Regarding the muscle cramps:  I also experience muscle cramps, usually during the night in toes, calves or thighs.  My onc suggested drinking a small glass of tonic water before going to bed.  I do not do that each night, but if I have a severe cramp, or more that one, I get up and drink some.  It really does help.

Doesn't taste too good, but I add a little concentrated cherry juice which helps the flavor.  (I also use the 'diet' kind, but don't think that really matters.)

Carole

I'm am so appreciative to all you Gleevic pioneers out there! If it wasn't for you & the rest who were in the drug trials for Gleevic I wouldn't not be one of the lucky ones to be on Gleevic now. Thank-You!!!  I agree with you,the price of Gleevic is really out of hand. I get my med's thru a mail order pharmacy because it is the only way I can get a 90 day supply thru my insurance. My co-pay is only $20., so I am very, very lucky. The price for a 90 day supply was $10,606.97! It has gone up because it was a little over $8000. for a 90 day supply. I think it's illegal to get med's from Canada.   I think our FDA is worried about their countries drugs may not be up to their standards. I do not understand why their medicines are cheaper than our's are. I think it has something to do with the amount of time, drug trial and money it costs in this country just to get a drug on the market. Who knows but it is ridiculous!

I have been on 400 mg. Gleevic since Jan. 08 and the side effects I have is water retention, 50 lb. weight loss, some nausea, muscle cramps in my calfs, exhaustion, bloating and heartburn. I take previcid twice a day for heartburn, and a water pill to help with the water retention-but my eyes, ankles and feet still swell, but not as bad. I take Zofran for nausea when I need it, and Gas-X for the bloating when I need that. So for 1 very expensive Gleevic pill a day, I have to take sometimes up to 5 other not as expensive (but still overpriced!) pills to feel well. I exercise at a gym 5 days a week for more energy and the muscle cramps.  I never believed all those people who ran marathons and exercised when they said they had more energy and felt better mentally! I thought they were crazy, but they weren't. I have never felt better. I'm 50 but I feel like I'm 20-okay maybe 30 but I can lie to myself! I don't think I will ever have to take an antidepressant as long as I keep it up-there really are endorphins released when you exercise or whatever those things are thet make you feel better! I still get a few muscle cramps but they are not as bad. I just can't seem to gain weight! This is the first time in my life I have ever had that problem! I think everyone has different problems when they take Gleevic. I don't think that mine are that bad for Chemo, I consider myself very lucky, my last BCR-ABL was positive but to low to count. So at least for the price Gleevic is doing it's job for me and I guess I would try to pay any price for that. I realize that I am a very lucky person to have the insurance that I have-I thank God everyday for what he has given me. I pray for everyone else out there who is not as lucky as me. I wish I knew what the answer was-I just try to give as much as I can to the different Charities out there like LLS. I may need them someday to help me with my med's. jill

Hi Dave:  Do not every aplogize for going on about what your going through.  Its good to share and get some input and ideas.  I see you have sleep apnea too.  I do not have it, but my husband does. He has been on a c-pap machine for a long time.  It really helps him.  Hope it does for you also.

It helps me get some sleep too LOL.  I have been on 400mg. since 2000, and was in the clinical trial for the STI-571.  I also take mine with breakfast, and I do find that I need to eat a decent breakfast so I do not get any nausea.  I just mentioned further down to another post that they say drinking some pickle juice helps with the cramping in the muscles.  I will try it when I get one of my bad attacks.  I get in the legs, feet, and the worse is the inner thigh.  I try to walk it off back and forth sometimes at 3:00 in the morning.

     I have gained a lot of weight on the Gleevec, and then sometimes I think its emotional eating for me which does not help.

     I do not have to meet a deductible on medications, only on my medical.  I get my 400mg. Gleevec 90 day supply through mail order for $80.00 for each script.  I do not know how we would do it if I had to pay what your  paying.  Probablly take a loan too.

     Personally I would not trust a generic or out of country medication at this time either.

     Just keep doing what your doing.  It seems to work out somehow.  I Thank God for where I am and not where I used to be.

Dave-

I thought the patent did not expire until 2015, but perhaps it is a bit earlier.

There are interesting discussions on the internet about the 'generic' versions that are being produced in India. Interestingly enough, Novartis price on Gleevec (or Glivec) is something like a dollar per day in India. Once the patent runs out, the price should be more affordable. I don't mind a little rat hair and curry in my medicine, so long as it has the good stuff also. The challenge with some of the third world generics is determining if it is a legitimate formulation, or a rip-off. Once the patent is gone so that there is a legitimate generic market, the reputable generic manufacturers (from all over the world) will adjust the price accordingly.

In the meantime, I know that I will not be able to retire until the patent expires, or until I expire. I don't trust my companies health benefits in retirement (in todays political environment, I wouldn't count on anything). So I expect to step from working for a living directly to medicare. Hopefully sometime in the next 6 years I can figure out how that works! If not, I guess I will work until they roll me out!

I think I am 3 months between blood draws now. It is a month until my next appointment, and I am starting to feel nervous about what is going on.

Try PSI (patient services inc. ) for your co-pay. They are very helpfull and may take care of your co-pay 100%. Good luck.