Bimatix
Bimatix contains imatinib, which stops the growth of abnormal cells in certain types of cancer and other related diseases.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
400 mg
Active Ingredient
Imatinib mesylate
Manufacturer
STADA Arzneimittel AG
How to Use
Dosage
Typically, adults take 100 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg, or 800 mg once daily, depending on the condition being treated.
Method
Take with a meal and a large glass of water. Swallow the tablet whole. If you cannot swallow the tablet, you can dissolve it in water or apple juice.
Important
The maximum daily dose for adults is 800 mg. For children, the maximum is 800 mg for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and 600 mg for Ph+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention (severe swelling).
- •Signs of infection like fever, severe chills, sore throat, or mouth sores (Bimatix can reduce white blood cells, making you more prone to infections).
- •Unexpected bleeding or bruising (not caused by injury).
- •Headache or tiredness.
- •Feeling unwell (nausea), vomiting, diarrhea, or indigestion.
- •Skin rash.
- •Muscle cramps or pain in joints, muscles, or bones during or after Bimatix treatment.
- •Swelling (e.g., swollen eyelids and ankles).
- •Weight gain.
- •Loss of appetite, weight loss, or changes in taste.
- •Dizziness or weakness.
- •Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
- •Eye discharge with itching, redness, and swelling (conjunctivitis), increased tear production, or blurred vision.
- •Nosebleeds.
- •Stomach pain or bloating, gas, heartburn, or constipation.
- •Itching.
- •Unusual hair loss or thinning hair.
- •Numbness in hands or feet.
- •Mouth sores.
- •Joint pain with swelling.
- •Dry mouth, skin, or eyes.
- •Reduced or increased skin sensitivity.
- •Hot flashes, chills, or night sweats.
RARE
- •Chest pain, irregular heartbeat (signs of heart problems).
- •Cough, difficulty breathing, or pain when breathing (signs of lung problems).
- •Feeling light-headed, dizzy, or fainting (signs of low blood pressure).
- •Feeling unwell (nausea) with loss of appetite, dark urine, yellow skin or eyes (signs of liver problems).
- •Rash, red skin with blisters on lips, eyes, skin or mouth, skin peeling, fever, raised red or purplish patches on skin, itching, burning, blistering rash (signs of skin problems).
- •Severe stomach pain, blood in vomit, stool or urine, or black stools (signs of digestive tract problems).
- •Significantly reduced urine output, thirst (signs of kidney problems).
- •Feeling unwell (nausea) with diarrhea and vomiting, stomach pain, or fever (signs of bowel problems).
- •Severe headache, weakness or paralysis in limbs or face, difficulty speaking, sudden loss of consciousness (signs of nervous system problems, like bleeding or swelling in the brain).
- •Pale skin, feeling tired and breathless, and dark urine (signs of low red blood cell count).
- •Eye pain or worsening vision, bleeding in the eyes.
- •Bone or joint pain (signs of osteonecrosis).
- •Blisters on skin or mucous membranes (signs of pemphigus).
- •Coldness or numbness in fingers and toes (signs of Raynaud's syndrome).
- •Sudden skin swelling and redness (signs of cellulitis, a skin infection).
- •Hearing loss.
- •Muscle weakness and cramps with irregular heartbeat (signs of changes in blood potassium levels).
- •Bruising.
- •Stomach pain with feeling unwell (nausea).
- •Muscle cramps with fever, reddish-brown urine, muscle pain, or weakness (signs of muscle problems).
- •Pelvic pain, sometimes with nausea and vomiting, unexpected vaginal bleeding, dizziness or fainting due to low blood pressure (signs of ovarian or uterine problems).
- •Nausea, breathlessness, irregular heartbeat, cloudy urine, tiredness, and/or joint problems with abnormal lab test results (e.g., high potassium, uric acid, and calcium levels, and low phosphate levels in blood).
- •Blood clots in small blood vessels (thrombotic microangiopathy).
- •Painful, red lumps on the skin, skin pain, skin redness (inflammation of subcutaneous fat).
- •Cough, runny or blocked nose, pressure or pain around eyes or nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat, with or without headache (signs of upper respiratory tract infection).
- •Severe headache with throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head, often with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound (signs of migraine).
- •Flu-like symptoms.
- •Pain or burning sensation during urination, high body temperature, pain in the groin or pelvic area, red-brown or cloudy urine (signs of urinary tract infection).
- •Joint pain and swelling (signs of arthralgia).
- •Persistent sadness and loss of interest that prevents normal activities (signs of depression).
- •Feeling of fear and worry with physical symptoms like palpitations, sweating, tremors, and dry mouth (signs of anxiety).
- •Drowsiness/excessive sleepiness.
- •Trembling or shaking movements (tremor).
- •Impaired memory.
- •Overwhelming urge to move legs (restless legs syndrome).
- •Hearing sounds without an external source (e.g., ringing, buzzing) in the ears (tinnitus).
- •High blood pressure (hypertension).
- •Burping.
- •Inflammation of the lips.
- •Difficulty swallowing.
- •Increased sweating.
- •Skin discoloration.
- •Brittle nails.
- •Red bumps or whiteheads around hair roots, possibly with pain, itching, or burning (signs of folliculitis).
- •Rash with scaling or peeling (exfoliative dermatitis).
- •Breast enlargement (may occur in men or women).
- •Dull pain and/or feeling of pressure in testicles or lower abdomen; pain during urination, sexual intercourse, or ejaculation; blood in urine (signs of testicular swelling).
- •Inability to get or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction).
- •Heavy or irregular periods.
- •Difficulty achieving/maintaining sexual arousal.
- •Reduced sexual desire.
- •Nipple pain.
- •General feeling of unwellness (malaise).
- •Viral infection, such as cold sores.
- •Lower back pain caused by kidney disease.
- •More frequent urination than usual.
- •Increased appetite.
- •Pain or burning in the upper abdomen and/or chest (heartburn), nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, feeling full and bloated, black stools (signs of stomach ulcer).
- •Joint and muscle stiffness.
- •Abnormal laboratory test results.
- •Confusion.
- •Nail color changes.
- •Severe widespread rash, feeling unwell, fever, high levels of certain white blood cells or yellow skin/eyes (jaundice), with breathlessness, pain or discomfort in the chest, greatly reduced urine output, and thirst (signs of a treatment-related allergic reaction).
- •Chronic kidney failure.
- •Reactivation of Hepatitis B infection if you have had it before (liver inflammation).
Important Warnings
- Do not take Bimatix if you are allergic to imatinib or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had problems with your liver, kidneys, or heart.
- Inform your doctor if you are taking levothyroxine because your thyroid has been removed.
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had or might have Hepatitis B. Bimatix can reactivate Hepatitis B, which can be fatal in some cases.
- Contact your doctor if you experience bruising, bleeding, fever, extreme tiredness, and confusion while taking Bimatix, as these may be signs of blood vessel damage (thrombotic microangiopathy).
Show 5 more warnings
- You may become more sensitive to sunlight during Bimatix treatment. Protect your skin from the sun with clothing and high SPF sunscreen.
- Report rapid weight gain to your doctor immediately, as Bimatix can cause fluid retention (severe swelling).
- Bimatix is not recommended during pregnancy as it may harm the baby. Women who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 15 days after stopping the medicine.
- Do not breastfeed during Bimatix treatment and for 15 days after stopping, as it can be harmful to your baby.
- This medicine can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or use machines until you feel well again.