Guest guest Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Hi Laurie, I am glad to hear your husband is feeling so great! The first 4-6 weeks can often be the most difficult, so it is so nice to hear of someone doing so well... " ...Alcohol is not necessarily off limits if you are taking Gleevec. However, you should check with your doctor before consuming alcohol because both it and Gleevec are processed by the liver. " - this is taken from cmlsupport.com My husband likes his moosehead beer though after starting gleevec, he was so grateful to be alive and well that he decided he did not want to tax out his liver more than he needed to. He says he feels the risks are too huge to drink but I am curious to see what others say. He now drinks pelligrino (mineral water) with Pom juice (super healthy) in a nice big beer mug. He jokes though that I have to drink for 2.... -shalyn > I have a question for those of you who are more experienced with > Gleevac. My husband was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago and started on > Gleevac 1 week ago 400 mg. He is feeling great and looking forward to > fishing and football with the guys. While he usually enjoys having a > couple of light beers doing these activities, we were not sure he would > be able to indulge while on the medication. Does anyone have any idea > if this is safe or will there be adverse effects? > > Thanks for helping out this newbie! > > Laurie > Wife of Robb dx 12/14/06 > 400 mg of Gleevac > > " Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn. " - Wesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 As a newbie myself I am quite pleased with myself that I can answer a quequestion. Drinking alcohol in moderation is allowed on this medmedication. I know this because the day i was given my diagnosis my doctor handed me an information sheet on CML, and for some reason my eyeeyes went directly to the line that made that statement. My sisters and I had a good laugh about it. When I saw that I said " ok, I can do this drug...so long as I don't have to quit drinking I can do anything! " . > > I have a question for those of you who are more experienced with > Gleevac. My husband was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago and started on > Gleevac 1 week ago 400 mg. He is feeling great and looking forward to > fishing and football with the guys. While he usually enjoys having a > couple of light beers doing these activities, we were not sure he would > be able to indulge while on the medication. Does anyone have any idea > if this is safe or will there be adverse effects? > > Thanks for helping out this newbie! > > Laurie > Wife of Robb dx 12/14/06 > 400 mg of Gleevac > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Hey Laurie. I was a big fan of beer and drinking with friends when I was dx'ed this past July. I'm drinking a glass of wine as I type this. As with everything, moderation. Since the dx I really haven't missed drinking much, but rather focused on being as healthy as I can be. Sometimes I have a taste for a beer or two and then weeks will go by and I don't drink anything. I think the concern with alcohol has more to do with liver function and keeping it healthy more than any interaction with Gleevec. My Onc also mentioned that there is a a slight effect with the bone marrow. But again, moderation. Yes, your husband and my's rocking days are over, but a drink here and there isn't gonna cause problems. > > I have a question for those of you who are more experienced with > Gleevac. My husband was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago and started on > Gleevac 1 week ago 400 mg. He is feeling great and looking forward to > fishing and football with the guys. While he usually enjoys having a > couple of light beers doing these activities, we were not sure he would > be able to indulge while on the medication. Does anyone have any idea > if this is safe or will there be adverse effects? > > Thanks for helping out this newbie! > > Laurie > Wife of Robb dx 12/14/06 > 400 mg of Gleevac > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Hi Laurie, I was diagnosed in March 2002. I have had a couple a beers before supper pretty well every day since. I monitor my liver and kidney counts carefully and they have never moved from the normal range. My doctor has told me a few drinks a week is OK if you don't have liver issues. He really didn't mean daily I guess! I will also take a tylenol once in awhile if I get a fever or one of my yearly sinus infections. It is the only pain killer that works for me and really brings down a fever. Easy on the stomach too. Tylenol is another thing we are supposed to watch. This approach works for me but might not for someone else. Right now, I am more interested in getting all the right foods and nutrients everyday. It is amazing how important all the electrolytes etc. are to our well being. I have tried to map out a list of what foods have the highest dose of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium etc.and include some of them each day. I don't like supplements so I am trying this approach. My phosphorous has slipped a little over the last few years but it is back to normal now. Gleevec can suppress it and some people have to take a supplement. If your husband's liver counts are fine a beer or two shouldn't hurt him on the fishing trip once he feels comfortable with taking gleevec. His doctor may say " no " though At the beginning he should monitor his liver counts very frequently. Some people, a small percentage (around 1-3%) do have liver issues on gleevec. Good luck on his journey. Gleevec has given me {almost} 5 great years and hopefully many more. I wish the same for your husband. Wayne > > I have a question for those of you who are more experienced with > Gleevac. My husband was just diagnosed 3 weeks ago and started on > Gleevac 1 week ago 400 mg. He is feeling great and looking forward to > fishing and football with the guys. While he usually enjoys having a > couple of light beers doing these activities, we were not sure he would > be able to indulge while on the medication. Does anyone have any idea > if this is safe or will there be adverse effects? > > Thanks for helping out this newbie! > > Laurie > Wife of Robb dx 12/14/06 > 400 mg of Gleevac > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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