Side effects of imatinib

Imatinib is a kind of chemotherapy drug, which is mainly used to treat some blood cell cancers including leukemia In addition, it can also treat skin tumors called fibrosarcomas and digestive system cancers called gastrointestinal stromal tumors The drug is often marketed under the brand name Gleevec The chemotherapeutic agent is classified as a drug called a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor Its active mechanism is very unique It is one of the few drugs that only target highly active enzymes of cancer cells Imatinib targets an enzyme called tyrosine kinase In some types of cancer, tyrosine kinase is a special enzyme that keeps activity all the time, where healthy cells usually lose their function Imatinib can prevent the proliferation of these cancer cells by inhibiting tyrosine kinase, and play a role in reducing the spread of cancer One of the biggest benefits of this drug is that it only targets cancer cells, so serious systemic side effects are much less than other chemotherapy agents Nevertheless, imatinib has some side effects Possible side effects of the drug include constipation or diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, indigestion, muscle or joint pain, anxiety and depression These negative effects are usually mild and temporary, but if there are serious side effects or if they last for a long time, you should see a doctor for help immediately Imatinib also has potential serious side effects, including swelling of feet, ankles, calves and forearms, dyspnea, tachycardia, insomnia, hemoptysis or pink mucus, chest pain, frequent urination, fever, jaundice, bloody stool, bruised skin, infection symptoms, or fatigue You should also see a doctor as soon as possible after taking the medicine If you take imatinib, you should also inform your doctor of other drugs you are using, because there are many prescription drugs that can interact with imatinib, such as antibiotics, blood thinners, anti bacteria agents, calcium channel blockers, birth control pills, cholesterol lowering drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives and antiepileptic drugs In addition, doctors should also be informed when taking herbal or related nutritional supplements and other over-the-counter drugs.