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Capecitabine

A chemotherapy tablet for bowel, breast, stomach and pancreatic cancers.

Clinical information

Common uses

  • colon and rectal cancer
  • advanced or metastatic breast cancer
  • stomach, oesophageal or gastroesophageal cancer
  • pancreatic cancer (adjuvant, in combination)

Common side effects

  • sore, red or peeling hands and feet
  • diarrhoea
  • feeling sick
  • tiredness
  • anaemia (low red blood cells)

Cautions

  • serious bleeding with warfarin-type blood thinners — INR monitored
  • people with DPD enzyme deficiency risk severe, fatal reactions
  • heart problems can occur, especially with heart disease history
  • severe diarrhoea and dehydration need urgent treatment

Interactions

  • warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists — bleeding risk, monitor INR
  • allopurinol — avoid
  • phenytoin — levels may rise, monitor
  • leucovorin — increases toxicity
  • kidney-harming drugs — monitor kidney function

Pregnancy: avoid — can harm the unborn baby; use effective contraception

Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, capecitabine tablet label, setid 0b59e98c-5b34-4b93-90f6-20526f4d4f88 (accessed 2026-08-16)

Approved brands & formulations2

Brand nameDosage formStrengthImporterCategory
CapecitabineTablet150 mgPOM
CAPIIBINE 500Tablet500 mgState Trading Organization PlcPOM
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