Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide
About Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of cancer, most commonly advanced or metastatic breast cancer. It combines two active anticancer medicines to help slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells in your body. This medicine is typically prescribed when other standard treatments may not have worked or as part of a specific combination plan.
You will typically take Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide in repeating treatment cycles, which involve taking the medicine daily for a set period followed by a rest period. It is important to take this medicine consistently at the same times each day, usually within 30 minutes after finishing a meal, to ensure proper absorption and reduce stomach upset. Drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining a balanced, easy-to-digest diet are key lifestyle adjustments that help your body manage this treatment.
While taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide, you may experience common side effects such as nausea, tiredness, diarrhoea, or temporary skin changes on your hands and feet. If you notice more severe symptoms, such as severe watery diarrhoea, a high fever, severe skin peeling, or unusual bruising, you must contact your doctor immediately.
Before starting Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide, tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney disease, liver damage, heart problems, or a specific enzyme deficiency (DPD deficiency). Do not take this if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have had severe allergic reactions to either of the active components in this medicine.
This medicine can interact with blood thinners, certain antacids, and alcohol, which can increase your risk of severe bleeding, stomach irritation, or liver strain. Pregnant or breastfeeding women must not take Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide because it can harm an unborn baby or nursing infant, while elderly patients may require closer monitoring due to a higher risk of side effects like dehydration.
Uses of Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide
Medicinal Benefits
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide is a combination chemotherapy used to treat certain cancers. Capecitabine is converted in the body to 5-fluorouracil, while cyclophosphamide interferes with the growth and multiplication of cancer cells.
- Helps Control Cancer Growth: The combination works through different mechanisms to damage or inhibit rapidly dividing cancer cells, helping control tumour growth.
- May Reduce Tumour Burden: By targeting cancer cells, treatment may help shrink tumours or slow their progression in cancers that are responsive to the combination.
- Helps Manage Advanced Cancer: Effective treatment may help control disease progression and, depending on the cancer and treatment goal, may help relieve symptoms caused by tumour growth.
- Offers Oral Treatment Convenience: Capecitabine is taken by mouth, which may reduce the need for some intravenous chemotherapy visits and allow part of the treatment to be managed at home as prescribed.
- Provides Combination Therapy: Using medicines that act differently can provide a broader approach to cancer treatment and may improve tumour control in appropriate patients.
Directions for Use
- Take Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide within 30 minutes after meals or as advised by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safe and effective use.
- Swallow Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Nausea, vomiting, or temporary loss of appetite
- Feeling unusually tired or weak (fatigue)
- Mild diarrhoea or stomach upset
- Redness, pain, swelling, or peeling on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet (hand-foot syndrome)
- Temporary hair thinning or hair loss
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away)
- Signs of infection, such as a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, or a sore throat
- Severe or worsening diarrhoea (more than 4 bowel movements a day over your normal baseline)
- Severe vomiting or inability to keep fluids down, leading to dehydration
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat
- Unusual bruising, pinpoint red spots on your skin, or bleeding from the nose or gums
- Yellowing of your skin or eyes, or dark urine, which may indicate liver damage
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect your medicine: Check your tablets before every dose. Do not take any tablet that is broken, chipped, or showing signs of discolouration.
- Use effective barrier birth control: Both men and women taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide must use highly effective barrier contraception during treatment and for several months after the final dose to prevent pregnancy, as this medicine can cause severe birth defects.
- Check your temperature daily: Keep a reliable thermometer at home. A fever is a medical emergency when your immune system is suppressed by this medication.
- Keep up with regular blood tests: You must attend all scheduled appointments for blood work, as your doctor needs to monitor your kidney function, liver health, and blood cell counts regularly.
- Avoid vaccines unless approved: Do not receive any live vaccines (such as the shingles or yellow fever vaccines) while taking this medicine without checking with your doctor first.
Drug Interactions
Inform your doctor about all medicines you are taking before starting Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide:
- Blood thinners (like warfarin): Taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide alongside blood thinners can significantly increase your risk of severe bleeding. Your clotting times will need to be monitored very closely.
- Phenytoin (seizure medicine): Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide may increase the levels of phenytoin in your body, raising the risk of phenytoin toxicity.
- Certain antacids (containing aluminium or magnesium): Taking these antacids at the same time as Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide can alter how the medicine is absorbed, potentially increasing its side effects.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is unknown whether alcohol interacts with Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide. However, it is advisable not to consume alcohol as a precautionary measure.
Pregnancy
unsafeCapecitabine+cyclophosphamide should not be used during pregnancy, as it may cause harmful effects on the baby. You are advised to avoid pregnancy by using birth control pills during treatment with Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide and for 6 months after your last dose.
Breast Feeding
unsafeCapecitabine+cyclophosphamide should not be taken during breastfeeding, as it passes into the breast milk and may harm the baby. You are advised to stop breastfeeding during treatment with Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide and for 2 weeks after your last dose.
Driving
cautionCapecitabine+cyclophosphamide may cause dizziness and vision problems. Therefore, avoid driving and operating machines until you are fully alert.
Liver
cautionCapecitabine+cyclophosphamide may sometimes cause harm to the liver or increase bilirubin levels in the blood. If you have a history of liver disease, please inform your doctor before taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide.
Kidney
cautionCapecitabine+cyclophosphamide may sometimes cause harm to the kidney. If you have a history of kidney disease, please inform your doctor before taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide.
Children
unsafeCapecitabine+cyclophosphamide should not be used by children under 12 years, as its safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay well hydrated: Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water or clear fluids daily to protect your kidneys and prevent dehydration caused by diarrhoea or vomiting.
- Protect your hands and feet: Avoid friction and extreme heat on your hands and feet. Use a gentle, alcohol-free moisturiser, wear loose-fitting shoes, and avoid hot showers to minimise the risk of hand-foot syndrome.
- Practice strict food hygiene: Because this medicine can lower your white blood cell count, avoid raw or undercooked foods, unpasteurized dairy, and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to prevent infections.
- Protect your skin from the sun: Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear protective clothing and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors.
Special Advise
- Monitoring of complete blood count, electrolytes, and liver and kidney function while taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide is advised.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and urinary problems.
- Consult your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection, such as fever, chills, sore throat, diarrhoea, etc.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Breast cancer: It is a type of cancer that develops due to the uncontrolled growth of cells within the breast tissue. Breast cancer may form in the lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathways that carry milk from the glands to the nipple), or the fatty and fibrous connective tissue within the breast. Sometimes, the cancer cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to the lymph nodes or other body parts (metastasis). Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or tissue thickening that feels different than the normal surrounding tissues, breast pain, redness, swelling, and nipple discharge other than breast milk.
FAQs
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide is an anticancer medication primarily used to treat metastatic breast cancer. It is also used in combination with other medicines to treat various types of cancer, as advised by a doctor, including colorectal, colon, stomach, pancreatic, and ovarian cancer.
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide contains two anticancer medications: Capecitabine (an antimetabolite) and Cyclophosphamide (an alkylating agent). Both drugs exhibit potential synergistic effects; Cyclophosphamide boosts the activity of an enzyme (thymidine phosphorylase) that helps convert Capecitabine into its active form, 5-fluorouracil. They work by damaging the genetic material of cancer cells to stop their growth and multiplication. Thus, Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide helps treat cancer by killing cancer cells.
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide may cause common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, stomach pain, skin rash, weakness, tiredness, mouth sores, hair loss, fever, low blood cell count, and hand-foot syndrome (swelling, redness, and peeling on palms and soles). If you experience any of these side effects, do not hesitate to report them clearly to your doctor. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes, medications, and supportive therapies to help reduce discomfort and improve your quality of life.
Do not stop taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide on your own without consulting your doctor, as it can affect your treatment and recovery. You are advised to take Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, depending on your medical condition, for effective treatment of cancer.
Yes, Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide may impair fertility by temporarily stopping sperm production in men and disrupting normal menstrual periods in women. Therefore, consult your doctor for advice before taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide if you are planning to have a child. Also, it is important to use birth control pills while taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide and for 6 months after your last dose to prevent pregnancy.
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide might cause myelosuppression (reduced bone marrow function) leading to a decrease in white blood cells. This could lead to an increased risk of infections. You are advised to get regular blood tests while taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide.
Yes, Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide contains two chemotherapy medicines: Capecitabine, which is an antimetabolite, and Cyclophosphamide, which is an alkylating agent. They work by destroying cancer cells.
Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide may cause weight loss due to decreased appetite and may also be a result of the underlying cancer. Please consult your doctor if you experience significant weight loss while using Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide.
No, you must not crush, chew, or split Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide tablets. They must be swallowed whole to make sure you get the correct dose safely and to prevent exposure to chemotherapy dust. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take another dose to replace the one you threw up. Simply wait and take your next scheduled dose at your regular time. Let your healthcare team know right away if you are struggling with nausea or vomiting. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking Capecitabine+cyclophosphamide after food helps your body absorb the medicine properly and reduces stomach irritation and nausea. Always try to take it after breakfast and dinner. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol during your treatment. Alcohol can increase your risk of liver damage, cause dehydration, and worsen stomach side effects like nausea. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Many patients can continue working, but it depends heavily on how you feel, your energy levels, and the type of work you do. Because this medicine can lower your immune system, you should avoid close contact with sick people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
