Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Xeloda

Descriptions


Capecitabine is used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments in patients with colon cancer that has spread (Stage III) to help prevent colon cancer from coming back after surgery. It is also used together with other cancer treatments and radiation treatment, around the time of surgery, to treat rectal cancer that has spread. This medicine is also used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments to treat colorectal cancer that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery.

Capecitabine is also used together with docetaxel to treat breast cancer that has spread throughout the body in patients who have received other medicines (eg, anthracycline medicine) that did not worked well. This medicine is also used alone to treat breast cancer in patients who are not able to receive anthracycline medicine or taxane medicine.

Capecitabine is also used in combination with other cancer treatments to treat esophageal, gastric (stomach), or gastroesophageal junction in patients whose cancer has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It is also used to treat esophagus, stomach, or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma that has spread throughout the body in patients whose cancer has an abnormal HER2 gene and who have not received other cancer treatments.

Capecitabine is also used in combination with other cancer treatments to prevent pancreatic cancer from coming back after surgery.

Capecitabine belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics (cancer medicines). It interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed by the body. Since the growth of normal cells may also be affected by the medicine, other side effects may also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet

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