CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET contains Imatinib which belongs to the group of medicines called Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. It is used in adults, children and adolescents to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) (a form of leukaemia in which certain abnormal white cells (named myeloid cells) start growing out of control) and philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph-positive ALL) (a form of leukaemia in which certain abnormal white cells (named lymphoblasts) start growing out of control).
Also, it is used in adults only to treat myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD) (a group of blood diseases in which some blood cells start growing out of control), hyper eosinophilic syndrome (HES) and/or chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL) (a blood diseases in which some blood cells (named eosinophils) start growing out of control), gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) (cancer of the stomach and bowels) and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) (cancer of the tissue beneath the skin in which some cells start growing out of control).
Before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you have or ever had kidney, liver or heart problems, hepatitis B infection and thrombotic microangiopathy (symptoms include bruising, bleeding, fever, fatigue and confusion).
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in pregnant women unless advised by the doctor and it is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in children, adolescents and elderly patients (aged 65 years and above).
The most common side effects of taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weight gain, loss of appetite, disturbed sense of taste, blurred vision and weakness. Consult your physician if any of the side effects worsen.
Treat adults, children and adolescents for:
Treat adults for:
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Tyrosine kinases are proteins which act as chemical messengers that are used by the cancer cells to signal each other for their growth, therefore this medicine works by blocking the enzyme which stops the cancer cells from growing.
Take CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.
Stop taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
Nausea or vomiting:
Try to take CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET with or just after a meal or a snack. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oil rich, fried or spicy foods. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.
Diarrhoea:
Drink lot of fluids such as water or fruit juices to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid taking any medicine on your own for treating diarrhea. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.
Headache:
Rest and relax. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or electrolytes. Apply a pain-relieving balm on the forehead if required. Do not consume too much of alcohol. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.
Dry mouth:
Sip water regularly and other sugar free liquids. Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they can make your mouth dry, use mouthwash that is used only for dry mouth. Limit your caffeine intake. Avoid smoking or using tobacco products. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.
Tiredness:
Drink plenty of fluid and eat balanced diet and frequent meals. Do regular minimal exercise and follow regular sleep schedule. Consult your doctor if the symptom does not improve.
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in pregnant women unless considered clearly necessary. Women who might become pregnant are advised to use effective contraceptive measures during treatment and for 15 days after ending the treatment. Consult your doctor before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET is not recommended for use during breastfeeding and for 15 days after ending the treatment as it may harm the baby. Consult your doctor before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
Do not drive or operate any machines if you experience dizziness, drowsiness or blurred vision after taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with kidney problem. Consult your doctor before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with liver problems and hepatitis B infection. Consult your doctor before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
Do not take CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET if you are allergic to imatinib or any other ingredients of this medicine.
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with heart problem. Consult your doctor before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
Before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you have:
Use in pediatrics:
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in children and adolescents. Consult your child’s doctor for advice.
Use in geriatrics:
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above). Consult your doctor before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET.
A. Drug-Drug interactions:
Before taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital.
Drug | : | Imatinib |
Pharmacological Category | : | Tyrosine kinase inhibitor |
Therapeutic Indication | : | Chronic myeloid leukaemia, Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases hyper eosinophilic syndrome or chronic eosinophilic leukaemia, Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans |
Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Capsule |
What happens if I stop taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET on my own?
Do not stop taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET unless your doctor tells you to stop even if the condition improves. If you are not able to take the CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET as your doctor prescribed or feel you do not need it anymore, contact your doctor immediately.
It is safe to drive after taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET?
In some patients CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET may cause dizziness, drowsiness or blurred vision. So, it is better to avoid driving or operating any machine after taking CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET. Consult your doctor for advice before taking it.
Can I take CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET during pregnancy?
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in pregnant women unless advised by the doctor. Women who might become pregnant are advised to use effective contraceptive measures during treatment and for 15 days after ending the treatment. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
How does CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET work?
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Tyrosine kinases are proteins which act as chemical messengers that are used by the cancer cells to signal each other for their growth, therefore this medicine works by blocking the enzyme which stops the cancer cells from growing.
Can CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET be used in patients with liver problems?
CHEMOTINIB 400MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with liver problems and hepatitis B infection. Your doctor may monitor your liver function during and after treatment with this medicine to prevent the risk of any unusual effects. Consult your doctor before taking it.
1. Anton Wellstein, Giuseppe Giaccone, Michael B. Atkins, and Edward A. Sausville. Pathway-Targeted Therapies: Monoclonal Antibodies, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, and Various Small Molecules. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 13th Edition. New York McGraw Hill Medical 2018 Page – 1203-1236.
2. Nida Iqbal and Naveed Iqbal. Imatinib: A Breakthrough of Targeted Therapy in Cancer. Journal of chemotherapy research and practice. May 2014. [Accessed on 19th November 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4055302/
3. Andreas Hochhaus, Richard A. Larson, François Guilhot, Jerald P. Radich, Susan Branford, Timothy P. Hughes, Michele Baccarani, Michael W. Deininger, Francisco Cervantes, Satoko Fujihara, Christine-Elke Ortmann, Hans D. Menssen, et al. Long-Term Outcomes of Imatinib Treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. The New England of Medicine. March 2017. [Accessed on 19th November 2022] https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1609324
4. Accord Healthcare Limited. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in August 2022] [Accessed on 19th November 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2289.pdf
Written By Dr. R. Dinesh John Rajkumar, Pharm.D
Last updated on 23 Nov 2022 | 06:23 PM(IST)
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