Re: SSDI & cognitive impairment-

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I've often thought that it could be Gleevec's effects on our

electrolytes that contributed to the cognitive side effects but what

frustrates me is that there doesn't seem to be any interest to pursue

this from the researchers. I haven't found even one article that

talks about any kind of cognitive side effects, yet we all know that

they exist.

Likewise, no one seems to be interested to study the effects that

Gleevec has on our hormones except for a few studies linking it to

gynecomastia in men. From all the complaints we've seen from women

complaining about missed periods, heavy periods, irregular periods,

and in my case, an abnormally high Prolactin level, it's obvious to

me that Gleevec has some effect on hormones but why don't any of the

researchers seem to care about this? Is it not reasonable to think

that such an effect on hormones could potentially put us at risk for

gynecological cancers or other problems? I just don't understand why

this isn't being looked at.

Take care,

Tracey

>

> > there are numerous articles out there showing that Gleevec can't

pass the

> > blood brain barrier so it's hard to argue cognitive effects of a

drug that

> > doesn't even reach the brain but we know from all the list

members who

> > complain of the exact same side effects that this impairment is

indeed real,

> > even if we can't find any articles to support it.

>

> Hi Kathy and Tracey,

>

> When I first started IM I was relieved to hear that it didn't cross

the

> blood brain barrier (BBB), assuming it would therefore have no

central

> nervous system effects. Since I'm definitely sleepier and somewhat

fuzzier-

> headed when I'm on the drug compared to when I'm off it, I've

though a lot

> (when I felt able to do so!) about that reasoning, and have

concluded that

> it's bogus: drugs that don't cross into the brain can still

interfere with

> its functioning by altering the metabolism of other substances that

do cross

> the BBB. For example magnesium (Mg++) , an electrolyte which

readily crosses

> the BBB and which effects energy and alertness, is found to be low

in many

> patients - though, granted, it is excessive Mg++, rather than too

little,

> which is associated with lassitude. I'm unaware of IM-induced

changes in

> other commonly measured blood chemistries, but there are many

chemicals in

> the blood that we don't routinely monitor; even minor changes in

some of

> these could effect brain functioning over time.

>

> Cheers,

>

> R

>