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Confused!!!

Hello All,

One of my friend suggested me to post my situation in this forum. I am new to this. Diagnosed in April 2018, Started Sprycel 100 mg. Got MMR in 12 months. Then the the problems started, Got PE in 13th month and stopped the drug for 32 days and lost MMR. started on lower dose 50 mg and with in a month got MMR. Thought 50 mg will work and on 3 more months on 50 mg, lost MMR again. I am confused is 50 mg is low dose or drug is not working anymore. Doctor increased the dose to 70 mg now and wanted to check in 2 months.PE stable. Doctor wants to switch the drug if does not work. Is it OK to switch to Gleevec if you started with Sprycel. Any thoughts my friends?

Here is my history

March 2018  81.014

July 2018      0.364

October 2018  0.297

Jan 2019     0.066

April 2019    0.039

May 2019 after stopping drug for a week 0.047

Drug Break for 32 days (JUNE 2019)

July 2019  0.158 (Lost MMR)

August 2019  (30 days of reduced dose of 50 mg) 0.045

November 2019 (3 more months of 50 mg)   0.190 (lost MMR)

December 2019 started 70 mg.

 

The increase in November is surprising. I think your doc increased your dose to 70 mg too quickly - should have done one more PCR this month to confirm rising trend.  Dosing is very much an individual thing - some need more; some need less, although 50 mg Sprycel is starting to be recognized as the beginning dose for most new CP CML patients.  Here's hoping 70 works for you. I'd be surprised if it doesn't. 

No reason you can't switch to Gleevec but it is a less potent drug than either Sprycel or Tasigna. 

The first year or 2 of this journey is typically the most difficult, physically and mentally - hang in there and good luck