Imacent 400 (Imatinib Mesylate 400 mg Tablet) | Brand Name Gleevec

What is Imacent 400 (Imatinib Mesylate 400 mg Tablet)?

• Imacent 400 (Imatinib Mesylate 400 mg Tablet) is a biological therapy called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Tyrosine kinases are proteins that act as chemical messengers, signaling each other to grow. Imatinib is pronounced as im-at-tin-ib and known by its brand name Gleevec. Imacent is a generic version of Gleevec. 
• It works by blocking a specific protein kinase, which helps stop cancer cell growth.
• It targets different kinases depending on the types of cancers.
• Imacent 400 is an alternative brand of Veenat 400.

Why is Imatinib 400 mg tablet approved by the FDA?

It has been approved by the FDA to treat the following conditions and cancers in adult and pediatric patients.

• Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer, develops in the bone marrow and happens when a special genetic change called the Philadelphia chromosome occurs.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST),  a rare type of cancer that starts in the digestive system, most often in the stomach or small intestine. It begins in special cells of the digestive tract wall called interstitial cells of Cajal, which help control how food moves through the stomach and intestines.
• Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL),  a fast-growing type of blood cancer. It happens when the bone marrow makes too many immature white blood cells (called lymphoblasts) that don’t work properly.
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a rare type of skin cancer, usually starts as a small, firm patch or lump on the skin that slowly grows over time. 
• Myelodysplastic disorders (MDS), a group of diseases where the bone marrow does not make healthy blood cells properly
• Adults with myeloproliferative disorders 
• Adults with advanced HES (hypereosinophilic syndrome) or chronic eosinophilic leukaemia 

How do you have Imatinib?

• You have imatinib as a tablet that you have to swallow after eating food. If you can not swallow the whole tablet, dissolve it in a full glass of water or apple juice and drink the solution.
• It is important to follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist while you are taking cancer medication. Take the right dose as prescribed in the prescription, not more or less. Do not stop taking the cancer medication without your doctor’s permission. 
• You have it once or twice a day, depending on the dose you are taking. Usually, you are advised to continue the tablet as long as it works or unless side effects worsen.
• For Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, it can be taken on its own or together with chemotherapy at your doctor’s suggestion.

Common side effects

• Sudden drop in the number of blood cells.
• Increased risk of getting an infection because of a drop in the number of white blood cells. You may face aching muscles, headaches, a cough, a sore throat, pain when passing urine, or feel cold and shivery.
• Due to a drop in red blood cells, you may experience tiredness and breathlessness. You may need a blood transfusion to handle this situation. 
• Easy bruising due to a drop in platelets. You may experience nosebleeding, bleeding gums after brushing your teeth, and red spots on your arms and legs. 
• Some of these side effects can be life-threatening, especially infection. Inform your doctor or specialized nurse when you see these symptoms. They will perform a complete blood count test regularly during the treatment to see how well your bone marrow is working.
• 3 of 10 people feel fatigue during or after treatment. It takes 3 months to 6 months, mostly, to get back to the regular energy level.
• 6 out of 10 people who were under Imatinib built up fluid, mostly in their lungs, under the eyes, in the abdomen ,and in the legs. Due to fluid buildup in your lungs, you may feel breathlessness.
• 1 of 3 people experienced diarrhea during the treatment. Drink enough fluid to get rid of dehydration. Inform your doctor if diarrhea gets severe or lasts more than 3 days.
• Headache.
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• 4 out of 10 people experienced dry and itchy skin during the treatment.
• Night sweats and high temperature fever.

Occasional side effects

• Constipation. Your doctor or nurse will give you medications to prevent this. But inform your doctor if it lasts more than 3 days.
• Mild effect on the liver, your doctor will perform regular liver function tests during or after the treatment to check if your liver is working well.
• Change in food tastes
• Dizziness
• Weight loss
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Itching, redness, and swelling of the eyes. 
• Blurred vision
• Pain in your tummy
• Numbness of the hands and feet

Rare side effects

• Fluid around the heart may cause low blood pressure. Though this symptom is rare, but can be life-threatening. Inform your doctor as soon as possible when you see this symptom.
• You may experience breast tenderness and swelling as Imatinib decreases testosterone (sex hormone).

Tell your doctor about the other medicines you are taking

If you are taking other prescription, non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or any herbals, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Imatinib tablet. Other medicines may increase the metabolism of Imatinib, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, tell your doctor if you are planning to take other medicines in the future. It will help you manage the side effects.

Tell your doctor about your medical condition and previous surgery

Before you start, you should tell your doctor all the medical conditions, including heart problems, liver problems, and kidney problems, if you have them. Also, tell your doctor if you have had any small or major srurgery before. 

Use proper contraception during and after the treatment

There is no solid evidence available on whether Imatinib affects human babies inside the womb. But in a clinical trial on animals, it was found that chemical substances in Imatinib can harm the fetus in the womb. So pregnant women should inform their doctor before taking this medication. 

It is also need to use proper contraception for both male and female partners who are taking this medication.

Breastfeeding women should not take Imatinib Tablet

Women who are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed should not take this medication. This medicine may pass through breast milk and harm the infant. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding and also diagnosed with the above indications. Ask them whether you should take this medication or not. Follow your doctor’s advice.

You have to store the medicine at 

• Room temperature, do not refrigerate the medicine. 
• Keep it out of direct sunlight, a moist place, and away from kitchen heat.
• Do not throw out the expired tablet in the dustbin, open places, or in the drain. Instead, you can return it to the company or local pharmacy. You can also call your local disposal team.

Manufacturer and Supplier Information

Imacent 400 (Imatinib Mesylate 400 mg Tablet) is manufactured by Incepta Pharmaceuticals LTD. As it is a prescription medicine, you will need a valid prescription to get this medication. If it is not available in your local pharmacies, you can get this through an online supplier like Onus Pharma if it is approved in your region or country by the drug administration.

Disclaimer: The Above information is only for general use; do not use this information as an alternative to medical guidance or treatment. All this patient information has been collected from different sources, like the FDA approval page of Imatinib (Gleevec), Dr Jakie Thomson Inc. website, and other popular patient information sharing websites.