Imatinib and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Cha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 22, 2013

For Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "I have been on Gleevec since 2/2006. My white blood cell count went from 350,000 to 75,000 in less than three months. I went into full molecular remission by 2/2007. I have the BCR-ABL blood test every 6 months and there is no more Philadelphia Chromosome present. I still can get nauseated and occasionally vomit if I do not take my Reglan correctly or take Zofran with it, but that's a minor annoyance since this medicine saved my life. I would have only had a 40% chance of survival if I had a bone marrow transplant. Gleevec has given me a 95% chance of survival, and I'm almost at the 10-year milestone on the medication."

• fan...
• January 12, 2010

For Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "My doctor put me on Gleevec when I was diagnosed with CML five years ago. It has saved my life. I have experienced some of its side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, and continual leg pain, but the benefit of living far outweighs any of the bothersome side effects!"

• che...
• November 22, 2012

For Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "I have been on Gleevec now for 6 months, and in that time, I have had maybe 5 well days. The other days have been filled with vomiting, nausea, body aches and pains, migraines, lethargy, insane amounts of facial swelling, and my weight is just up and down like a yo-yo, varying from 82 kilos down to 75. I now realize that when I said this wasn't the right medication for me 5 months ago, I was right. Today, my hematologist told me that my Philadelphia gene is unacceptably high, so now I am going to try something else. I am delighted to hear that others are doing so well on it, but it certainly wasn't for me."

• Twi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 13, 2020

For Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor "I had a large gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) removed from the stomach in 9/2015. I was put on 400 mg Gleevec but had to stop early on due to a low white count; was tested weekly and restarted with no issues in the white count. A CT scan in 2019 was clean. Side effects are diarrhea, runny nose, vomiting (early on but no longer), weight gain, and now vision changes. I'm currently seeking an oncology doctor as my neurologist is setting up an MRI to rule out optic nerve issues. He believes Gleevec may be the cause. I've been on it for 5 years now at 400 mg per day. Happy to be alive!"

• ner...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2014

For Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia "Was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in Feb 2011. Gleevec worked for me for about a year and a half. I threw up almost every night on it. I had a rash all over my body when I first took it, but that went away over time. Gleevec stopped working for me, and my BNR jumped from 3 to 19. Dr. switched me to Sprycel."