Manufacturer: Alkem Laboratories Ltd
Salt Composition : Imatinib mesylate(400mg)
Altanib Nova Tablet should be taken with food, but better to have it same time every day to get the most benefit. You should continue to take it as long as your doctor advises for it. The duration of treatment varies according to your need and response to treatment. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
ALTANIB NOVA is a protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Tyrosine kinases are proteins which act as chemical messengers that are used by the cancer cells to signal to each other for their growth. Imatinib mesylate by blocking this enzyme stops the cancer cells from growing.
Imatinib has favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics, including rapid and complete oral bioavailability (98%) and a proportional dose-exposure relationship. Its terminal half-life is approximately 20 hours, allowing for once-daily dosing.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Altanib
Edema (swelling)
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle cramp
Musculoskeletal (bone, muscle or joint) pain
Diarrhea
Rash
Fatigue
Abdominal pain
diabetes.
overweight.
anemia.
decreased blood platelets.
low levels of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils.
fluid accumulation in the brain.
high blood pressure.
coronary artery disease.
Altanib Nova Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Altanib Nova Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Altanib Nova Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Lactating women should not breastfeed while using this drug and one month after stopping it.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults and children that is Philadelphia chromosome positive.
Chronic eosinophilic leukemia or hypereosinophilic syndrome in adults.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia that is Philadelphia chromosome positive.
cardiovascular disease.
fluid retention.
bone marrow suppression.
gastrointestinal disorders.
hepatic impairment.
hypothyroidism.
renal impairment.
Do not chew, crush or break it. Altanib Nova Tablet is to be taken with food.
Store below 30°C
If you miss a dose of Altanib Nova Tablet, skip it and continue with your normal schedule. Do not double the dose.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Always take it with food and a full glass of water to prevent nausea.
It may cause dizziness or blurred vision. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
Water retention and swelling are very common side effects of Altanib Nova Tablet. Notify your doctor if you have unexpected rapid weight gain.
Do not change the dose or discontinue use without consulting your doctor.
Notify your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including over the counter medicines and dietary supplements.
Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor your liver function and the number of blood cells in your blood.
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Altanib Nova Tablet is to be taken with food.
Q. Can Altanib Nova Tablet be taken with food?
Yes, the best way to take it is with a glass of water and food. This prevents irritation in the food pipe and stomach. If you cannot swallow it, put the tablets in a glass of water or apple juice (approximately 50 ml for a 100 mg tablet and 200 ml for a 400 mg tablet). Stir it with a spoon to make it uniform and drink it immediately.
Q. Is it safe to drive while taking Altanib Nova Tablet?
Altanib Nova Tablet may cause dizziness, lightheadedness or drowsiness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to it before you drive a car or operate machinery.
Q. What precautions need to be followed while taking Altanib Nova Tablet?
While taking Altanib Nova Tablet, make sure you follow all the instructions given by your doctor, carefully and keep all appointments. You will need regular follow-up to ensure that the treatment is working. Regular blood tests, weight checks, and urine tests may be required to find out any side effects before it becomes serious. Make sure you use a method of contraception to prevent pregnancy during treatment with Altanib Nova Tablet. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine. If you are about to start taking any new medicine, remind your doctor that you are taking Altanib Nova Tablet.
Q. Ever since I started using Altanib Nova Tablet, I have noticed that I develop rashes and severe itching when I have sun exposure. Is it because of the medicine or the disease?
This medicine may make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight than it normally is. Exposure to sunlight may cause skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn. When you are outdoors, wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. If you feel a burning sensation on your skin, tell your doctor.
Q. The doctor has advised me not to take any medicine on my own while taking Altanib Nova Tablet. Should I consult my doctor even if I need to take paracetamol for my fever?
Yes, there are a number of medicines which interfere with Altanib Nova Tablet, including paracetamol. Therefore you should not self medicate while taking Altanib Nova Tablet. Other medicines which interfere with Altanib Nova Tablet include cyclosporin, dexamethasone (a steroid), warfarin, antiviral medicines which treat AIDS and some medicines which treat bacterial infections, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart problems, and mental disorders and depression. Consult your doctor before taking any medicine, and inform him that you are on Altanib Nova Tablet therapy.
Q. What precautions need to be followed while taking Altanib Nova Tablet?
While taking Altanib Nova Tablet, make sure you follow all the instructions given by your doctor, carefully and keep all appointments. You will need regular follow-up to ensure that the treatment is working. Regular blood tests, weight checks, and urine tests may be required to find out any side effects before it becomes serious. Make sure you use a method of contraception to prevent pregnancy during treatment with Altanib Nova Tablet. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine. If you are about to start taking any new medicine, remind your doctor that you are taking Altanib Nova Tablet.
Q. Can I expect that if I take Altanib Nova Tablet regularly and as advised by the doctor for CML, I will be cured?
Altanib Nova Tablet has proved effective in many cases of CML. It is also noticed that the chances of survival increase after taking this medicine. The doctor who is treating CML can tell you better. The doctor will analyze your current state, blood test results, response to treatment, any other medical illness which you may be having, etc. and tell you.
