11 replies to this topic

[scuba]

Anyone know if there are certain foods we should avoid while taking Gleevec?

I have been reading, that while anti-oxidants are good for you - they interfere with Gleevec.

The articles are confusing.  Green Tea, for example, is to be avoided - but not if it's only a cup.

Any other foods or supplements?

I tend to take a multi-vitamin six or so hours after Gleevec along with Zinc and magnesium.  I take a vit C at dinner.

I am new to Gleevec and want to make sure I don't undercut the drug.

[Goldfinger]

You mean I'm not supposed to drink green tea? Wow!!!  That's about all I ever drink. No soda pop,sweetened drinks,beer, liquor,etc. Going to have to talk more to my nurse about this subject..

[BethG]

The only food I was told to avoid while on Gleevec was grapefruit (and that still holds true on AP24535).

Beth

[Goldfinger]

The only thing I was told to avoid is any kind of hard liquor which I never did drink anyway. For some strange reason she recomended yogurt!! (it's an antibiotic) Like I'm ever  going to try yogurt straight up. They may be able to sneak it to me in a dip but that's all....

[BethG]

too funny re the yogurt! If I don't have my nonfat plain yogurt every morning with my breakfast I really don't feel good. That stuff does help out! lol

b

[scuba]

Goldfinger:  How long have you been on Gleevec?  Assuming you are drinking green tea - have your WBC and other levels been good?

I would love to go back to my green tea.

[Goldfinger]

Michael-

Been on Gleevec almost exactly six months now. Had all kinds of problems after I was on  pherisis but they have stabilized since then. My wbc have been really good although some of my other readings have always been low. I've been anemic for years. . I just started drink green tea perhaps two months ago and the readings have not changed much at all since then. I think everyones biochemistry if different and that's why we all have different reactions to the various drugs, foods,etc.

I go back on the 11th of this month and I have all kinds of questions to ask.based on issues members of this forum have brought up.

By the way- I feel terrific now. Best I've felt for a long time. I still get all kinds of cramps every now and then but that's about all.

[Jamar]

I was only told to avoid grapefruit as well; and to have no more than 2 alcoholic beverages.

I eat plain yogurt and take probiotics everyday (both approved by my onc)

[Trey]

Green tea is fine.  I think Vitamin C is good to take with the Gleevec since it is an acid, and Gleevec likes an acidic enivironment for better absorption.  Yogurt is a probiotic (if it has live acidophilous), not an antibiotic.

[HealthyAt4n]

Agree with Trey, in fact you need more Vitamin C this I read from pureandhealthy.com. Vitamin C has also been linked in some studies to the prevention of cancer. The regular intake of fruits and vegetables has long been believed to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer in a number of popular studies. These include cancers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, and lungs. Some preliminary lab tests have indicated that vitamin C may be responsible for this preventative effect.

[scuba]

Healthyat4n -

To avoid misunderstanding... I am not writing about the benefits of vitamin C - I am wondering if extra vitamin C (beyond enough to prevent scurvy) 'interferes' with Gleevec action.

In other words if one were to avoid extra vitamin C, does Gleevec work better?

From Trey's answer - he has been taking extra vitamin C for years and he is PCRu - so that pretty much answers my question.

[Trey]

Yes, and I took extra Vitamin C, multivitamins, ate very healthy, & got plenty of exercise for decades before the CML, so none of that prevented it.  But I believe all these contribute to giving the CML drugs an advantage in fighting the disease.  I drink all types of teas daily, and I believe they are a healthy drink that supports good health, but I don't like green tea's taste.  But I would drink it if I liked it.

http://discoverysedge.mayo.edu/green_tea/index.cfm

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/cas/2009/00000100/00000002/art00023

Overall discussion of benefits of antioxidants for CML:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19446539?dopt=Abstract

Having said that, Cherylannes of this group is very much anti green tea.  She may be able to explain her reasons further, but here is a posting she has made about it, just to provide a different viewpoint, although I do not agree with it:

http://www.mail-archive.com/cmlhope@googlegroups.com/msg07276.html