Xeloda 500 mg (Capecitabine)

Description  of  Xeloda 500 mg

Xeloda 500 mg is used to help treat patients with Dukes’ C colon cancer (colon cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in the area close to the colon), after having surgery. This medicine is also used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum that has spread to other parts of the body).

Xeloda 500 mg is also used together with docetaxel to treat metastatic breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) in patients who have received other medicines (eg, paclitaxel) but did not worked well, or in patients who cannot receive cancer medicines anymore.

Xeloda 500 mg belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics (cancer medicines). It interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal cells may also be affected by the medicine, other side effects may also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor.

Use of Xeloda 500 mg

Medicines used to treat cancer are very strong and can have many side effects. Before using this medicine, make sure you understand all the risks and benefits. It is important for you to work closely with your doctor during your treatment.

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

This medicine should come with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take this medicine with food or within 30 minutes after you eat.

Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not cut, crush, break, or chew it. If the tablet must be cut or crushed, it should be done by a pharmacist.

Dosing of Xeloda 500 mg

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Side Effects of Xeloda 500 mg

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• diarrhea
• loss of fingerprints
• nausea
• numbness, pain, tingling, or other unusual sensations in the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet
• pain, blistering, peeling, redness, or swelling of the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet
• pain, redness, swelling, sores, or ulcers in your mouth or on your lips
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting

Less common or rare

• Abdominal or stomach cramping or pain (severe)
• agitation
• back pain
• bleeding and bruising
• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• bloody nose
• bloody or black, tarry stools
• blurred vision
• burning, dry, or itching eyes
• chest pain
• chills
• clumsiness or unsteadiness

Storage of Xeloda 500 mg

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions of Xeloda 500 mg

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

Your doctor may request that you have a test to determine if your blood is clotting properly, and may preform this test frequently if you are also taking a blood thinner.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Female patients must use effective birth control during treatment and for 6 months after your treatment ends. Male patients with partners of childbearing potential should also use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant.

This medicine may cause heart problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain that may spread to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, faintness, nausea, swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet, trouble breathing, or unusual sweating.

Check with your doctor right away if any of the following symptoms occur:

• Diarrhea, moderately severe (four to six stools a day more than usual, or during the night).
• Nausea that is severe enough to cause you to eat less than usual.
• Vomiting two or more times in a 24-hour period.
• Pain and redness, swelling, or sores or ulcers in your mouth or on your lips that are severe enough to interfere with eating.

If vomiting occurs less often than mentioned above, or if nausea does not cause you to eat less than usual, it is not necessary for you to stop taking the medicine or to check with your doctor (unless these effects are particularly bothersome).

Also, you do not need to stop taking the medicine if diarrhea occurs less often than mentioned above or if the other side effects listed are not severe enough to interfere with eating or other daily activities. However, check with your doctor as soon as possible if they occur.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loose skin, red skin lesions, pain, swelling, or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, loss of fingerprints, severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you are using this medicine.

While you are being treated with capecitabine, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor’s approval. Capecitabine may lower your body’s resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent.

In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.