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| Pronunciation |
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 (ka
pe SITE a
been) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Xeloda® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antineoplastic Agent, Antimetabolite |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to capecitabine, fluorouracil, or any other
part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of breast
cancer.
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| How does it work? |
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- Capecitabine becomes active against the cancer cells as it passes
through the liver.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take at the end of a meal with water.
- It is usually taken on some sort of cycle (2 weeks on, 1 week off).
- Your dose may be adjusted. This depends on how many side effects you
have.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Return to your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Keep doses separated by 12
hours.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- If you are 80 years of age or older, you may have more side effects.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are taking leucovorin.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Diarrhea.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Skin irritation.
- Feeling weak or tired. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Numbness, tingling, pain, swelling and redness of hands and feet.
- Painful ulcers in the mouth or
tongue.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- For side effects.
- Watch for change in temperature.
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Painful redness and swelling of the hands or feet. Stop the medicine
until you talk with healthcare provider.
- Severe diarrhea. This would be 4 to 6 bowel movements per day. Stop
the medicine until you talk with healthcare provider.
- Severe nausea or vomiting. This would be 2 to 5 events in a 24 hour
period. Stop the medicine until you talk with healthcare provider.
- Fever less than or equal to 100.5 or signs of infection.
- Bruising or bleeding.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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