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Side effects - Why?

Hello all,

I am on Glivec 400mg and am currently on a PCR of 0.009%.

I have minimal side effects but suffer from some of the more common side effects which are occasional fatgiue, hand cramps, puffy eyes/face.

I was wondering if anyone could share thier knowledge as to exactly why these common side effects occur?

I understand puffy eyes is due to water retention and a method to improve on this is to drink more water, but why does this happen in the first place?

Cramps, I think this is due to glivec depleting magnesium and other elements in the body (?), but once again does anyone know chemically why this happens?

And fatigue, I guess this could be for many reasons different for each individual? Its toxicity and the body having to work harder to process the drug?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

David.A

I share your ignorance about why the side effects occur, and in the form they do.  I also wonder if anyone knows why they should be intermittent - for instance, I have had occasional hand cramps over the last two years, but in September I had many more, sometimes two at once on different hands.  I can see that the fatigue is partially related to the amount of activity one does, but only partially - some days I am much more tired than others, in spite of having had a good night's sleep.  Also, I have recurring chills, like waves of goose pimples, but not just on cold days.

Any explanations/ideas?

Hi Guys

 

I live in warwickshire and was wondering if anyone was willing to form a sort of local support group in and around the Birmingham area to possibly meet up and swap stories or experiences or even lend a supporting ear for each other?

I was diagnosed in March 2009 and under the guidance of Dr borg at Warwick/Statford Hospitals.

If anyone is interested feel free to get in touch at tartancaddy@hotmail.co.uk

Look forward to meeting you.

 

Regards 

 

Gary

Interesting thoughts there, now can I throw a spanner into your thoughts. I took Glivec from 2001 through to 2007. I did find odd effects, such as my hair actually changed colour, (much nicer than it was) and I found that I in the main experienced more energy than I had enjoyed for some years previously, coupled with a general feeling of well being. Unfortunately though, Glivec did punish my platlets, which had not really recovered from previous therapies, so we moved onto other new drugs, far more aggressive than Glivec, far better results, but none of the 'good' side effects. I came to the conclusion that we all react differently to various therapies, and one size really does not fit all with Glivec.

Hope that helps

Keith