Chemotherapy Drug Information
<< BackCapecitabine
Your doctor has ordered the drug capecitabine to help treat your illness. The drug is taken by mouth with tablets. Take capecitabine with water within 30 minutes after eating a meal.
Capecitabine is in a class of drugs known as antimetabolites. Capecitabine resembles a normal cell nutrient needed by cancer cells to grow. The cancer cells take up the capecitabine, which then interferes with their growth. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.Tell your doctor if you are taking warfarin. If you experience any unusual bleeding or bruising, call your doctor immediately.
Before taking capecitabine,
- tell your doctor if you are taking, antacids, folic acid, leucovorin, phenytoin (Dilantin), and vitamins.
- women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
- tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Capecitabine can cause serious side effects in nursing infants.
Side effects from capecitabine are common and include:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach pain
- tiredness
- dizziness
- dry or itching skin
If you experience any of the following symptoms call your doctor immediately:
- severe diarrhea (more than four bowel movements each day or diarrhea at night)
- severe vomiting (more than one time in a 24-hour period)
- tingling, numbness, pain, redness, or swelling of the hands or feet
- sores or pain in the mouth or throat
- fever or infection (a temperature of 101 degrees F or greater)
- chills
- chest pain
Keep capecitabine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.