What happens if you take too much Gleevec?

What happens if you take too much Gleevec?

Some of the side effects seen in clinical studies can happen with long-term use of Gleevec. These include heart problems, such as congestive heart failure and left-sided heart failure. In a clinical study, more than 500 people who took Gleevec for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were followed for up to 11 years.

Can you overdose on imatinib?

Clinical experience with dose of imatinib higher than that recommended is limited. There are isolated cases of overdose reported in the literature. Suicidal attempt or accidental overdoses are the main causes of overdose.

Can you touch Gleevec?

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.

Can you take a break from Gleevec?

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. Taking too much may increase the chance of side effects, while taking too little may not improve your condition.

Does imatinib lower immune system?

Low doses of the anti-cancer drug imatinib can spur the bone marrow to produce more innate immune cells to fight against bacterial infections, Emory researchers have found.

How effective is imatinib?

The estimated overall survival rate at 10 years among patients receiving first-line imatinib treatment was 83.3% (95% CI, 80.1 to 86.6) (Figure 2).

Is Gleevec a chemo drug?

Chemo was once one of the main treatments for CML. It’s seldom used now because TKIs like imatinib (Gleevec®) work much better. Today, chemo may be used to treat CML when the TKIs have stopped working. It’s also used as part of a stem cell transplant.

How long do you take imatinib?

Optimal duration of therapy is unknown but generally imatinib should be continued for 6–9 months, after which additional tumor shrinkage is usually minor.