When combined with anticoagulants (also known as “blood thinners”) like warfarin (Coumadin®), capecitabine has the potential to result in significant or even fatal haemorrhage. Describe to your doctor any warfarin use. To track how quickly your blood clots, your doctor will request laboratory testing. Your warfarin dosage may also need to be adjusted. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: Bloody or black, tarry stools, unusual bleeding, vomiting or spitting up blood or brown material that resembles coffee grounds, red or dark-brown urine, or easy bruising are all symptoms to watch out for.

Breast cancer that has returned after being treated with previous drugs is treated with capecitabine in combination with other drugs. It can also be used on its own to treat breast cancer that has not responded to prior treatments. Moreover, colon or rectal cancer, which starts in the large intestine, can be treated with capecitabine if it has progressed or spread to other areas of the body. Moreover, it is applied to persons who have undergone surgery to remove a tumour in order to stop the spread of colon cancer. Capecitabine belongs to the group of drugs known as antimetabolites. By delaying or halting the growth of cancer cells, it combats cancer.

The oral tablet form of capecitabine is available. The typical dosage regimen is to take it twice daily (in the morning and the evening) for two weeks, then take a week off before starting the following dosage cycle. With a glass of water, it is typically consumed after eating (within 30 minutes of breakfast and dinner). How frequently you should repeat this cycle will be decided by your doctor. Capecitabine should be taken every day around the same time. Always adhere to the instructions on your prescription label, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to clarify any information you do not understand. Take capecitabine as prescribed by your doctor. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor. Depending on how you respond to the medication and any adverse effects you experience, your doctor may change your capecitabine dosage or temporarily discontinue your therapy. Discuss your feelings regarding your treatment with your doctor.

Do not chew, break, or crush the tablets; instead, swallow them whole.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Moreover, advanced gastric cancer can sometimes be treated with capecitabine (cancer of the stomach). The dangers of using this drug for your illness should be discussed with your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking capecitabine,

• If you have an allergy to capecitabine, fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU), any other drugs, or any of the substances in capecitabine tablets, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Include any of the following medications as well as allopurinol (Aloprim, Lopurin, Zyloprim), leucovorin, and phenytoin. Also, be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section (Dilantin). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, including any not on this list, as other drugs may also interact with capecitabine.
• When starting capecitabine, discuss with your doctor if testing for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme deficiency (a lack of an enzyme that occurs naturally in your body) is necessary. If you have ever had a DPD enzyme shortage or have been told you do, let your doctor know. Your doctor may advise against taking capecitabine.
• If you have kidney, liver, or cardiac illness now or in the past, let your doctor know.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, let your doctor know. While taking capecitabine, you should avoid planning a family. While receiving capecitabine medication, you should utilise an effective method of birth control to avoid becoming pregnant yourself or with your partner. The foetus could suffer from capecitabine. Inform your doctor if you are nursing a baby. If you’re using capecitabine, you shouldn’t breastfeed.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Ignore the missed dose and carry on with my normal dosing routine. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Capecitabine might have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Unsettled or painful stomach
• Constipation
• Reduced appetite
• Alterations in food taste
• Heightened thirst
• Unexpected fatigue or weakened state
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Hair loss
• Skin rash
• Muscular, joint, or back pain
• Teary, red, itchy, or swollen eyes
• Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms or any of the ones detailed in the IMPORTANT CAUTION section:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Throat and mouth sores
• In the palms and soles of the feet, there may be swelling, discomfort, redness, or skin peeling.
• Symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms
• Edoema of the lower legs, ankles, feet, or hands
• Chest pressure or pain
• Rapid heart rate
• Dark faeces
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin

Other adverse reactions to capecitabine are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or over the phone if you suffer a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms
• Tarry, black stools
• Red faeces
• Significant bruising or bleeding
• Unexpected fatigue or weakened state

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to capecitabine, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.