Gleevec: Gleevec Side Effects and Drug Interations
Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
- hives
- difficulty breathing
- swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- a red, blistering, peeling skin rash
- nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms black, bloody, or tarry stools
- coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness swelling, rapid weight gain sudden, severe headache or pain behind the eyes
- shortness of breath
Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, gas
- muscle or joint pain
- skin rash
- headache, dizziness
- stuffy nose, cough, sore throat
- depression, sleep problems (insomnia)
- tired feeling
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Drug Interactions
Before taking Gleevec, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
- dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol)
- griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, Grisactin)
- metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat)
- pimozide (Orap)
- rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater)
- St. John's wort
- antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft)
- a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)
- a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)
- cholesterol-lowering medicines such as lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), or cerivastatin (Baycol)
- HIV medication such as nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), or nelfinavir (Viracept)
- sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax) or triazolam (Halcion)
- seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin)
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Gleevec or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Gleevec. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Mass Tort Update
1006