Medications and Drugs
GENERIC NAME: capecitabine
BRAND NAME: Xeloda
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Capecitabine is an oral
medication for treating advanced breast cancers that are resistant to combination therapy with the drugs of choice, paclitaxel
(Taxol) and a drug from the anthracycline family of drugs, for example,
doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Capecitabine is converted by the body to
5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug which has been given intravenously for
many years to treat various types of cancer. It is not
surprising, therefore, that capecitabine also is effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer, a type of
cancer which is treated frequently with 5-FU. 5-FU inhibits the production of both DNA and protein by the cancerous cells that are necessary for the cells to divide and the cancer to grow in size. Capecitabine was approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of breast cancer and in 2005 for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
GENERIC AVAILABLE: No
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 150 and 500 mg.
STORAGE: Tablets should be stored at room temperature,
15-30 °C (59-86 °F).
PRESCRIBED FOR: Capecitabine is used for treating women with breast cancer that is resistant to other more commonly-used drugs. It also is used following surgery for colorectal cancer if
the cancer has spread to lymph nodes (Dukes' C stage).
DOSING: Capecitabine generally is taken twice daily, with the two doses approximately 12 hours apart. Tablets should be taken
30 minutes after eating. Capecitabine usually is prescribed in repeated cycles of 3-weeks, with
the drug taken for two consecutive weeks followed by a week without drug. Some patients may need lower or
delayed dosing. As always, the physician's dosing instructions should be followed.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: There are no known drug interactions with capecitabine.
PREGNANCY: Capecitabine can damage the fetus. It should
not be taken by pregnant women.
NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known whether capecitabine is secreted into breast milk.
SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects with capecitabine are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, painful
swelling of the mouth, fatigue, painful rash and swelling of the hands or feet, low white blood cell count (which can
lead to infections), low blood platelet counts (which can lead to bleeding), and anemia. About one of every three patients who receives capecitabine has serious side effects, but these side effects usually are reversible when the drug is stopped or when the dose is lowered.
Reference: FDA Prescribing Information
Last Editorial Review: 6/20/2005
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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