Gleevec & Coumadin

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I've been taking both Gleevec & Coumadin for a little over 5 years now and my

INR jumps around just a little--I can keep it in the therapeutic range with only

minor adjustments. I do have to have my INR checked monthly (another poke in

the arm).

Bob , Granger, Indiana

JENNIFER G. SAID (In Part):

" I'd be interested in hearing how others taking both Gleevec and warfarin

(Coumadin) are doing (Zavie -- I know you're doing OK). The good doctors at OHSU

told me a

few weeks back that the interaction between these two drugs can cause

unpredictable swings in INR, and that's indeed what was happening to me, and

that can be a bit dangerous. The question that remains to be answered is whether

the warfarin changes the blood levels of Gleevec. Apparently that is a

possibility, but without monitoring of Gleevec blood levels, we won't know for

sure. "

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Bob.

I'm glad to hear your Coumadin management is going well. I was sometimes

going in two or three times a week for an INR check and dosage

adjustments. What a hassle! I know there's a gene variation that can

affect how some people respond to anticoagulants. I haven't had that

test, though. Researchers are finding many gene variations (these are

normal variations) that dictate how people respond to certain

medications. Interesting stuff.

[ ] Gleevec & Coumadin

Dear ,

I've been taking both Gleevec & Coumadin for a little over 5 years now

and my INR jumps around just a little--I can keep it in the therapeutic

range with only minor adjustments. I do have to have my INR checked

monthly (another poke in the arm).

Bob , Granger, Indiana

JENNIFER G. SAID (In Part):

" I'd be interested in hearing how others taking both Gleevec and

warfarin (Coumadin) are doing (Zavie -- I know you're doing OK). The

good doctors at OHSU told me a

few weeks back that the interaction between these two drugs can cause

unpredictable swings in INR, and that's indeed what was happening to me,

and that can be a bit dangerous. The question that remains to be

answered is whether the warfarin changes the blood levels of Gleevec.

Apparently that is a possibility, but without monitoring of Gleevec

blood levels, we won't know for sure. "