Re: Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

[Guest guest]

Manny

The current recommended initial dose for Gleevec is now 600mg. I started on

600mg and now am on 800mg. The bone pain and muscle aches in the beginning

are completely normal and can be rather intense in the beginning, but this

will die down some. Just know that it is the Gleevec working in the bone

marrow. The pain is a good thing in the beginning, it means the Gleevec is

working. You want to have the best response as possible and get to a 3 log

reduction in your PCR count as quickly as possible. This will give you the

best

outcomes and best remission statistics. Be positive and keep your chin up.

You can take Ibuprofen for the aches and pains as long as you have no other

health indications in which would normally prevent you from taking it. Take

the Gleevec on a full stomach and don't lay down for 30-45 minutes after it.

I get a lot of muscle aches with it so I take it late evening before bed so

that I can sleep through most of it. I take Zofran for nausea as it works

wonderfully. Play around with the time of day and see what works best for you.

Hope this helps in some way! Best of luck and keep looking at this site,

People have great suggestions.

hugs-

34

CML 5/13/05

Gleevec 800mg

Wife and mother of 3 (11,8,6)

<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free

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[Guest guest]

Take the gleevec on full stomack If I get nausa I take a mint or candy the sugar

helps me I'm on 400 dx 12-23-05 Tn.

[ ] Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Manny,

Welcome to the club that nobody really wanted to be a member of.

You will get lots of good tips and advice on this list.

The person who should be answering your questions is your doctor. It is

important to see a doctor who has lots of experience in treating CML. He

should have explained to you exactly what treatment he was planning for you.

Based on your post, it seems that the increase to 600 mg was a surprise to

you. Do you know if he planned this dose right from the beginning or was

there a change in your counts or did he just read a report that suggested

that 600 mg was a better dose?

My first suggestion to you is to make sure that you get a copy of all your

test results. It won't take very long to figure out what is happening in

your treatment by yourself.

The standard starting dose for someone in the chronic stage is still 400 mg

daily. Clinical trials have compared starting doses of 400 mg vs 600 mg vs

800 mg. In general what they have shown is that the higher doses bring you

to the same level of remission much quicker than on the lower dose. Over

time, the 400 mg dose will attain the same level of remission as on the 600

mg dose.

If the higher dose is affecting your QOL (Quality of Life), then I don't see

the point of taking 600 mg if the 400 mg dose is doing a good job. I would

give the 600 mg dose a month before asking your doctor to reduce it to 400

mg.

For a good, but more technical paper, the " Practical Management of Patients

With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Receiving Imatinib " . Is an excellent start.

http://www.cmlsupport.com/practicalmanagementjourclinonc0303.pdf

The only food they don't want you to take is grapefruit juice. They also

prefer that you don't use Tylenol.

Zavie

Zavie (age 68)

67 Shoreham Avenue

Ottawa, Canada, dxd AUG/99

INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF

No meds FEB/00 to JAN/01

Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg)

CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club

PCRU 5/02 at RVH

2.8 log reduction Sep/05

3.0 log reduction Jan/06

e-mail: zmiller@...

Tel: 613-726-1117

Fax: 309-296-0807

Cell: 613-202-0204

ID: zaviem

[ ] Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

[Guest guest]

Hi Manny

I Have kept a journal from day one,1990 until today and looking back on

medication and what they did and didn't do is great to read how far we've come

in 17 years.OHSU,HUMANA IN Vegas and Corvallis Clinic

want me to write a book about my Leukemia [CHRONIC MYELOCYTIC] Will see,I would

need a Ghost writer;

Peggy

[ ] Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

[Guest guest]

My hemotologist is head of leukemia at MD in Houston, and I can share

his words of wisdom with you.

The more Gleevec you can tolerate, the better.I started out at 600, but

couldnt handle it.

Of course I was in blast when I began and went thru 3 years of hard chemo

beginning in '02,

taking Gleevec, 6mp and methotrexate at the same time. These, I still take.

Ive been lowered to 400 of Gleevec since. The backlash of all this almost

killed me, but Im

doing well now.

Tolerance, I think is the key. Gleevec has side effects, so I would give it

some time. I wouldnt question your doctor until you are sure you cant handle it,

then I wouldnt hesitate

to talk to him. Three days isnt enough to see what will happen.

God bless,

Denice

manny45409 <manny1113@...> wrote:

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi Denice

I started on 800 mg then down to 600mg and then down to 400mg a day as you

did,I started in 2001 when gleevec was still in study stage,It saved my life as

i was also very bad,I even survived pneumonia in sept. of 2006 with out being

bed bound.We are so lucky to have all the new medications to help us with out

suffering so bad.

Peggy

Re: [ ] Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

My hemotologist is head of leukemia at MD in Houston, and I can share

his words of wisdom with you.

The more Gleevec you can tolerate, the better.I started out at 600, but

couldnt handle it.

Of course I was in blast when I began and went thru 3 years of hard chemo

beginning in '02,

taking Gleevec, 6mp and methotrexate at the same time. These, I still take.

Ive been lowered to 400 of Gleevec since. The backlash of all this almost

killed me, but Im

doing well now.

Tolerance, I think is the key. Gleevec has side effects, so I would give it

some time. I wouldnt question your doctor until you are sure you cant handle it,

then I wouldnt hesitate

to talk to him. Three days isnt enough to see what will happen.

God bless,

Denice

manny45409 <manny1113@...> wrote:

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hey Peggy,

You are absolutely right about medications. I pray for everyone at Novartis,

right down to the janitor! It was trial when I started, too. I like you

attitude, you must be like me, take what comes and thank God for each day. So

many people complain of the bad instead of thinking

of the good. Without these meds wed all be dead, thats something to really

complain about!!!

Denice

peggy irwin <quinbare@...> wrote:

Hi Denice

I started on 800 mg then down to 600mg and then down to 400mg a day as you did,I

started in 2001 when gleevec was still in study stage,It saved my life as i was

also very bad,I even survived pneumonia in sept. of 2006 with out being bed

bound.We are so lucky to have all the new medications to help us with out

suffering so bad.

Peggy

Re: [ ] Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

My hemotologist is head of leukemia at MD in Houston, and I can share

his words of wisdom with you.

The more Gleevec you can tolerate, the better.I started out at 600, but couldnt

handle it.

Of course I was in blast when I began and went thru 3 years of hard chemo

beginning in '02,

taking Gleevec, 6mp and methotrexate at the same time. These, I still take.

Ive been lowered to 400 of Gleevec since. The backlash of all this almost killed

me, but Im

doing well now.

Tolerance, I think is the key. Gleevec has side effects, so I would give it some

time. I wouldnt question your doctor until you are sure you cant handle it, then

I wouldnt hesitate

to talk to him. Three days isnt enough to see what will happen.

God bless,

Denice

manny45409 <manny1113@...> wrote:

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

I LOVE LIFE,I'M VERY LUCKY, I STILL HAVE ALL MY CHILDREN [TWO] & GRAND CHILDREN

PLUS 2 GREAT GRAND CHILDREN & ONE TO BE BORN IN MAY,ALTHOUGH MY PLATELETS ARE AT

708 AND CLIMBING I SHOULD GET SPRYCEL THIS WEEK,NOT ANY TO SOON.

KEEP THAT GREAT ATTITUDE DENICE

PEGGY

Re: [ ] Gleevec Dosage Increase - Help/Questions

My hemotologist is head of leukemia at MD in Houston, and I can share

his words of wisdom with you.

The more Gleevec you can tolerate, the better.I started out at 600, but

couldnt handle it.

Of course I was in blast when I began and went thru 3 years of hard chemo

beginning in '02,

taking Gleevec, 6mp and methotrexate at the same time. These, I still take.

Ive been lowered to 400 of Gleevec since. The backlash of all this almost

killed me, but Im

doing well now.

Tolerance, I think is the key. Gleevec has side effects, so I would give it

some time. I wouldnt question your doctor until you are sure you cant handle it,

then I wouldnt hesitate

to talk to him. Three days isnt enough to see what will happen.

God bless,

Denice

manny45409 <manny1113@...> wrote:

I was diagnosed with CML on 12-22-06 and started on Hydroxurea and

Allopurinol. My oncologist then switched me to 400mg of Gleevec on

Jan. 4, 2007. I recently had a follow-up visit with my oncologist on

March 7th. He said my numbers are fine but switched me to 600mg of

Gleevec. According to him, studies show that treating someone with

Chronic CML at 600mg is better than 400mg. I haven taken my new dosage

for three days and am experiencing some severe bone pain/body aches,

upset stomach and fatigue. I prefer to be on 400mg, as my body got use

to the small side effects with that dosage (bone pain, fatigue, and a

rash). How long should I try the 600mg? Is there any aspirin or pain

medication you all recommend? Can I drink chamomile tea to help with

the upset stomach? Any help would be much appreciated, as I am still

new at all this and learning every day.

---------------------------------

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Download and play hundreds of games for free on Games.