There are no formal dietary restrictions that you should follow while taking Gleevec. However, you should avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice. Grapefruit contains a chemical that can prevent your body from metabolizing (breaking down) Gleevec. This can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood. Levels of Gleevec that are higher than normal increase your risk for serious side effects.
In addition, your doctor may give you general advice on your diet to help ease certain side effects. For example, Gleevec causes nausea and vomiting in many people. To help prevent this, your doctor may recommend that you avoid foods that can make nausea worse. These include heavy, greasy, or fatty foods, and spicy or acidic foods. Examples are most red sauces, fried foods, and many fast food items.
Finally, if you’re taking Gleevec for a gastrointestinal cancer, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), your doctor may recommend specific dietary restrictions. The goal is to prevent problems in your stomach or intestines. Talk with your doctor about which foods are best for you.