imatinib 400 mg tablets

imatinib 400 mg tablets

Take imatinib 400 mg tablets medication by mouth, usually once or twice daily, with a meal and a full glass of water (8 ounces/240 millilitres). The tablets should not be crushed. If you have difficulty swallowing the tablets whole, dissolve them in a glass of water or apple juice.

The amount of liquid you use will be determined by your dose. For more specific instructions, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Stir the mixture thoroughly until the tablets dissolve, then drink immediately.

The dosage is determined by your medical condition, treatment response, and any other medications you may be taking. Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all of the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). The dosage for children is also determined by their body size.

If your doctor or pharmacist says you can, avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication. Grapefruit can increase the likelihood of side effects when taking this medication. For more information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not increase your dose or use this medication more frequently or for a longer period of time than prescribed. Your condition will not improve faster, and your chances of experiencing side effects will increase.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets because it can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby.

Adverse Effects

Nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, muscle/joint pain, muscle cramps, dizziness, blurred vision, or drowsiness are all possible side effects. Inform your doctor or pharmacist right away if any of these effects persist or worsen.

People who take this medication may experience serious side effects. However, you were prescribed this medication because your doctor determined that the benefit to you outweighed the risk of side effects. Your risk may be reduced if you are closely monitored by your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: easy bruising/bleeding, unusual tiredness, sudden/unexplained weight gain, swelling hands/ankles/feet/abdomen, swelling around the eyes, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, black/bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, symptoms of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn’t stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine).

This medication may impair your immune system’s ability to fight infections. This may increase your chances of getting a serious infection or make any infection you already have worse. If you have any signs of infection (such as a persistent sore throat, fever, or chills), contact your doctor right away.

Because of the rapid destruction of cancer cells, imatinib can occasionally cause side effects (tumor lysis syndrome). Drink plenty of fluids to reduce your risk, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. In addition, your doctor may prescribe another medication.

Notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: low back/side pain (flank pain), signs of kidney problems (such as painful urination, pink/bloody urine, or a change in the amount of urine), or muscle spasms/weakness.

Imatinib frequently causes a rash, which is usually not serious. However, you may be unable to distinguish it from a rare rash that could indicate a severe reaction. If you develop a rash, seek medical attention immediately.

It is uncommon for this drug to cause a severe allergic reaction. However, seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms of a severe allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing.

This is not an exhaustive list of potential side effects. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any other side effects not listed above.

In the United States, contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visiting www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada, contact your doctor if you are experiencing side effects. You can contact Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345 to report side effects.

Precautions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to imatinib or if you have any other allergies before taking it. Inactive ingredients in this product may cause allergic reactions or other problems. For more information, consult your pharmacist.

Before using this medication, inform your doctor or pharmacist of your medical history, particularly of any of the following: bleeding problems, heart problems (such as heart failure), kidney disease, liver disease, or thyroid gland removal.

This medication may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. You may become dizzy or drowsy if you consume alcohol or marijuana (cannabis). Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can do it safely. Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages. If you use marijuana, talk to your doctor (cannabis).

Imatinib can increase your risk of infection or worsen existing infections. Avoid contact with anyone who has an infection that could spread to others (such as chickenpox, measles, flu). If you have been exposed to an infection or want more information, see your doctor.

Inform your doctor that you are taking imatinib before receiving any immunisations or vaccinations. Contact with people who have recently received live vaccines should be avoided (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).

To reduce the possibility of being cut, bruised, or injured, avoid activities such as contact sports and use caution with sharp objects such as razors and nail cutters.

Inform your doctor or dentist about all of the products you use before having surgery (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medication may cause a child’s growth to slow. The impact on adult height is unknown. Visit the doctor on a regular basis so that your child’s height and weight can be measured.

This drug’s side effects, particularly swelling, may be more severe in older adults (edema).

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets because it can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby.

If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, inform your doctor. You should not get pregnant while taking imatinib. Imatinib has the potential to harm an unborn child.

Consult your doctor for more information and to discuss the use of effective birth control methods while taking this medication and for two weeks after stopping treatment. If you become pregnant while taking imatinib, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor right away.

This medication is excreted in breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose due to the risk to the infant. Before you start breast-feeding, talk to your doctor.

Consult your pharmacist or doctor.

Interactions

Also see the How to Use section.

Drug interactions can alter the way your medications work or put you at risk for serious side effects. This document does not include every possible drug interaction.

Maintain a list of all the products you use (including prescription and nonprescription drugs, as well as herbal supplements) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medications without first consulting your doctor.

This medication may slow the removal of other medications from your body, which may impair their effectiveness. Among the affected drugs are flibanserin, irinotecan, lomitapide, and warfarin.

Overdose

Call 911 if someone has overdosed and is experiencing serious symptoms such as passing out or difficulty breathing. Otherwise, contact a poison control centre immediately. Residents in the United States can contact their local poison control centre at 1-800-222-1222. Residents of Canada can contact a provincial poison control centre.

Notes

Do not give this medication to anyone else.

Before and during treatment, lab and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count, liver/kidney function, and body weight) should be performed. A pregnancy test may also be performed one week before starting this medication. Maintain all medical and laboratory appointments.

Dose Omitted

If you forget to take a dose, skip it. Take your next dose at your usual time. To catch up, do not double the dose.

Storage

Store away from light and moisture at room temperature. Keep out of the bathroom. Keep all medications out of the reach of children and pets.

Unless otherwise directed, do not flush medications or pour them down the drain. When this product has expired or is no longer needed, properly dispose of it. Consult your pharmacist or a waste disposal company in your area.