600 mg once daily whereas a daily dose of 800mg should be taken as two divided doses, 400mg in the morning and 400mg in the evening. The dose depends on what stage of CML you have. For children, the dose also depends on the size of the child.

For GIST, the usual dose is 400 mg per day, increasing to 600 mg or 800mg each day in adults absent of adverse reactions.

The recommended dose in the adjuvant treatment of adult patients following resection of GIST is 400 mg per day.

For Ph+ALL, the usual starting dose is 600 mg to be taken once per day.

For MDS/MPD the usual starting dose is 400 mg to be taken once per day.

For DFSP, the usual starting dose is 800mg per day taken in two divided doses, 400 mg in the morning and 400 mg in the evening.

If you are being treated for SM: the usual starting dose is 400 mg, to be taken once a day. For some patients (SM associated with eosinophilia), the starting dose is 100 mg once a day. Your doctor may decide to increase the dose to 400 mg once a day depending on how you respond to treatment.

If you are being treated for HES/CEL: the usual starting dose is 400 mg, to be taken once a day. For some patients (HES/CEL with FIP1L1-PDGFR-alpha fusion kinase), the starting dose is 100 mg once a day. Your doctor may decide to increase the dose to 400 mg once a day depending on how you respond to treatment.

Your doctor may direct you to take a higher or lower dose, depending on your response to Gleevec.

Gleevec tablets are usually taken as a single dose each day. However, your doctor may want you to take them in two doses, one in the morning and one in the evening.

The total daily dose in children must not exceed 600mg taken either once daily or in two divided doses, in the morning and in the evening.

Precautions

Tell your doctor before taking Gleevec, if:

you are allergic to any medicines;
you have ever had any problems with your kidneys, liver or heart;
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.