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What it Treats
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.
Important Safety Information
IMPORTANT SIDE EFFECT INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about XELODA?
XELODA can cause serious side effects, including:
- 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.
Who should not take Xeloda?
Do not take Xeloda if you:
- have severe kidney problems
- are allergic to capecitabine, 5-fluorouracil, or any of the ingredients in Xeloda.
What should I tell my doctor 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 breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Xeloda.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of Xeloda?
Xeloda may cause serious side effects including:
- 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
- feeling faint
- irregular heartbeats or skipping beats
- sudden weight gain
- swollen ankles or legs
- unexplained tiredness
- loss of too much body fluid (dehydration) and kidney failure. Dehydration can happen with XELODA and may cause sudden kidney failure that 45 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.
Stop taking XELODA and call your doctor right away if you:
- vomit 2 or more times in a day.
- are only able to eat or drink a little now and then, or not at all due to nausea.
- have diarrhea. See “diarrhea” above.
- 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. Hand and foot syndrome can lead to loss of fingerprints which could impact your identification.
- 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.
- 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 100.5º F 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.
What are the most common side effects of Xeloda?
The most common side effects of Xeloda include:
- diarrhea
- hand and foot syndrome
- nausea
- vomiting
- stomach-area (abdominal) pain
- tiredness
- weakness
- increased amounts of red blood cell breakdown products (bilirubin) in your blood
If you have any questions about your condition or treatment, talk to your doctor.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Please see full Product Information for additional important safety information.