capecitabine

What is the most important information I should know about capecitabine?

What is capecitabine?

Capecitabine is used alone or in combination chemotherapy to treat colon cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer.

Capecitabine is sometimes used when cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

Capecitabine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking capecitabine?

• severe kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a metabolic disorder called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) deficiency;
• liver or kidney disease;
• heart problems; or
• if you use a blood thinner and you have routine "INR" or prothrombin time tests.

• If you are a woman, you may need a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. Use birth control while using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
• If you are a man, use birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
• Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs.

Pregnancy may be less likely to occur while the mother or the father is using this medicine. Both men and women should still use birth control to prevent pregnancy because the medicine can harm an unborn baby.

How should I take capecitabine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Capecitabine is usually taken twice per day, and may be only part of a treatment program that may also include other medications taken on different schedules. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Capecitabine is given in a 3-week treatment cycle, and you may only need to take the medicine only on certain days of this cycle.

You may need frequent medical tests and your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results. Capecitabine can have long lasting effects on your body. You may also need medical tests for a short time after your last dose.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking capecitabine?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of capecitabine?

• severe diarrhea;
• bloody diarrhea with severe stomach pain and fever;
• severe nausea or loss of appetite that causes you to eat much less than usual;
• vomiting (more than once in 24 hours);
• fever above 100.5 degrees;
• sores or ulcers in your mouth, redness or swelling of your mouth or tongue, trouble eating or swallowing;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• dehydration symptoms --feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;
• "hand and foot syndrome" --pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, blistering, or peeling skin on your hands or feet;
• heart problems --chest pain, irregular heartbeats, swelling in your lower legs, rapid weight gain, feeling lightheaded or short of breath; or
• low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
• feeling weak or tired;
• hand and foot syndrome; or
• jaundice.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect capecitabine?

Tell your doctor if you also take allopurinol.

Other drugs may affect capecitabine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about capecitabine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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