Capecitabine Drug: Indication, Dosage, Precaution, Side Effect , Storage, Category Type and corresponding Brands - www.genericdrugscan.com
Capecitabine
Drug Status in USA : ApprovedDrug Status in Canada : Approved
pronunciation
pronounced as (ka pe site' a been)
Why is this medication prescribed?
Capecitabine is used in combination with other medications to treat breast cancer that has come back after treatment with other medications. It is also used alone to treat breast cancer that has not improved after treatment with other medications. Capecitabine is also used to treat colon or rectal cancer (cancer that begins in the large intestine) that has gotten worse or spread to other parts of the body. It is also used to prevent colon cancer from spreading in people who have had surgery to remove the tumor. Capecitabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.
How should this medicine be used?
Capecitabine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) for 2 weeks, followed by a 1 week break before repeating the next dosage cycle. It is usually taken after a meal (within 30 minutes of breakfast and dinner) and with a glass of water. Your doctor will decide how many times you should repeat this cycle. Take capecitabine at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take capecitabine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may adjust your dose of capecitabine or stop your treatment for a period of time depending on your response to treatment and any side effects that you experience. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment.
Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.
What are the precautions to be followed?
Before taking capecitabine,- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to capecitabine, fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in capecitabine tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: phenytoin (Dilantin), leucovorin, and folic acid (in multivitamins). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Other medications may also interact with capecitabine, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
- tell your doctor if you have been told that you have or ever had dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency (a lack of a naturally occurring enzyme in your body). Your doctor may probably tell you not to take capecitabine.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney, liver, or heart disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not plan to have children while you are taking capecitabine. You should use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy in yourself or your partner during your treatment with capecitabine. Capecitabine may harm the fetus.tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You should not breast-feed during your treatment with capecitabine.
What are possible side effects of this medication ?
Capecitabine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:- stomach pain or upset stomach
- constipation
- loss of appetite
- change in ability to taste food
- increased thirst
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- dizziness
- headache
- hair loss
- skin rash
- back, join, or muscle pain
- red, swollen, itchy, or teary eyes
- trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- sores in the mouth
- swelling, pain, redness, or peeling of skin on the palms and soles of the feet
- fever, chills, sore throat, or other signs of an infection
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- chest pain or pressure
- fast heartbeat
- dark urine
- yellowing of skin or eyes
Capecitabine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?
Keep this medication 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.
Drug Category/Class
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Immunosuppressive Agents
- Antimetabolites
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
- Prodrugs
- Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents
- Pyrimidine Analogues
- Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
- Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
- Pyrimidine analogues
| Prescribed | For the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer resistant to both paclitaxel and an anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen. May ... |
| Weight : | 359.3501 |
| Structure | Capecitabine |
 | |
| Formula | C15H22FN3O6 |
Capecitabine has 19 Brands listed
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