Capegard 500 mg (Capecitabine)

Product introduction

Capegard 500 mg Tablet is used in the treatment of cancer of breast, colon, and rectum. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor. It is used alone or in combination with some other medicine as a part of chemotherapy.

Capegard 500 mg Tablet should be taken with food within 30 minutes after eating a meal. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.

The most common side effects of this medicine include vomiting, weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (decrease white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver, and blood uric acid levels.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many capecitabine 500 mg tablet can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.

Uses of capegard tablet

• Breast cancer
• Cancer of colon and rectum

Benefits of capegard tablet

In Breast cancer

Capecitabine Capegard 500 mg Tablet helps to treat breast cancer and it may be used alone or in combination with other medicines or treatment modalities like chemotherapy. It relieves the symptoms of breast cancer such as breast lumps, bloody discharge from nipples or changes in the shape or texture of the breast. Capegard 500 mg Tablet kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. Discuss with your doctor if any of the side effects bother you.

In Cancer of colon and rectum

Cancer of the colon and rectum, also known as colorectal cancer (CRC) or bowel cancer, is the development of cancer from two parts of the large intestine, namely, the colon or rectum. In this type of cancer, the person may notice symptoms such as blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, and fatigue. Capegard 500 mg Tablet treats and also lowers the risk of developing further cancerous growths (polyps) and bowel cancer.

It kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is an effective, yet very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Side effects of capegard tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Capegard

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Blisters on fingers/feet

How to use capegard tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Capegard 500 mg Tablet is to be taken with food.

How capegard tablet works

Capegard 500 mg Tablet is an anticancer medication. Inside the body, this medicine gets converted into 5-fluorouracil (chemical). This chemical hampers the synthesis of genetic materials (RNA and DNA) in the cancer cells, thereby interferes with their growth. This slows down the growth of cancer cells and eventually kills them.

Safety advice

• Alcohol
  It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Capegard capecitabine tablet. Please consult your doctor.
• Pregnancy
  Capegard 500 mg Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
• Breast feeding
  Capegard 500 mg Tablet is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
• Driving
  Capegard 500 mg Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
• Kidney
  Capegard 500 mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Capegard 500 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
  Use of Capegard 500 Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
• Liver
  Capegard 500 mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Capegard 500 mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
  Use of Capegard 500 mg Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.

Quick tips

• Capegard 500 mg Tablet is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of colon, rectum or breast cancers.
• It is oral chemotherapy, hence it is preferred by many patients.
• It should be taken within 30 minutes after eating a meal.
• The dose and the number of treatment cycles needed will depend on the type and stage of cancer that is being treated.
• It may cause dizziness and tiredness. Don’t drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
• Frequency of hair loss is much less compared to other chemotherapy drugs.
• Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Your doctor may regularly monitor your blood cells during treatment with this medicine. Inform
• your doctor immediately if you notice signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, rash or severe diarrhea.
• Inform your doctor immediately if you start to have side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, mouth sores, chest pain or loss of appetite.

FAQs

1. What are the side effects of Capegard 500 Tablet?

The side effects of Capegard 500 mg Tablet include stomach pain or upset stomach, constipation, loss of appetite, and change in ability to taste food. It may also cause increased thirst, unusual tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache, hair loss, skin rash, back, join, or muscle pain. You may also experience red, swollen, itchy, or teary eyes and trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Inform your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe and persist for long.

2. What are the serious side effects of Capegard 500 Tablet?

The use of Capegard 500 mg Tablet may cause various serious side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sores in the mouth, swelling, pain, redness, or peeling of skin on the palms and soles of the feet. One may also experience 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 and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any such symptoms.

3. Does Capegard 500 Tablet make you tired?

Yes, Capegard 500 Tablet may make you tired and you may also feel weak, as these are the most common side effects of the medicine. Hence, it is possible that use of Capegard 500 Tablet may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

4. How long do I need to take Capegard 500 Tablet?

The duration of treatment with Capegard 500 Tablet depends on the nature of your illness and individual response to treatment. Usually, it is given as a series of treatment cycles, each of these cycles lasts for 21 days. Capegard 500 Tablet is given for 14 days followed by a rest period of 7 days. You should continue taking this medicine for the time prescribed by the doctor.

5. Do I need to get any tests done while on Capegard 500 Tablet?

The doctor will check you on a regular basis while you are taking Capegard 500 Tablet to monitor side effects and your response to therapy. You may need to get your blood test done as advised by the doctor to monitor your complete blood count (CBC) as well as the function of kidneys and liver.