• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
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What is capecitabine?
Capecitabine is a cancer (chemotherapeutic) medication. Capecitabine interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body. Capecitabine is used in the treatment of some types of breast and colorectal cancers. Capecitabine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of capecitabine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking capecitabine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat; difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives);

• diarrhea (more than 4 bowel movements each day or any diarrhea at night);

• vomiting (more than once in 24 hours);

• nausea or a loss of appetite (if the amount of food you eat each day is much less than usual or if you are only able to eat at certain times);

• fever (temperature greater than 100.5 degrees) or other signs of infection;

• tingling, numbness, pain, swelling, or redness of the hands and/or feet (hand-and-foot syndrome); or

• pain, redness, swelling, or sores in or around the mouth.

Other less serious side effects may occur more frequently. Continue to take capecitabine and talk to your doctor if you experience:

• dehydration;

• a rash or dry or itchy skin;

• tiredness;

• dizziness;

• headache;

• constipation;

• sleeplessness; or

• eye irritation.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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How should I take capecitabine?
Capecitabine should only be prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Take capecitabine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Each dose of capecitabine should be swallowed with water. Take capecitabine within 30 minutes after the end of a meal (usually breakfast and dinner). If the dose of capecitabine prescribed for you requires a combination of different strength tablets, it is very important that you correctly identify the tablets to ensure the correct dose. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions regarding a dose.

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What is the most important information I should know about capecitabine?
Capecitabine should only be prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Talk to your doctor if you are taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin). In some cases, severe bleeding and death have resulted when these medications were taken together, or when treatment with warfarin (Coumadin) was started in the month following treatment with capecitabine. If treatment with both medications is determined by your doctor to be necessary, special monitoring will be required.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of capecitabine, do not take the missed dose at all and do not double the next one. Instead, continue your regular dosing schedule and check with your doctor.

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What other drugs will affect capecitabine?
Talk to your doctor if you are taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin). In some cases, severe bleeding and death have resulted when these medications were taken together, or when treatment with warfarin (Coumadin) was started in the month following treatment with capecitabine. If treatment with both medications is determined by your doctor to be necessary, special monitoring will be required. Do not take any of the following medicines during treatment with capecitabine without first talking to your doctor:

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Capecitabine has been assigned to pregnancy category D by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed evidence of embryolethality, teratogenicity, and fetolethality. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. If the drug is to be used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be informed of the potential hazard to the fetus.

It is recommended that women of childbearing potential be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while receiving treatment with capecitabine. Animal studies on fertility and general reproductive performance have reported that doses of 760 mg/kg/day disturbed estrus and therefore caused a decrease in fertility. When pregnancy occurred, no fetus survived this dose. In male animals, a dose of 760 mg/kg/day caused degenerative changes in the testes, including decreases in the number of spermatocytes and spermatids.

There are no data on the excretion of capecitabine into human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, it has been recommended that nursing be discontinued when a patient is receiving capecitabine therapy.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Severe renal impairment (Cl_cr <30 mL/minute).
• Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency.
• Known hypersensitivity to fluorouracil.
• Known hypersensitivity to capecitabine or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What does my medication look like?
Capecitabine is available with a prescription under the brand name Xeloda. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you. Xeloda 150 mg--oblong light peach-colored tablets Xeloda 500 mg-oblong peach-colored tablets

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a capecitabine overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, and bleeding.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking capecitabine?
Do not take capecitabine without first talking to your doctor if you are allergic to fluorouracil (Adrucil). Before taking capecitabine, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or a history of liver problems; have kidney disease; have heart or coronary artery disease; or are taking any other medicines especially warfarin (Coumadin), phenytoin (Dilantin), folic acid (found in some vitamins), or leucovorin (Wellcovorin). You may not be able to take capecitabine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during therapy if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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