Veenat 400 mg Tablet

Veenat 400 mg (Imatinib Mesylate)
Uses of imatinib 400 mg

Veenat 400 mg Tablet (Imatinib 400 mg) is used in the treatment of blood cancers, bone marrow disorders, skin cancer and certain tumours of the stomach and the digestive tract.

How it works

imatinib 400 mg Mesylate belongs to a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by preventing abnormal protein activity which signals cancer cells to multiply and spread across the body, thus inhibiting the growth of these abnormal cells.

Common side effects

• Edema (swelling)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle cramp
• Musculoskeletal (bone, muscle or joint) pain
• Diarrhea
• Rash
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain

Expert advice

Imatinib should always be taken at the advice of a doctor who is experienced in treating cancers.
Do not start or continue imatinib 400 mg and consult your doctor;

• If you are allergic to imatinib or any other ingredients in the medicine
• If you have or had a liver, kidney or heart problem
• If your thyroid gland has been removed and you have been prescribed levothyroxine
• If there is weight gain following treatment with imatinib 400 mg
• If your develop swelling in part or whole of the body as your body may retain water due to imatinib

Do not start imatinib in children without the advice of the doctor, since it may affect the normal growth in children

• Effective contraceptives should be used by women during therapy
• Your doctor may ask you to undergo certain blood tests before and during treatment with imatinib, to check your response to the drug and the drug?s side-effects.
• Imatinib can cause dizziness or drowsiness and blurred vision, therefore, caution should be taken before operating an automobile or machinery or engaging in activities requiring mental alertness and coordination.

FAQs

Imatinib Mesylate

Q: Is imatinib Mesylate safe during pregnancy?
A: Studies have shown that the fetus may be harmed with the use of imatinib 400 mg during pregnancy. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding its use.

Q: Is imatinib/imatinib mesylate curative?
A: Imatinib 400 mg can be effective for treating blood cancers like chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ph-positive ALL), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). It can also treat some diseases where certain blood cells grow in an uncontrolled fashion, like myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and/or chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL). However, most of these diseases can recur. The response to treatment and the chances of recurrence depend upon individual patient and his/her response to the drug.

Q: Is imatinib Mesylate available in India?
A: Yes, it is available in India as a prescription drug.

Q: Is imatinib Mesylate a chemotherapy drug/cytotoxic drug/monoclonal antibody?
A: Imatinib 400 mg belongs to a class of medications called protein kinase inhibitors. It is called as a chemotherapeutic or cytotoxic drug as it kills the cancer cells. It is not a monoclonal antibody.

Q: Is imatinib Mesylate effective? How does it work?
A: Imatinib 400 mg is used in the treatment of blood cancers like chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), APhiladelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ph-positive ALL), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). It is also used to treat some diseases where certain blood cells grow in an uncontrolled fashion, like myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPD) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and/or chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL).

Q: Does imatinib Mesylate cause hair loss?
A: Yes, hair loss is the common side effect associated with the use of imatinib.