4 replies to this topic

[bnwsalses]

My mom is being diagonosed with CML couple weeks ago, she's joined a MD trial, but the trial is seperated into two groups, one group of patients will recieve gleevec while the other half will recieve tasigna. My question is that if she's being tried with tasigna can she switch to gleevec in the future?

[GerryL]

I don't think there are any issues with switching to Gleevec, but if Tasigna works for her and the side effects aren't too bad, then there probably wouldn't be any reason to swap.

Gerry

[Trey]

Yes.  Some prefer Gleevec side effects over the other drugs (hard for some to believe, I know).  And when Gleevec goes off patent, I suspect many more will switch to a future generic Gleevec for long term maintenance drug therapy, possibly at lower dosage.

[bnwsalses]

thx for the replies. i am asking this because the trial lasts for 2 yrs and the price of tasigna is a lot more expensive then gleevec, so if she gets tasigna and after 2 yrs probably would consider switch to gleevec

[Lynne D]

I was on Gleevec for 5 years but the side effects are so bad for me that when Tasigna became available my Dr. suggested I give it a try. Well it didn't work and my numbers started going back up and I returned to Gleevec and numbers were in check at no time at all.  The only thing is I replaced some side effects for others. Very strange, but still kept some of the bad ones. Oh well. Next stop...Sprycel.