Xeloda

What is it?

An anticancer drug which is a 5-FU precursor available as film- coated, oblong, peach-coloured tablets in 2 strengths containing 150mg and 500mg of capecitabine, marked with strength and name.

Medical Uses

Sole treatment of colorectal cancer that has spread. Also, sole treatment or combined with docetaxel for treatment of advanced breast cancer or breast cancer that has spread and that which has not responded to other chemotherapy.

Dosage

Adults, 1250mg per square metre of body area taken twice each day in the morning and evening within half an hour after a meal. Treatment should continue for 2 weeks and then be followed by 7 days without tablets.

Special Care

Elderly, impaired liver function, impaired kidney function - starting dose should be reduced, low or high blood calcium levels, previous heart disease, mouth ulcers, diabetes, hand-foot syndrome, disease of CNS, pains in abdomen, nausea, diarrhoea.

Avoid Use

Children, pregnancy, breastfeeding, deficiency in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (an enzyme), severely impaired liver or kidney function, seriously low levels of certain blood elements (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia), allergy to fluorouracil or fluoropyrimidines.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Phenytoin, allopurinol, sorivudine, coumarin anticoagulants, folinic acid, interferon alfa-2a, brivudine, antacids.

Known Side Effects

Fever, headache, weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, anorexia, gastrointestinal upset, effects on skin and nails, breathlessness, blood chainges and changes in blood chemistry, nosebledds, weeping eyes, hand- foot syndrome, depression, pains, including painful limbs, weight loss. Any adverse side effects should be reported to the Committee on the safety of Medicines (CSM).