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Gleevec (Imatinib)
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Gleevec Manufacturer:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UKGleevec Information
Gleevec is used in the treatment of a certain kind of blood cancer called Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (Ph+CML). It is also used to treat certain tumors of the stomach and the digestive system. It is used for targeted therapy, which means it targets only certain cancerous cells. It is classified as a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
Description of Gleevec
The generic name of the drug is imatinib. It is available only in tablet form. You can buy Gleevec in 100mg and 400mg strength tablets. Do not take the medicine on an empty stomach. It is prescribed to patients suffering from Ph+CML in the chronic phase, adult patients with relapsed Ph+acute lymphoblastic leukemia, adult patients with aggressive systemic mastocytosis, and patients with metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma.
Advantages of Gleevec
Gleevec is available as an oral tablet. This is less time-consuming than an intravenous injection, which for most chemotherapy drugs takes about half an hour to administer. This drug is especially advantageous for young patients. There are not many treatment options available for pediatric patients with Ph+CML as they are often made to undergo chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In both cases, the healthy cells are killed along with the cancerous cells. This leaves the patient prone to infections as his/her immune system is affected. The only known cure is bone marrow transplantation, but this is not advisable for all patients. Gleevec has many benefits for such patients.
How Gleevec works
Cancer treatment works by killing the cancerous cells. However, the drugs involved cannot make a distinction between healthy cells and cancerous cells. They end up destroying normal cells too, thus leading to many side effects. It targets all fast dividing cells that include hair and skin cells. Gleevec is a targeted therapy drug which identifies certain other characteristics of cancerous cells. It specifically targets an enzyme in the cancer cells and kills them. However, these targeted therapies are not meant to be a replacement for traditional therapies. Both should be used in combination with one another.
In case of patients suffering from Ph+CML, Gleevec works by inhibiting the growth of abnormal white blood cells by blocking the activity of a protein involved in the development of CML. It specifically targets the activity of certain enzymes called tyrosine kinases.
Safety and Precautionary Information
Before you buy Gleevec , you must inform your doctor if you are suffering from:
- Liver disease
- An underactive thyroid
- Kidney disease
- Congestive heart disease
- Have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding
- If you are taking blood thinners
Gleevec can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, edema, muscle cramps, diarrhea, hemorrhage, etc. One of the serious side effects is liver toxicity. Since it can cause stomach and intestinal irritation, the medicine should not be taken on an empty stomach. It is not advised for pregnant women as it might end up harming the unborn child.
Gleevec interacts with certain other medicines such as antidepressants, barbiturates, cholesterol lowering medicines, ergot medicines, HIV medicines, seizure medications, and calcium channel blockers.
Composition
Gleevec contains the active ingredients:
- Imatinib mesylate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Crospovidone
- Collodial silicone dioxide
- Magnesium stearate