Discussion about Grapefruit Juice and Gleevec

[Guest guest]

I am well aware that it's been said many times that one shouldn't take

grapefruit or grapefruit juice with Gleevec. I have heard that it causes

additional side effects for those who already have them.

I have been on Gleevec since June 2001 and in the past many times have added

grapefruit juice or eaten grapefruit with my breakfast right along with my

daily dose of 400 mg of Gleevec. Since I don't have any important side

effects from Gleevec, it has never caused me a problem. I have to admit

that I never asked my doctor about this because I had no problems by doing

this. I just figured if it increased the effect of my 400 mg and didn't

cause problems, then maybe it caused my 400 mg of Gleevec to act like a dose

of 500 or 600mg and I didn't have to pay for the extra dosage, a completely

self-serving reason!

As I said, I'm not a doctor and didn't consult one for that purpose, but

this has been my experience.

Margot