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What is Xeloda used for?
Xeloda is used to treat:
- cancer of the colon or rectum that has
spread to other parts of the body (metastatic colorectal
cancer) when fluoropyrimidine therapy alone is preferred.
Patients and physicians should note that combination
chemotherapy has shown a survival benefit compared to
5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/oral leucovorin (
LV
) alone. A survival benefit over 5-FU/LV has not been
demonstrated with Xeloda monotherapy.
- Dukes� C colon cancer in
patients who have had complete removal of the tumor when
treatment with fluoropyrimidine therapy alone is preferred.
Although neither Xeloda nor combination therapy prolongs
overall survival, combination chemotherapy has shown a
survival benefit compared to 5-FU/LV alone.
- breast cancer that has spread to other
parts of the body and has not responded to treatment with
certain other medicines. These medicines include paclitaxel
(Taxol) and anthracycline-containing therapy such as
Adriamycin and doxorubicin.
Xeloda is changed in the body to the
substance 5-fluorouracil. In some patients with colon, rectum
or breast cancer, this substance stops cancer cells from
growing and decreases the size of the tumor.
Who should not take Xeloda?
- You should not take Xeloda if you are
allergic to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) because Xeloda is
converted by the body to 5-FU.
- You should not take Xeloda if you have
severe renal impairment.
- You should not take
Xeloda if you are nursing a baby. Xeloda may pass into the
milk and harm the baby.
Special Warnings Concerning Xeloda:
Xeloda can cause diarrhea, which may
be severe. If you have more than 4 bowel movements a day,
or diarrhea at night, stop taking Xeloda and contact your
doctor.
Patients over 80 may have more
gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and
vomiting.
Xeloda may cause harm to
your unborn child. Do not become pregnant
while taking Xeloda. Women should use effective birth
control. Men should
also practice birth control measures while taking Xeloda. Tell your doctor if you are
taking a drug that affects blood clotting such as Coumadin
or warfarin. After Xeloda became available, there have been
reports to the FDA of changes in blood clotting and/or
bleeding in people taking Xeloda together with certain
anticoagulants (blood thinners). See your doctor regularly
for monitoring.
General Precautions with Xeloda:
Xeloda can cause tingling, numbness,
pain, swelling, or redness in the palms of your hands or soles
of your feet (hand and foot syndrome). Stop taking Xeloda and
contact your doctor if you have signs of this syndrome. Your
doctor may want to decrease your dose or stop your treatment
with Xeloda.
What should I tell my doctor or healthcare provider?
Tell your doctor
if you:
-
take a blood thinner such as
warfarin (Coumadin). Xeloda may increase the effect of the
blood thinner. Your doctor will need to test your blood
more often and adjust the dose of your blood thinner if
needed.
-
take phenytoin (Dilantin�). Your
doctor will need to test your blood more often and adjust
the dose if needed.
-
are pregnant.
-
have kidney problems.
-
have liver problems.
-
take the vitamin, folic acid.
What are some possible side effects of
Xeloda? (This is not a complete list of side
effects reported with Xeloda. Your healthcare provider can
discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)
- diarrhea (see warnings)
- nausea - stop taking Xeloda and
contact your doctor if you are not able to eat or are only
able to eat at certain times.
- vomiting - stop taking Xeloda and
contact your doctor if you vomit 2-5 times or more in a
24-hour period.
- sores in mouth and throat - stop
taking Xeloda and contact your doctor if you have painful
swelling and ulcers in your mouth or tongue.
- stomach pain
- decreased appetite
- dehydration
- hand-and-foot syndrome (see general
precautions)
- rash
- dry or itchy skin
- tiredness
- dizziness
- headache
- fever - contact your doctor if you
have a fever of 100.5�F
or higher.
These side effects may differ when taking
Xeloda in combination with Taxotere� or in combination with other chemotherapy. Please
consult your doctor for possible side effects that may be
caused by taking Xeloda with Taxotere or other chemotherapies.
For more detailed information about
Xeloda, ask your healthcare provider.
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