Brand Name(s)
United States:
- Gleevec
- Imkeldi
Canada:
- ACH-Imatinib
- APO-Imatinib
- Gleevec
- JAMP-Imatinib
- MINT-Imatinib
- NAT-Imatinib
- TEVA-Imatinib
Warning(s)
- Tell all your health care providers that you take imatinib. Carry a list of your medicines and supplements.
- Drug interactions can be serious. Warfarin and certain drugs (carbamazepine, dexamethasone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, St. John’s wort) may not be safe with imatinib. Do not start or stop anything without checking first.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice. They can change drug levels.
- This drug can lower your blood counts. You may bruise or bleed more easily and get infections more often. Wash hands, avoid sick contacts, and report fevers or unusual bleeding.
- Fluid retention and swelling can happen. Tell your care team if you gain weight, have swelling, or trouble breathing.
- Heart problems, including heart failure, have happened. Get help right away for shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, sudden weight gain, or new swelling.
- Liver problems are rare but can be severe. Call if you have dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, severe nausea, or right-side belly pain.
- Very rarely, holes in the stomach or intestines (GI perforation) have happened. Severe belly pain or bloody stools need urgent care.
- Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can occur when many cancer cells die quickly. Symptoms include fast heartbeat, fainting, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or feeling very tired.
- Serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, can occur. Get help for rash with blisters or peeling, sores in the mouth, red or irritated eyes, fever, or swollen glands.
- Eye changes, dizziness, or sleepiness can happen. Until you know how you feel on this drug, avoid driving or anything that needs you to be alert or see clearly.
- Kidney problems can occur. Tell your team if you pass less urine or see blood in your urine.
- If your thyroid was removed, your thyroid levels may need closer checks.
- Vaccines: Ask before getting any vaccines. Some may not work as well or could raise infection risk.
- You may sunburn more easily. Use sunscreen and protective clothing and avoid tanning beds.
- Older adults may have more side effects. Children and teens may have slowed growth and need regular checks.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Imatinib may harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test before starting. Use birth control while taking it and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 month after the last dose.
- This is not a full list of warnings. Your care team will order regular blood and other lab tests to check your health.
Kind of Cancers It Is Used For (not a complete list)
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML)
- Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL)
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), certain cases
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
- Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases with PDGFR gene changes
- Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL)
- Systemic mastocytosis without the D816V KIT mutation or with unknown status
- Some other rare tumors with KIT or PDGFRA changes
Mechanism of Action
Imatinib is a targeted therapy called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). It blocks proteins that send grow-and-divide signals inside cells.
Key targets include BCR-ABL, KIT (CD117), and PDGFRA. By blocking these signals, imatinib slows or stops cancer cell growth and can shrink tumors or lower abnormal blood counts.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach pain; heartburn; decreased appetite
- Swelling (especially around the eyes or ankles); weight gain
- Muscle cramps or spasms; bone, joint, back, arm, or leg pain
- Headache; dizziness; feeling tired or weak; trouble sleeping; anxiety; night sweats
- Rash or dry skin; hair thinning or loss; watery eyes; irritated nose or throat
- Changes in taste or voice
Most side effects are manageable. Tell your care team if symptoms are severe, do not improve, or worry you.
Learn more about imatinib on MedlinePlus
Last reviewed: 2025-12-04
