How should I stop taking Imatinib?

Imatinib (Imatinib) is a targeted therapy drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, CML) and some other diseases. Discontinuation of imatinib usually requires shared decision-making between the patient and physician and needs to be done with caution as it may affect disease control. The following are some general principles for discontinuing imatinib:

1.Doctor’s advice: First of all, discontinuing imatinib should always be done under the guidance of a doctor. Physicians will evaluate whether and when discontinuation is appropriate based on the patient's condition, treatment history, and clinical data.

2.Achieving a deep molecular response: Discontinuation of imatinib usually requires patients to achieve a deep molecular response. This means that at a molecular level, the patient's leukemia cells have been reduced to extremely low or undetectable levels. A deep molecular response is an important indicator that a patient's disease is being effectively controlled.

3.Monitoring: After stopping imatinib, patients need to be closely monitored. This includes regular hematological and molecular tests to ensure the disease does not recur. The frequency of monitoring is determined by the doctor based on the patient's specific situation.

4.Stable disease: The decision to discontinue imatinib is usually based on the patient's disease status. If the doctor feels that the patient's disease is stable and there are no signs of a high risk of recurrence, stopping the drug may be an option.

5.Individualized treatment options: There is no universal timetable for stopping imatinib because each patient's situation is unique. Doctors will develop an individualized treatment plan based on the patient's response, disease risk, and other factors.

Imatinib was launched in China as early as 2003. The domestic medical insurance price is about 700 yuan, and the specification is 100mg*60. Due to the large differences in medical insurance in different places, please consult the local pharmacy or medical insurance bureau for specific prices. Foreign medicines are divided into original drugs and generic drugs. Original drugs are mainly Turkish original drugs, and the price is relatively high, about 3300Generic drugs are mainly Indian generic drugs. The specifications of Indian generic drugs100mg*120 are around a few hundred yuan, which is much cheaper than in China. The ingredients of foreign original drugs and generic drugs are basically the same as those of domestic imatinib.