Hi All,
I have started experiencing edema (water retention) after being on Imatinib for 5months and feel worried. Is this an indication that my kidneys or liver is starting not to tolerate with this medication? Anyone else having this problem? Is there a way to counteract or reduce this water retention problem naturally without taking medication?
my eye lids are really droppy and I’ve been gaining some weight the past few weeks now...
thanks in advanced
Unfortunately, this is a signature side effect for Gleevec. There is even a term, "Gleevec Eyes." I have never found anything to help, although it can be made worse by a high salt intake. Diuretics help a very small amount, but it's hard on your kidneys to be permanently on a diuretic. Keep an eye on your creatinine level (on the CMP blood test you probably always get, along with CBC.) If it goes high, you might want to switch from Gleevec. The edema is usually generalized, but if you have noticeable edema in your ankles or feet, you should definitely bring it to a doctor's attention. All this got much better for me after switching to Sprycel.
Hi Kat,
Thanks for the reply. Yes I have those signature droopy eyelids. For legs is not everytime I see it.
i will try to reduce salt intake. Just wonder if drinking much more water (at least 2 liters) would help with this swelling or make it worst?
I don’t have much choice of changing TKIs. I started off with Nilotinib and was intolerant to it. Had really horrible effects. Doctor changed me to Imatinib which was much better. 400mg version had more side effects to handle than at 300mg dosage. In my country there’s only two types of TKI available. Dasatinib is not in the list.
i would prefer not to take diuretic medications if possible. But I’m looking for alternate ways to help reduce the edema. Thanks
I know there are many who swear by slugging down liters and liters of water every day, but I'm not one of them. I've had too many docs wave their hands at me and say the whole 64 oz per day fad was a huge mistake by the media - that the body needs that much fluid, yes, but readily gets it from food on top of liquids. All sucking down big water bottles all day does is overwork your kidneys and use up trees for toilet paper. That said, some of us do walk around mildly dehydrated, unknowingly. Something in the middle, perhaps? I have also read, definitively, that coffee and tea DO count as liquids and that coffee's diuretic effect is irrelevant.
I'm really sorry you can't get dasatinib. When I was on imatinib, I had quite noticeable improvement when I went down from 400 to 300 or even 200. Back then, however, they didn't let you stay there, even if your PCR was going down. Today, if you are heading into Deep Molecular Response (<0.01) then maybe your doc could drop you down to 200? Good luck to you.
TKI’s shrink capillaries. Drinking more water will not mitigate this.
In some organs like eyeball and kidneys it’s the capillaries that are the life
and the hydration. Kidneys are full of capillaries that act as filters.
Eyeballs rely on capillaries for hydration and renewal. Your eyes are dry because
they are not hydrated from within. Your eyeball capillaries are smaller and you eye lids
seem bigger. Because your eye balls are smaller. Your blinking more, and your vision is less acute.
Medicine is a great thing but not perfect.
This is my 2cents.
Romo
