Re: 4 x 100mg tabs vs 1 x 400mg tab

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

It's hard to say since you haven't been on Gleevec for very long but

side effects do wax and wane so it just may be that you were " due "

for some side effects and not because you changed from the 4 pills

to the one big pill.

Having said that, many of us did experience a big difference in side

effects between the old capsules and the newer pills when we

switched over.

When I switched from the old 100mg capsules to the newer 100mg

pills, I did notice a difference and then when I switched over to

the one 400mg pill, I also noticed a difference.....mostly with

nausea and a little bit of watery eyes. I find my diarreah much

better on the 400mg pill than it ever was on the 100mg pill or

capsules. As for the cramps, I find no difference from any of the

pill forms. That seems to have more to do with what I eat than

anything else. Some people do get the eye bleeds but that has

happened on all the various pills and it's not something anyone has

with any regularity so it might just have been " your turn " and had

nothing to do with the new pill.

Take care,

Tracey

>

> Hi there

>

> This is my 3rd month on Gleevec (4 x 100mg tabs once a day).

First 2

> months passed without any form of side-effect other than extreme

> fatigue. This month, I was supplied with the 400mg tabs and am

> experiencing a difference. Again, nothing too drastic or

unmanageable

> but not like it was. Is it possible that the change in the format

of

> the medication has made a difference or do you guys think that

this

> may be a cumalative effect catching up with me?

>

> The things I am experiencing are cramps in my toes and in the long

> muscles in my back, a small eye bleed (very small, some gastric

> discomfort about an hour after taking the tab.

>

> I would value your opinions.

>

> Thanks

>

> Jane

>

[Guest guest]

At 03:31 PM 4/11/06 +0000, you wrote:

> Is it possible that the change in the format of

>the medication has made a difference or do you guys think that this

>may be a cumalative effect catching up with me?

>

>The things I am experiencing are cramps in my toes and in the long

>muscles in my back, a small eye bleed (very small, some gastric

>discomfort about an hour after taking the tab.

Hi Jane,

I remember others complaining of more issues when they switched to the

single 400mg tablet. It is the same drug, but maybe it gets into the system

faster???? Also, some side effects develop over time....and some come and

go (cyclic). If this continues and is a problem, you can split the 400mg

pill (mine are scored) and take 1/2 pill at 2 meals. Gleevec has a long 1/2

life and remains in the body for a long time, so as long as you are getting

the full dose daily, most cml specialists say it is OK to do this.

C.

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm new but those are just side effects from the Gleevec. My first 4 months

at 400 mg no problem just tired. Then I started having my potassium dropping,

now on a regular basis, cramps in my insides, an ulcer in my stomach, and legs

cramp up at night. Plus a lot of throwing up now. Even my hair on top is

thinning out a lot. Between diabeties, chemo, and having the gastric bypass

recently, my hair that took an hour to dry now takes about 5 minutes. Plus I

break out in blisters on the back of my hands up to my elbows. I wish you the

best. I'm off for a nap. Good luck, Kathy

regentmahogany <merlinh@...> wrote: Hi there

This is my 3rd month on Gleevec (4 x 100mg tabs once a day). First 2

months passed without any form of side-effect other than extreme

fatigue. This month, I was supplied with the 400mg tabs and am

experiencing a difference. Again, nothing too drastic or unmanageable

but not like it was. Is it possible that the change in the format of

the medication has made a difference or do you guys think that this

may be a cumalative effect catching up with me?

The things I am experiencing are cramps in my toes and in the long

muscles in my back, a small eye bleed (very small, some gastric

discomfort about an hour after taking the tab.

I would value your opinions.

Thanks

Jane

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy

Thanks for that. That is what I meant when I asked if it could be

just a cumulative effect that just coincided with the change in format.

Hope you enjoyed your nap.

[Guest guest]

> Hi Jane,

> I remember others complaining of more issues when they switched to

the

> single 400mg tablet. It is the same drug, but maybe it gets into

the system

> faster???? Also, some side effects develop over time....and some

come and

> go (cyclic). If this continues and is a problem, you can split the

400mg

> pill (mine are scored) and take 1/2 pill at 2 meals. Gleevec has a

long 1/2

> life and remains in the body for a long time, so as long as you

are getting

> the full dose daily, most cml specialists say it is OK to do this.

>

> C.

Thanks for that advice - I appreciate it and if things get any

worse I will try splitting the dose or asking for the capsules

again - just to see if I have been imagining it all - which is quite

possible!

Jane

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Jane,

>

> It's hard to say since you haven't been on Gleevec for very long

but

> side effects do wax and wane so it just may be that you were " due "

> for some side effects and not because you changed from the 4 pills

> to the one big pill.

>

> Having said that, many of us did experience a big difference in

side

> effects between the old capsules and the newer pills when we

> switched over.

>

> When I switched from the old 100mg capsules to the newer 100mg

> pills, I did notice a difference and then when I switched over to

> the one 400mg pill, I also noticed a difference.....mostly with

> nausea and a little bit of watery eyes. I find my diarreah much

> better on the 400mg pill than it ever was on the 100mg pill or

> capsules. As for the cramps, I find no difference from any of the

> pill forms. That seems to have more to do with what I eat than

> anything else. Some people do get the eye bleeds but that has

> happened on all the various pills and it's not something anyone

has

> with any regularity so it might just have been " your turn " and had

> nothing to do with the new pill.

>

> Take care,

> Tracey

>

Thanks Tracey

Funny you should mention the watery eyes - been waking up with my

eyes glued together some mornings. That is also new in the last 5

days. Hmm - will have to see what happens. As I said to Zavie,

none of it is unmanageable but I just wondered and maybe you are

right..it is just " my turn " so to speak.

Regards

Jane