Before taking imatinib,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to imatinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in imatinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol), alprazolam (Xanax), amlodipine (Norvasc, in Caduet, Lotrel, Tribenzor, others), atazanavir (Reyataz), atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, others), clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), dexamethasone, ergotamine (Ergomar, in Migergot, Cafergot), erythromycin (E.E.S., Eryc, Eryped, others), estazolam, felodipine, fentanyl (Duragesic, Subsys, Fentora, others), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), indinavir (Crixivan), iron, or iron containing supplements, isradipine, itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), ketoconazole, lovastatin (Altoprev), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, in Dutoprol), nefazodone, nelfinavir (Viracept), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia, others), nimodipine (Nymalize), nisoldipine (Sular), oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar XR, Trileptal), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), pimozide (Orap), primidone (Mysoline), quinidine (in Nuedexta), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (rifadin, rimactane, in Rifamate, Rifater), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, Technivie, Viekira), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), simvastatin (Zocor, in Vytorin), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Astagraf XL, Envarsus XR, Prograf), telithromycin, triazolam (Halcion), voriconazole (Vfend), and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Many other medications may also interact with imatinib, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, lung, thyroid, kidney, or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You will have to take a pregnancy test before starting treatment, You should not become pregnant while you are taking imatinib and for 14 days after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking imatinib, call your doctor. Imatinib may harm the fetus.
tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are taking imatinib and for one month after your final dose.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking imatinib.
you should know that imatinib may make you dizzy, drowsy, or cause blurred vision. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.