12 replies to this topic

[jmoorhou]

I know this has been discussed.  But I wanted to bring it up again!  Does anyone have any ideas on this.....or tried and not succeeded.  Is a bowl of oatmeal and a fruit smoothie with yogurt enough to take the Gleevec with....after a couple of cups of coffee, and of course a mug of hot lemon water which is a good diuretic btw.

Thanks in advance for answers.

[LivingWellWithCML]

My routine is very close to.that.  I take Gleevec with a banana and a big bowl of oatmeal and some water, and it sits very well in my stomach.  And that is after having a couple cups of coffee about 30 minutes earlier.  I have been doing that with with Gleevec 400mg for over three years...

[jmoorhou]

Dan thanks so much. 

[jmoorhou]

Dan can I ask did your potassium levels go down taking the Gleevec?

[LivingWellWithCML]

Nope - I have stayed in the normal range throughout my journey.  I usually have a banana every morning, and I eat a lot of spinach, so my diet might be helping.

[jmoorhou]

Do you mind if I ask do you have to take high blood pressure meds (diuretic)?

[LivingWellWithCML]

I don't.  Fluid retention has not been an issue for me -- I get the occasional baggy eyes from the Gleevec edema side effect, but that's it.  Up to this point in my journey, things have been pretty vanilla - start Gleevec 400mg and continue life.  I've been fortunate in that I'm not on any other regular medications and my side effects from Gleevec 400mg have been minimal.  My biggest setback was anxiety over the first 6 - 12 months of treatment, but after a lot of work on my mind/body/soul, I've pretty much got that under control.  Hope this helps!

[RayT]

Hi! I've been taking Gleevec 400mg since Dx with CML 4-1/2 months ago.  I also take lisinopril (ACE inhibitor,) furosemide (diuretic) and metoprolol succinate (beta blocker) for heart attack 30 yrs ago due to chemo for Hodgkin's disease, as well as several other meds.  I take all my meds, except the Gleevec, in the morning before breakfast.  I usually take the Gleevec with lunch or dinner (to separate it from the other meds) without any problems regardless of what I'm eating.  The key for me is eating SOMETHING with the Gleevec; I did it today with 2 donuts and coffee.  (DISCLAIMER:  Don't try this at home. I'm a trained "professional," aka career paramedic. I define "balanced diet" as, "Half food, half junk." )  I've tried a couple of times with just water; let's just say it wasn't pretty.   My big problems with Gleevec have been fatigue, chills and lower leg edema.

[jmoorhou]

Ray thanks so much for your reply.  I was just diagnosed with CML in February.  I was being treated for high blood pressure, but I think it reduced my potassium I start taking Spironolactone for a diuretic and potassium and now it has given me gout....seems scary you take one drug just for side effects and then that gives you bad side effects.  I thought I was having trouble breathing but maybe it was my imagination.....

[Susan61]

HI:  I have been on Gleevec 400mg for over 13 years.  I have always had to eat a full breakfast with the Gleevec to avoid nausea.  It can be eggs and toast, or Oatmeal as long as its a substantial amount of food to fill the stomach for me.  I am on blood pressure medication for years, and still take it everyday.  I am on other medications also, but they do not interfere with my Gleevec or the way I feel.  I do not take a diuretic, but the banana should help your potassium.

    The best thing is not to try to dig deep to look for things that you think might be giving you trouble.  Our minds can do a lot of things to us if we start questioning everything we take.

    So many people read all the side effects that are printed on the slip that comes with our medications, and then you start to think your having them all.  Just do the meal with your Gleevec, and you should be fine.  Some people like to take the Gleevec with dinner, because they said if they have any side effects that they most likely will be sleeping before they would start.

Susan

[jmoorhou]

Susan can you tell me what the blood pressure med is?  Thanks

[Susan61]

Hi:  I am on Toprol and also on Benicar.  Benicar was given to me because it says it protects the kidneys, and I have kidney problems too.

[LivingWellWithCML]

I was on Benicar 20mg for about 7 years leading up to my CML dx - doc discovered high blood pressure and a mildly enlarged heart after I ran a marathon in late 2003 and Benicar did a great job of getting things back to normal.

One interesting note about my journey - over the first 4 months of my CML treatment journey I lost over 30 pounds -- this was due to diagnosis anxiety, reduced alcohol and red meat intake, and obsessive running & biking.  I weaned off Benicar at the 3-month point and my blood pressure has remained normal ever since.  My lessons learned: diet and exercise really can make a difference, and aside from some good red wine and the occasional beer, alcohol just isn't healthy for the human body.