Gleevec (imatinib) is a prescription oral tablet used to treat certain types of cancer or blood disorders. It can interact with some supplements and other medications, such as certain seizure drugs and antifungal drugs.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Before you start using Gleevec, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Gleevec interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Gleevec?” section below.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Gleevec. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Gleevec. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
| certain antibiotic drugs | • clarithromycin • erythromycin (Eryc, others) | can increase the risk of side effects from Gleevec |
| certain antiepileptic drugs | • phenytoin (Dilantin) • carbamazepine (Tegretol, others) | can make Gleevec less effective |
| certain antifungal drugs | • ketoconazole • itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) | can increase the risk of side effects from Gleevec |
| certain immunosuppressant drugs | • sirolimus (Rapamune, others) • tacrolimus (Prograf, others) | can increase the risk of side effects from the immunosuppressive drug |
| certain statins | • simvastatin (Zocor, Flolipid) • lovastatin (Altoprev) • atorvastatin (Atorvaliq, Lipitor), • fluvastatin (Lescol XL) | can increase the risk of side effects from the statin |
| certain heart medications | • ivabradine (Corlanor) • felodipine | can increase the risk of side effects from the heart medication |
| cobicistat (Tybost) and combination drugs that contain it | • cobicistat/elvitegravir/ emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (Genvoya) • cobicistat/elvitegravir/ emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Stribild) | can increase the risk of side effects from Gleevec |
| ritonavir (Norvir) and combination drugs that contain it | • ritonavir/nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) • lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) | can increase the risk of side effects from Gleevec |
| rifampin (Rimactane) | — | can make Gleevec less effective |
| warfarin (Jantoven) | — | can make warfarin less effective |
Gleevec is not known to interact with alcohol. However, Gleevec and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as diarrhea and nausea. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during your Gleevec treatment.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Gleevec treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Gleevec.
Interaction with cobicistat
Gleevec can interact with combination drugs that contain cobicistat (Tybost). Cobicistat is used in certain medications that treat HIV, including:
What could happen
Taking Gleevec with medications that contain cobicistat can reduce the activity of certain enzymes that help clear Gleevec from your body. This can cause Gleevec levels to build up in your body, raising your risk of side effects from Gleevec, such as nausea and vomiting.
What you can do
If you take Gleevec with a medication that contains cobicistat, your doctor may monitor you closely for side effects during your treatment. If you experience bothersome or serious side effects, they can help you find a different treatment that doesn’t interact with Gleevec.
If you have questions about taking Gleevec with a medication that contains cobicistat, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with ritonavir
Gleevec can interact with ritonavir (Norvir) and combination drugs that contain it.
Examples of medications that contain ritonavir include:
- ritonavir/nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid), which is used to treat COVID-19
- lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), which is used to treat HIV
What could happen
Taking Gleevec with a medication that contains ritonavir can reduce the activity of certain enzymes that help clear Gleevec from your body. This can raise the level of Gleevec in your system, which increases your risk of side effects from the drug, such as fluid retention and weight gain.
What you can do
If you take Gleevec with a medication that contains ritonavir, your doctor may monitor you closely for side effects during your treatment. If you experience bothersome or serious side effects while taking these drugs together, your doctor can discuss other treatment options with you.
If you have questions about taking Gleevec with a medication that contains ritonavir, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain statins
Gleevec can interact with certain statins. These drugs are prescribed to treat high cholesterol and lower certain risks heart-related risks.
Examples of statins that interact with Gleevec include:
- simvastatin (Zocor, Flolipid)
- lovastatin (Altoprev)
- atorvastatin (Atorvaliq, Lipitor)
- fluvastatin (Lescol XL)
What could happen
Taking Gleevec with one of these statins can reduce the activity of certain enzymes that help remove the statin from your body. This can raise your risk of side effects from the statin, including muscle aches or pains.
What you can do
Other statins are available that aren’t known to interact with Gleevec. An example is rosuvastatin (Crestor). If you take a statin that interacts with Gleevec, talk with your doctor about whether you should switch to one that doesn’t have this interaction.
Gleevec may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Gleevec.
Does Gleevec interact with supplements?
Before you start using Gleevec, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Gleevec interactions with herbs
Gleevec can interact with St. John’s wort, which is used to ease symptoms of depression and other conditions. Taking Gleevec with St. John’s wort can make Gleevec less effective.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Gleevec with St. John’s wort or any other herbs. They can recommend alternatives that aren’t known to interact with Gleevec.
Gleevec interactions with vitamins
There are currently no reports of Gleevec interacting with vitamins, but this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Gleevec.
Does Gleevec interact with food?
Gleevec can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
Grapefruit can cause your body to break down Gleevec more slowly than usual. This increases the amount of Gleevec in your system, which raises your risk of side effects. For this reason, it’s best to avoid grapefruit products during your Gleevec treatment.
If you have other questions about foods to avoid while taking Gleevec, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Gleevec interact with vaccines?
If you have cancer, you should talk with your doctor before receiving any vaccines.
Gleevec and other treatments you may receive for cancer may suppress your immune system. This could raise your risk of getting an infection after receiving a live vaccine. (Live vaccines contain weakened versions of the bacteria or virus that they’re meant to protect against.)
Examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, and chickenpox.
Before starting treatment with Gleevec, talk with your doctor to check that your immunizations are up to date. If you need to receive a vaccine during treatment, talk with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe.
Does Gleevec interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Gleevec interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Gleevec, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Gleevec interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Gleevec interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Gleevec.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Gleevec. Before taking Gleevec, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Gleevec is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Gleevec include:
Heart conditions, including heart failure: Gleevec can cause heart-related side effects, including heart failure. If you already have heart failure or another heart condition, taking Gleevec may worsen your condition. Talk with your doctor about whether this drug is right for you.
Kidney condition: Gleevec can cause kidney problems in some people. If you already have a kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease, Gleevec could worsen your condition. If your doctor prescribes Gleevec for you, they may monitor your kidney function more closely during your treatment. They may also prescribe a lower Gleevec dosage for you.
Liver condition: Gleevec can cause liver problems, including liver damage. It could also worsen existing liver problems, such as cirrhosis. If you have a severe liver condition, your doctor will likely prescribe a lower dosage of Gleevec for you.
Certain thyroid problems: If you currently take levothyroxine (Synthroid) or have had your thyroid removed, you may have a higher risk of low thyroid levels from taking Gleevec. If your doctor prescribes Gleevec for you, they may monitor your thyroid hormone level closely throughout your treatment.
Pregnancy: Gleevec may cause harm if used during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Gleevec. If you can become pregnant, your doctor may order a pregnancy test to check that you’re not pregnant before prescribing Gleevec. They’ll also likely advise that you use birth control while taking Gleevec and for at least 14 days after your last dose.
Breastfeeding: Gleevec passes into breast milk, and may cause side effects in a child who’s nursed. Because of this, you should not nurse while taking Gleevec and for at least 1 month after your last dose.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Gleevec or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Gleevec. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Gleevec. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a
medication list ) - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Gleevec treatment
It’s also important to understand Gleevec’s
The paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. (If you did not get paperwork with Gleevec, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.)
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Gleevec exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.