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Imatinib 400 mg Tablet

Manufactured bySun Pharma Laboratories Ltd.
Description
Imatinib 400 mg Tablet is an anticancer medicine. It is used to treat and prevent the growth of certain types of cancers of your blood cells, stomach, intestine, bone marrow, and skin. This medicine works by stopping the growth of cancer cells and preventing them from spreading to other parts of your body. Imatinib 400 mg Tablet shows side effects like skin rash, weight gain, diarrhoea, headache, loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach pain, and hair loss. Your hair grows back after the treatment and other side effects may subside on their own. If the side effects bother you or persist for a longer duration, consult your doctor. Do not perform activities that require mental alertness (such as driving or operating heavy machinery) after taking this medicine, as it may cause dizziness and drowsiness. Imatinib 400 mg Tablet may be taken with a meal to avoid stomach irritation. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice with this medicine as it may increase the risk of side effects. Do not take more than the prescribed dose. The dosage and duration of this medicine are decided by your doctor based on the severity of your condition. Take this medicine at the same time every day to avoid any missed dose. In case of overdose consult your doctor immediately. Imatinib 400 mg Tablet should not be used if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have kidney, liver, and heart diseases. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Imatinib 400 mg Tablet

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Mouth sores
  • Loss of appetite
  • Altered sense of taste
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
  • Burning or tingling sensation of hands and feet
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Skin Rash
  • Hair loss
  • Swelling or the hands, feet, ankle, and lower legs
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fast/irregular heart beat
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising
  • Stomach pain
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Low blood count

Uses of Imatinib 400 mg Tablet

What is it prescribed for?

  • Blood cancer
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
Read More
Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • How long does it take for this medicine to take effect?
    The amount of time taken by Imatinib 400 mg Tablet to show its effect is is not clinically established.
  • How long do the effects of this medicine last?
    The amount of time for which Imatinib 400 mg Tablet remains effective in your body is not known.
  • Is it safe to consume alcohol while taking this medicine?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is this a habit forming medicine?
    No habit-forming tendency was reported for Imatinib 400 mg Tablet
  • Can this medicine be taken during pregnancy?
    Imatinib 400 mg Tablet is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may harm your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
  • Can this medicine be taken while breast-feeding?
    Imatinib 400 mg Tablet is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as limited data is available. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Allergy

Avoid Imatinib 400 mg Tablet if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if there is a history of allergic reaction to this medication. If you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching, swelling of your face, tongue, throat, etc seek medical attention immediately.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may harm your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Breast-feeding

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as limited data is available. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings

Gastrointestinal disorders

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet may cause bleeding in your stomach. It should be used with caution if you are having a pre-existing disorder of your stomach or intestine due to the increased risk of worsening your health condition.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a low level of thyroid hormones in your body. You should use Imatinib 400 mg Tablet with caution, especially if you have undergone thyroidectomy (removal of all or part of the thyroid gland) as it induces thyroid dysfunction and may worsen your condition. Close monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is recommended if you have thyroid problems.

Other medicines

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet may interact with other medicines and cause severe side effects. Hence, report the use of any medicines including herbs and supplements to your doctor before beginning treatment with Imatinib 400 mg Tablet.

Live attenuated vaccine

Report the administration of a vaccine (smallpox, BCG, mumps, measles, rubella, etc.) to your doctor before treatment with this medicine is initiated. Since this medicine may alter the effects of the vaccines, your doctor may advise you to postpone therapy with the medicine based on your clinical condition.

Growth retardation

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet should be used with caution in children below 18 years of age due to the increased risk of growth retardation. Monitor your child’s growth parameters closely during treatment with this medicine.

Driving or operating machines

Use of Imatinib 400 mg Tablet may cause dizziness and blurring of vision. Hence, avoid performing any activities that require high mental alertness such as driving a vehicle or operating heavy machines during treatment with this medicine.

Risk of infections

Use of Imatinib 400 mg Tablet may weaken your immune system and may make you more vulnerable to infections. Avoid coming in contact with people who have infections while taking this medicine.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next scheduled dose, then skip the missed dose. Contact your doctor for further instructions if you miss more than one scheduled dose of this medicine.

Overdose

Never take more than the prescribed dose. Contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention if an overdose with this medicine is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Carbamazepine

Cisapride

Clarithromycin

Erythromycin

Ketoconazole

Pimozide

Warfarin

Colchicine

Phenobarbital

BCG vaccine

Dexamethasone

Etanercept

Paracetamol

Disease interactions

Heart Disease

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet should be used with caution if you have heart problems due to the increased risk of worsening your health condition. Your doctor will regularly monitor the functioning of your heart function. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns.

Fluid Retention and oedema

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet may cause fluid retention (accumulation of fluid in your body). Use this medicine with caution if you have preexisting fluid retention or congestive heart failure (a condition where the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently) as it may worsen your condition.

Bone marrow suppression

Bone marrow suppression is a condition in which your bone marrow (tissues found in the bone) is not able to produce sufficient levels of blood cells. Imatinib 400 mg Tablet should be used with caution if you are having conditions like bone marrow suppression as it may worsen your health condition. Periodic complete blood count tests should be performed. Your doctor may suggest appropriate dose adjustments or replacements with a suitable alternative based on your clinical condition.

Liver/kidney impairment

Imatinib 400 mg Tablet should be used with caution if you have liver or kidney problems as it may increase the levels of this medicine in your blood. Your doctor may frequently monitor your liver or kidney functions and suggest dose adjustment based on your condition.
Food interactions
Avoid using grapefruit with Imatinib 400 mg Tablet as it increases the medicine level in your blood and leads to side effects.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Imatinib 400 mg Tablet with a meal to avoid stomach irritation Take Imatinib 400 mg Tablet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Avoid taking this medicine in larger or smaller quantities than recommended. Avoid the discontinuaton of this medicine without consulting your doctor. You may require frequent blood tests and liver function tests while taking this medicine. You may also require frequent follow-ups with your doctor to check the progress of treatment. Avoid the exposure to direct sunlight. Use protective clothing and sunscreen while going out in the sun.
Miscelleneous

To be taken with food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
Imatinib 400 mg Tablet works by inhibiting the actions of certain substances (abnormal proteins) in your body that cause the cancer cells to multiply. This helps in stopping the growth and spread of cancer.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Unknown

Classification

Category

BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Anticancer drug

Schedule

Schedule H

Imatinib: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 13 September 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a606018.html

DailyMed: Imatinib Mesylate tablet, film coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 13 September 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0291eca5-7a1d-4a79-30be-252224d96509

Imatinib mesylate [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 13 September 2017]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/123596

[Internet]. Ebi.ac.uk. 2017 [cited 13 September 2017]. Available from:

https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembldb/index.php/compound/inspect/CHEMBL941

Imatinib (Glivec) | Cancer in general | Cancer Research UK [Internet]. Cancerresearchuk.org. 2017 [cited 13 September 2017]. Available from:

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/drugs/imatinib

Imatinib Mesylate [Internet]. National Cancer Institute. 2017 [cited 13 September 2017]. Available from:

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/imatinibmesylate

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 14 September 2017]. Available from:

https://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/sites/www.pharma.us.novartis.com/files/gleevec_tabs.pdf
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Information on this page was last updated on 3 Nov 2021

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