Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Support Group

So far I have only been on the drug for a week. I have not had any nausea with the drug, which is great. I do have fatigue and headaches from it. I am not sure if it is working yet. I and my doctors are hopeful that it will.

Kerri, what was the reason to be put on Sprycel?
I was told I need to get on it after 7 years on Gleevec.
I am worried sick since my questions have not been answered all. Time ran out at the onc's office and I am in the process of applying for medication assistance. What are your thoughts with having to go on the Sprycel?

I am curious your doctor said that you would be on Sprycel after 7 years on Gleevec. My husband has been on Gleevec for 7 years and his doctor has not suggested going on Sprycel. I know many patients on Sprycel and they had to go on the drug after developing resistance to Gleevec. Only if Gleevec stops working, CML expert doctors like Dr. Brian Druker say to go on other drugs like Sprycel and Tasigna.

Another reason for folks to try a new drug is if they are intolerant to Gleevec. My husband does have swollen eyes and cheeks on Gleevec and his Tasigna friends say they do not have that problem on Tasigna. The reason why my husband does not want to switch is that his side-effects on Gleevec are still manageable and among all the CML drugs, Gleevec has long-term safety and efficacy results. While the new drugs no doubt will do well, experience on the new drugs is short-term and we do not know if there are any long-term side-effects from these drugs. This is the reason most doctors keep patients on Gleevec as long as the drug is working and not too many side-effects.
If you look at the US NCCN guidelines for oncologists, Gleevec is the first-line treatment in CML and Sprycel and Tasigna are recommended second-line, only if Gleevec stops working for the patient or the patient is Gleevec-intolerant.

While trials are ongoing for newly diagnosed patients on Sprycel and Tasigna, preliminary results show that remission is achieved faster on the new drugs compared to Gleevec but whether faster remissions have any bearing on long-term prognosis remains to be seen.


Best Wishes,
Anjana
wife of Royston
d/x Jan 2002
400mg Gleevec
Remission

I have been on Sprycel for about 9 months now and am doing better,I don't have all of the side effects that I was going through with gleevec.It got to where I would have charlie horses two and 3 at the same time in the same leg.And it gor to where I would lose my sight in my right eye I would grab orange juice and it would slowly come back it was bad when I'd be drivingand it would hit.I'm Thankful for the Sprycel I just hope it works for along time.

picturelady61

Before transferring care to Dr. Druker, our former pediatric cml doc switched my son's meds from Gleevec to Sprycel. When we met with Dr. Druker, it was explained that my son should not switch until he failed Gleevec or the side effects were impossible to deal with. The reason was that there are only a few meds in our arsenol for tx. Right now, the most research is with Gleevec. We don't know long term impact of Sprycel or Tasigna. We know Gleevec works in most. Anyway, we switched back to Gleevec, since my son was only 10 and he'll be needing these meds for a long time. BUT I will add that for the few weeks that my son was on Sprycel, he felt GREAT. No side effects at all. With Gleevec, he has body aches that are handled with a little Motrin. So time will tell. When there's better research info on the other meds, we may switch again. Best wishes, Tracey

I have been on Sprycel since Jan 2007..currently i have a 3 log reduction.... Had severe nausea and vomitting the first month i started sprycelI but then they went without any treatment...Am really glad that i no longer have the cramps i used to have with gleevec.... I have become iron and b12 deficient over the past 2 years) and so am taking supplements.... I also have diarrhea when i eat spicy/different food(i never had that before)...Drinking lots of water helps....