Imatinib Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 25, 2022.

Applies to imatinib: oral tablets.

Side effects include:

Adverse effects reported in ≥30% of patients were edema, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, musculoskeletal pain, diarrhea, rash, fatigue, and abdominal pain.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to imatinib: oral capsule, oral tablet.

Cardiovascular

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cerebral hemorrhage, palpitations, tachycardia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, hypertension, peripheral coldness, hypotension, Raynaud's phenomenon, chest pain

Rare (less than 0.1%): Increased intracranial pressure, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, pericardial effusion

Frequency not reported: Cerebral edema, pericarditis, cardiac tamponade^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Very common (10% or more): Dermatitis/eczema/rash (40%)

Common (1% to 10%): Flushing, pruritus, face edema, dry skin, erythema, alopecia, night sweats, photosensitivity reaction

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash pustular, contusion, sweating increased, urticaria, ecchymosis, increased tendency to bruise, hypotrichosis, skin hypopigmentation, dermatitis exfoliative, onychoclasis, folliculitis, petechiae, psoriasis, purpura, skin hyperpigmentation, bullous eruptions

Rare (less than 0.1%): Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome), nail discoloration, angioneurotic edema, rash vesicular, erythema multiforme, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)

Frequency not reported: Palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, lichenoid keratosis, lichen planus, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Nausea (50%), diarrhea (45%), abdominal pain (37%), constipation (11%), vomiting, dyspepsia

Common (1% to 10%): Flatulence, abdominal distension, gastroesophageal reflux, dry mouth, gastritis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastroenteritis, stomatitis, mouth ulceration, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, eructation, melena, esophagitis, ascites, gastric ulcer, hematemesis, cheilitis, dysphagia, pancreatitis

Rare (less than 0.1%): Colitis, ileus, inflammatory bowel disease

Frequency not reported: Ileus/intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation, diverticulitis, gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE)^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary tract infection, gynecomastia, erectile dysfunction, menorrhagia, menstruation irregular, sexual dysfunction, nipple pain, breast enlargement, scrotal edema

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hemorrhagic corpus luteum/hemorrhagic ovarian cyst^[Ref]

Hematologic

Very common (10% or more): Hemorrhage (29%), neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia

Common (1% to 10%): Pancytopenia, febrile neutropenia, hemorrhage

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thrombocythemia, lymphopenia, bone marrow depression, eosinophilia, lymphadenopathy, hematoma, subdural hematoma

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hemolytic anemia

Frequency not reported: Thrombosis/embolism^[Ref]

Hepatic

Common (1% to 10%): Increased hepatic enzymes

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hyperbilirubinemia, hepatitis, jaundice

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hepatic failure, hepatic necrosis^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic shock^[Ref]

Immunologic

Very common (10% or more): Influenza (14%)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Herpes zoster, herpes simplex, cellulitis, sepsis

Rare (less than 0.1%): Fungal infection

Frequency not reported: Hepatitis B reactivation^[Ref]

Metabolic

Very common (10% or more): Weight gain (16%)

Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia, weight loss

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypokalemia, increased appetite, hypophosphatemia, dehydration, gout, hyperuricemia, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, hyponatremia, blood creatinine increased, blood creatine phosphokinase increased, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, blood alkaline phosphatase increased

Rare (less than 0.1%): Hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia, blood amylase increased^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very common (10% or more): Muscle spasm/cramps (49%), musculoskeletal pain (47%), joint pain (31%), myalgia (24%), bone pain (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Joint swelling

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Joint and muscle stiffness

Rare (less than 0.1%): Muscular weakness, arthritis, rhabdomyolysis/myopathy

Frequency not reported: Avascular necrosis/hip necrosis, growth retardation in children^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (37%), dizziness (19%)

Common (1% to 10%): Paresthesia, hypoesthesia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Migraine, syncope, peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, restless leg syndrome, tremor, vertigo

Rare (less than 0.1%): Seizures^[Ref]

Ocular

Very common (10% or more): Periorbital edema

Common (1% to 10%): Eyelid edema, lacrimation increased, conjunctival hemorrhage, conjunctivitis, dry eye, blurred vision

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eye irritation, eye pain, orbital edema, scleral hemorrhage, retinal hemorrhage, blepharitis, macular edema

Rare (less than 0.1%): Optic neuritis, cataract, glaucoma, papilledema

Frequency not reported: Vitreous hemorrhage^[Ref]

Oncologic

Rare (less than 0.1%): Tumor lysis syndrome

Frequency not reported: Tumor hemorrhage, tumor necrosis^[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Fluid retention/edema (62%, fatigue (39%), pyrexia (18%)

Common (1% to 10%): Taste disturbance, weakness, pyrexia, anasarca, chills, rigors

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tinnitus, hearing loss, malaise^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (15%), depression (15%)

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, somnolence, memory impairment

Rare (less than 0.1%): Confusional state^[Ref]

Renal

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal pain, hematuria, renal failure acute, urinary frequency increased

Frequency not reported: Chronic renal failure^[Ref]

Respiratory

Very common (10% or more): Nasopharyngitis (31%), cough (20%), upper respiratory tract infection (20%), pharyngolaryngeal pain (18%), sinusitis (11%)

Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, epistaxis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pneumonia, pleural effusion, pharyngitis

Rare (less than 0.1%): Pleuritic pain, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hemorrhage

Frequency not reported: Acute respiratory failure, interstitial lung disease^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• What to avoid when taking Gleevec?
• How does Gleevec (imatinib) work?
• Is there a generic for Gleevec?
• Can I take Gleevec while pregnant?

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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