What is XELODA?
XELODA is a prescription medicine used to treat people with:
- Cancer of the colon that has spread to lymph nodes in the area close to the colon (Dukes’ C stage), after they have surgery
- Cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).
- Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) together with another medicine called docetaxel after treatment with certain other anticancer medicines have not worked
- Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has not improved after treatment with paclitaxel and certain other anti-cancer medicines, or who cannot receive any more treatment with certain anti-cancer medicines
It is not known if XELODA is safe and effective in children.
What is the most important information I should know about XELODA?
XELODA can cause serious side effects. These serious side effects include:
- XELODA can interact with blood thinner medicines, such as warfarin (COUMADIN). Taking XELODA with these medicines can cause changes in how fast your blood clots, and can cause bleeding that can lead to death. This can happen as soon as a few days after you start taking XELODA, or later during treatment, and possibly even within 1 month after you stop taking XELODA. Your risk may be higher because you have cancer, and if you are over 60 years of age.
- Before taking XELODA, tell your doctor if you are taking warfarin (COUMADIN) or another blood thinner medicine.
- If you take warfarin (COUMADIN) or another blood thinner that is like warfarin (COUMADIN) during treatment with XELODA, your doctor should do blood tests often, to check how fast your blood clots during and after you stop treatment with XELODA. Your doctor may change your dose of the blood thinner medicine if needed.
- Diarrhea. Diarrhea is common with XELODA and can sometimes be severe. Stop taking XELODA and call your doctor right away if the number of bowel movements you have in a day increases by 4 or more than is usual for you. Ask your doctor about what medicines you can take to treat your diarrhea. If you have severe bloody diarrhea with severe abdominal pain and fever, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away
- Heart problems. XELODA can cause heart problems including: heart attack and decreased blood flow to the heart, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, changes in the electrical activity of your heart seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG), problems with your heart muscle, heart failure, and sudden death. Stop taking XELODA and call your doctor right away if you get any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeats or skipping beats
- sudden weight gain
- swollen ankles or legs
- Unexplained tiredness
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Loss of too much body fluid (dehydration) and kidney failure.
Dehydration can happen with XELODA and may cause sudden kidney failure that can lead to death. You are at higher risk if you have kidney problems before taking XELODA and also take other medicines that can cause kidney problems.
Nausea, and vomiting are common with XELODA. If you lose your appetite, feel weak, and have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, you can quickly become dehydrated.
- Serious skin and mouth reactions
- XELODA can cause serious skin reactions that may lead to death. Tell your doctor right away if you develop a skin rash, blisters and peeling of your skin. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking XELODA if you have a serious skin reaction. Do not take XELODA again if this happens.
- XELODA can also cause “hand and foot syndrome.” Hand and foot syndrome is common with XELODA and can cause you to have numbness and changes in sensation in your hands and feet, or cause redness, pain, swelling of your hands and feet. Stop taking XELODA and call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms and you are not able to do your usual activities
- you may get sores in your mouth or on your tongue when taking XELODA. Stop taking XELODA and call your doctor if you get painful redness, swelling, or ulcers in your mouth and tongue, or if you are having problems eating. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
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- Increased level of bilirubin in your blood and liver problems. Increased bilirubin in your blood is common with XELODA. Your doctor will check you for these problems during treatment with XELODA.
- Decreased white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cell counts. Your doctor will do blood tests during treatment with XELODA to check your blood cell counts. If your white blood cell count is very low, you are at increased risk for infection. Call your doctor right away if you develop a fever of 100.5oF or greater or have other signs and symptoms of infection.
People 80 years of age or older may be more likely to develop severe or serious side effects with XELODA
How should I take XELODA?
- Take XELODA exactly as your doctor tells you to take it.
- Your doctor will tell you how much XELODA to take and when to take it
- Take XELODA 2 times a day, 1 time in the morning and 1 time in the evening
- Take XELODA within 30 minutes after finishing a meal. Swallow XELODA tablets whole with water. Do not crush or cut XELODA tablets
- Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist how to safely throw away any unused XELODA.
- If you have side effects with XELODA, if needed your doctor may decide to:
- Change your dose of XELODA
- Treat you with XELODA less often
- Tell you to stop taking XELODA until certain side effects get better or go away
- Stop your treatment with XELODA if you have certain side effects and they are severe
- If you take too much XELODA, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away
Important Safety Information
Do not take XELODA if you:
- Have severe kidney problems.
- Are allergic to capecitabine, 5-fluorouracil, or any of the ingredients in XELODA. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in XELODA.
Talk to your doctor before taking XELODA if you are not sure if you have any of the conditions listed above.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking XELODA?
Before you take XELODA, tell your doctor if you:
- Have had heart problems.
- Have kidney or liver problems.
- Have been told that you lack the enzyme DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase)
- Have any other medical conditions.
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. XELODA can harm your unborn baby. You should not become pregnant during treatment with XELODA. Talk to your doctor about birth control choices that may be right for you during treatment with XELODA.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if XELODA passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take XELODA or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and overthe-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. XELODA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way XELODA works
General information about XELODA
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use XELODA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give XELODA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
What are the ingredients in XELODA?
Active ingredient: Capecitabine
Inactive ingredient: Anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate and purified water. The peach or light peach film coating contains hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, talc, titanium dioxide, and synthetic yellow and red iron oxides