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imatinib capsule

I am 14 years post diagnosis with PH+ CML, and, fortunately, Imatinib had, then, recently been prescribed as the first-line treatment.

At first, I was given 4*100 mg tablets to take each day. Soon after, I was given one 400mg tablet. The disadvantage of this was that it was rather large.

I have now been given 400mg capsules to take, and these are very large, and difficult to swallow. They appear to be generic, supplied by Healthcare at Home. I am able to swallow most tablets without reducing their size, but these are getting ridiculous, and I am sure that there are patients who will be having a problem with these.

Hi, some capsules are very large aren’t they  ,they are usually brown and have a horrible taste and smell.I have been given a new Imatinib capsule now which is by INTRAPHARM and they are so much smaller ,they are white with no taste or smell it’s just like taking a paracetamol.Hope you may be able to get this brand one day .Regards ,Denise.

Hi Richard

I, also, have trouble swallowing large tablets and I have heard that the Cipla 400mgs capsules are enormous. Someone suggested taking the tablet with a spoonful of yoghurt and others have recommended this as it apparently slips down. The Wockhardt and Intrapharm 400mgs are all much smaller and are also imatinib generics. The Cipla 100mgs are much smaller ( I take 3 of these daily without bother). Your consultant can name those generics which are good for you and also prescribe 4x100mgs Cipla a day in his/her next prescription so I would definitely have a word.

Good luck

Best Chrissie

I do not take Imatinib, but, I have found huge difficult tablets can be swallowed in a large teaspoon of applesauce. Down they go. I didn’t learn this till I was past 70.  Hope this helps. Gitel 

Thanks for your reply. These are Cipla, and yes, they are very large: 25mm long, and 7mm diameter. I think that I will try the yoghurt method! However, I have to take about 8 other tablets at the same time, so I will have to bury them in a lot of yoghurt. When the inevitable occurs, I can just imagine the headline in the dailies: Richard dead - NHS funding crisis over!