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A slow reduction of medication prior to cessation will lessen the impact of withdrawal side effects

Started by Buzzm1 , Jul 14 2017 03:29 PM

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5 replies to this topic

#1 Buzzm1

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LocationSilicon Valley

Posted 14 July 2017 - 03:29 PM

Bloodwise - New approach can help improve chronic myeloid leukaemia treatment

A British study on Treatment Free Remission (TFR) for CML patients seems to indicate that a slow reduction of medication prior to complete cessation will lessen the impact of withdrawal side effects. The The study, - entitled 'Initial reduction of therapy before complete withdrawal improves the chance of successful treatment discontinuation inCML - was funded by Bloodwise and presented at an international conference.

For the benefit of yourself and others please add your CML history into your Signature

02/2010 Gleevec 400mg

2011 Two weakly positives, PCRU, weakly positive

2012 PCRU, PCRU, PCRU, PCRU

2013 PCRU, PCRU, PCRU, weakly positive

2014 PCRU, PCRU, PCRU, PCRU (12/07 began dose reduction w/each continuing PCRU)

2015 300, 250, 200, 150

2016 100, 50/100, 100, 10/17 TFR

2017 01/17 TFR, 04/18 TFR, 07/18 TFR 0.0012, 08/29 TFR 0.001, 10/17 TFR 0.000

2018 01/16 TFR 0.0004 ... next quarterly PCR 04/17

At the earliest opportunity, and whenever possible, lower your TKI dosage; TKIs are toxic drugs and the less we take longterm the better off we are going to be ... this is especially true for older adults.

In hindsight I should have started my dosage reduction two years earlier; it might have helped minimize some of the longterm cumulative toxic effects of TKIs that I am beset with.

longterm side-effects Peripheral Artery Disease - legs (it's a bitch); continuing shoulder problems, right elbow inflammation. GFR and creatinine vastly improved after stopping Gleevec.

Cumulative Gleevec dosage estimated at 830 grams

Taking Gleevec 400mg an hour after my largest meal of the day helped eliminate the nausea that Gleevec is notorious for.

Trey's CML Blog - Stopping - The Odds - Stop Studies - Discussion Forum Cessation Study

Big PhRMA - Medicare Status - Social Security Status - Deficit/Debt

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#2 Kali

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112 posts

Posted 14 July 2017 - 04:01 PM

Thanks, Buzz, for sharing this article! Good news😊

Diagnosed June 2014. WBC 34.6 and Platelets 710 at diagnosis. Bone Marrow Biopsy pre-op diagnosis: Leukocytosis. Post-op diagnosis: the same, Leukocytosis. No increase in blasts <1%. Quantitative BCR/ABL testing and formal chromosome analyses confirmed CML diagnosis.<p>Supplemental Report: Abnormal BCR/ABL1 FISH result t(9;22). Molecular test for BCR/ABL1 fusion transcript by RT-PCR positive for BCR/ABL1 transcripts, b3a2 at 133.561% and b2a2 at 0.001% and ela2 at 0.001%. Followup monitoring showed negative for ela2. BCRABL1 was 148.007 at diagnosis. Started Sprycel 100 mgm and blood work was normal at 3 weeks. MMR at 3 months: 10/4/14 was 0.106. Stayed in that range with one dip to 0.04 once and back to 0.1 range. Oct. 2015, BCRABL1 was not detected, following with 0.0126, 0.0092, <0.0069, 0.0000, <0.0069, 0.0000. Now on 70 mgm of Sprycel. Continuation of PCR test results: 07/07/2017, 0.0000%, now on 50 mgm of Sprycel, PCR 9/12/17 0.0074%, PCR 11/3/17 0.0000%, PCR 1/17/2018 0.0000%

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#3 Gail's

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634 posts

Posted 16 July 2017 - 02:56 PM

Good read, Buzz. Did note that they were talking about reducing negative side effects of the TKIs experienced from taking them, not withdrawing or stopping them.

Diagnosed 1/15/15
FISH 92%
BMB 9:22 translocation
1/19/15 began 400 mg gleevec
1/22/15 bcr 37.2 IS
2/6/15 bcr 12.5 IS
3/26/15 bcr 10.3 IS
6/29/15 bcr 7.5 IS
9/24/15 bcr 0.8 IS
1/4/16 bcr 0.3 IS
Started 100 mg dasatinib, mutation analysis negative
4/20/16 bcr 0.03 IS
8/8/16 bcr 0.007 IS
12/6/16 bcr 0.002 IS
Lowered dasatinib to 70 mg
4/10/17 bcr 0.001 IS
Lowered dasatinib to 50 mg
7/5/17 bcr 0.004 IS
8/10/17 bcr 0.001. Stopped TKI in prep for September surgery.
9/10/17 bcr 0.006
10/10/17 bcr 0.088

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#4 Gail's

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Members
634 posts

Posted 20 July 2017 - 03:41 PM

Probably a weird place to post this, but I updated my signature and wanted to see if it worked.

Diagnosed 1/15/15
FISH 92%
BMB 9:22 translocation
1/19/15 began 400 mg gleevec
1/22/15 bcr 37.2 IS
2/6/15 bcr 12.5 IS
3/26/15 bcr 10.3 IS
6/29/15 bcr 7.5 IS
9/24/15 bcr 0.8 IS
1/4/16 bcr 0.3 IS
Started 100 mg dasatinib, mutation analysis negative
4/20/16 bcr 0.03 IS
8/8/16 bcr 0.007 IS
12/6/16 bcr 0.002 IS
Lowered dasatinib to 70 mg
4/10/17 bcr 0.001 IS
Lowered dasatinib to 50 mg
7/5/17 bcr 0.004 IS
8/10/17 bcr 0.001. Stopped TKI in prep for September surgery.
9/10/17 bcr 0.006
10/10/17 bcr 0.088

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#5 SandyG353

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84 posts

LocationNew Jersey

Posted 27 July 2017 - 02:55 PM

While my daughter's oncologist is still debating whether to have her stop the Gleevec or not, he will not reduce the dosage. I am seeing that you are saying that reduction of the drug reduces the side effects from cessation. I know that I haven't been on this site for a while and am not totally informed. So, I need to ask you - What are the side effects of cessation?

Sandy

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#6 gerry

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1,035 posts

Posted 27 July 2017 - 08:49 PM

The article is talking about side effects and reducing dosage, not stopping as per Gail's comments.

As to stopping the TKI, some people experience muscle and joint pain quite badly. I know of at least one person who made the decision to return to a TKI as the pain was that bad.

For the larger percentage of people stopping there are no issues. As yet they don't know exactly why some people experience it. For some the pain eventually goes away, for others they still experience it after a couple of years of cessation.

It hasn't been an issue for me.