Capecitabine
About
Capecitabine belongs to a group of medicines known as 'anti-cancer' used to treat breast, colon and stomach cancer. Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can attack and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one body part before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.
Capecitabine contains Capecitabine, an anti-cancer medication that is cytotoxic (causes cell death). When taken, it gets converted into 5-fluorouracil (chemical), which hampers the synthesis of genetic materials (DNA) in the cancer cells, thereby interfering with their growth. As a result, cancer cells' growth is slowed down and eventually killed.
You may experience certain common side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, increased risk of infection, hair loss, diarrhoea, decreased blood cells (red cells, white cells, and platelets), mouth ulcers, blisters on fingers/feet in some cases. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before taking Capecitabine, inform your doctor if you have any infection because Capecitabine may worsen the infection. Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to light while taking Capecitabine; avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is recommended. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant as Capecitabine can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using Capecitabine should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. You should not take Capecitabine during breastfeeding. Use Capecitabine with caution in elderly patients. If you have had leukaemia (blood cancer) and are in remission, do not take live vaccines for three months after your last chemotherapy. You and your surrounding people, such as family members, should not take the polio vaccine.
Uses of Capecitabine
Medicinal Benefits
Capecitabine belongs to the group of anti-cancer medicines. It contains Capecitabine which is cytotoxic (causes cell death). It is used to treat cancer of the colon, breast and stomach. When taken, it gets converted into 5-fluorouracil (chemical), which hampers the synthesis of genetic materials (DNA) in the cancer cells, thereby interfering with their growth. As a result, the growth of cancer cells is slowed down, and eventually, they are killed.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Capecitabine
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Increased risk of infection
- Hair loss
- Diarrhoea
- Decreased blood cells
- Mouth ulcer
- Blisters on fingers/feet
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Before taking Capecitabine, inform your doctor if you have any infection because Capecitabine may worsen the infection. If you have any allergy symptoms, talk to your doctor; inform your doctor if you have a metabolic disorder called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency), heart problems, bone marrow depression, kidney disease, liver disease, and treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to light while taking Capecitabine, and avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is recommended. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant as Capecitabine can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using Capecitabine should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. The use of Capecitabine by either parent may result in congenital disabilities. You should not take Capecitabine during breastfeeding. Use Capecitabine with caution in elderly patients. If you have had leukaemia (blood cancer) and are in remission, do not take live vaccines for three months after your last chemotherapy. You and your surrounding people, such as family members, should not take the polio vaccine. Avoid smoking or going near naked flames as the fabric (bedding, clothing, dressings) in contact with Capecitabine catches fire and burns easily. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not remove it.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Capecitabine interacts with other anti-cancer medicines (folinic acid, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, cisplatin, irinotecan), antibiotics (metronidazole), medicines used to reduce the harmful effects of anti-cancer medicines (calcium leucovorin), a medicine used to treat gout (allopurinol), a medicine used to treat stomach ulcers (cimetidine), blood thinners (warfarin, coumarin), antivirals (brivudine, sorivudine), and anti-epilepsy medicine (phenytoin).
Drug-Food Interactions: Capecitabine is known to interact with alcohol and increase dizziness.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Capecitabine should not be given to patients with liver, heart or kidney problems, diabetes, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), myelosuppression (bone marrow activity is decreased), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency, stomatitis, infections, or a bleeding disorder.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption while taking Capecitabine to avoid unpleasant side effects. Alcohol intake, along with Capecitabine, may cause increased drowsiness.
Pregnancy
unsafeCapecitabine should not be used during pregnancy because it causes harm to the fetus (newborn baby). Both women of childbearing potential and men must use an effective contraception method while taking fluorouracil and for at least six months afterwards. Please consult your doctor about any concerns regarding this.
Breast Feeding
unsafeCapecitabine should not be taken during breastfeeding as it passes into the breastmilk and may harm the nursing baby. It is contraindicated in breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
unsafeCapecitabine may cause dizziness and drowsiness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.
Liver
cautionIf you have had a history or evidence of any liver-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking Capecitabine. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Capecitabine.
Kidney
cautionIf you have had a history or evidence of any kidney-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking Capecitabine. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Capecitabine.
Children
unsafeCapecitabine should not be used by children, as efficacy and safety have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs.
- Avoid fast food, fried food, processed meats, refined carbs and added sugars.
- Get optimal sleep; rest well.
Special Advise
- Regularly monitor your blood tests to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count in your blood.
- Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV light (such as tanning booths) and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Capecitabine may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
- Capecitabine should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Capecitabine.
- Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection, fever, diarrhoea, chills, etc.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Breast cancer: It is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called estrogen. Breast cancer may form in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), and the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within the breast. The tumour cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to lymph nodes, a primary pathway for the cancer cells to move to other body parts. Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or tissue thickening, which feels different than the normal surrounding tissues, breast pain, redness, swelling, and nipple discharge other than breast milk.
Stomach cancer (gastric cancer): It is a type of cancer that develops from the stomach lining. Risk factors may include smoking, a highly processed or salty diet, and severe bacterial infection of H. pylori. Symptoms of stomach cancer include feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, nausea, heartburn or indigestion.
FAQs
Capecitabine interferes with the growth of the cancer cells' genetic material (DNA). This slows the growth of cancer cells and eventually kills them.
Capecitabine can make your skin more sensitive to the harmful effects of sunlight. Hence it is advised to wear protective clothing while using Capecitabine. It is recommended to avoid tanning booths and sunlamps.
Yes, Capecitabine may change the results of blood tests and other laboratory tests. Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Capecitabine as regular monitoring of liver and kidney functions tests, electrolyte levels and blood cells is required.
Capecitabine might affect fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. You may not be able to become pregnant or father a child after treatment with Capecitabine. However, it is essential to talk to your doctor before starting treatment with Capecitabine if you think you may want to have a baby in the future.
Yes, Capecitabine commonly affects the hair by making it thin, which further causes hair loss. However, it is not very common. Hair reduction possibly happens due to the estrogen-lowering effect of Capecitabine. These effects are not long-lasting and may return after some time. If it matters to you, then consult your doctor for further advice.
Capecitabine may cause osteoporosis (bone thinning) due to the reduction of estrogen in the body. Regular bone density tests may help you monitor osteoporosis. Contact your doctor if you observe any sign of tendon pain or swelling while taking Capecitabine.
Your doctor will decide the number of treatment cycles and the frequency of Capecitabine to be taken, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
No, it is advised not to use these two medicines at the same time as they may cause severe drug reactions. Maintain a gap of at least four weeks between the last dose of brivudine and the first dose of Capecitabine.
