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Quick facts
- Drug class
- Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC], Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors [MoA]
- How it is given
- oral
- Type
- human prescription drug
- RxNorm ID
- 200327
We do not publish dosing. How much of this medicine to take, how often, and for how long depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other conditions and other medicines. That is a decision for the person who prescribes or dispenses it. Follow the directions on your own pack and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
What it is used to treat
Capecitabine tablet is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor indicated for: Colorectal Cancer • adjuvant treatment of patients with Stage III colon cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. ( 1.1 ) • perioperative treatment of adults with locally advanced rectal cancer as a component of chemoradiotherapy. ( 1.1 ) • treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. ( 1.1 ) Breast Cancer • treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer as a single agent if an anthracycline-or taxane-containing chemotherapy is not indicated. ( 1.2 ) • treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with docetaxel after disease progression on prior anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. ( 1.2 ) Gastric, Esophageal, or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer • treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic gastric, esophageal, or gastroesophageal junction cancer as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. ( 1.3 ) • treatment of adults with HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have not received prior treatment for metastatic disease as a component of a combination regimen. ( 1.3 ) Pancreatic Cancer • adjuvant treatment of adults with pancreatic adenocarcinoma as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. ( 1.4 ) 1.1 Colorectal Cancer Capecitabine tablets are indicated for the: adjuvant treatment of patients with Stage III colon cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. perioperative treatment of adults with locally advanced rectal cancer as a component of chemoradiotherapy. treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. 1.2 Breast Cancer Capecitabine tablets are indicated for the: • treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer as a single agent if an anthracycline- or taxanecontaining chemotherapy is not indicated. […]
About this medicine
Capecitabine, USP is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor. The chemical name is 5’-deoxy-5-fluoro-N-[(pentyloxy) carbonyl]-cytidine and has a molecular weight of 359.35. Capecitabine, USP has the following structural formula: Capecitabine, USP is a white to off-white crystalline powder. Freely soluble in methanol, soluble in acetonitrile and in ethanol. Sparingly soluble in water. Capecitabine tablets, USP are supplied as biconvex, oblong film-coated tablets for oral use. Each light peach-colored tablet contains 150 mg capecitabine and each peach-colored tablet contains 500 mg capecitabine. The inactive ingredients in capecitabine tablets, USP include: 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.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action Capecitabine is metabolized to fluorouracil in vivo. Both normal and tumor cells metabolize fluorouracil to 5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP) and 5-fluorouridine triphosphate (FUTP). These metabolites cause cell injury by two different mechanisms. First, FdUMP and the folate cofactor, N 5-10 -methylenetetrahydrofolate, bind to thymidylate synthase (TS) to form a covalently bound ternary complex. This binding inhibits the formation of thymidylate from 2’-deoxyuridylate. Thymidylate is the necessary precursor of thymidine triphosphate, which is essential for the synthesis of DNA, so that a deficiency of this compound can inhibit cell division. Second, nuclear transcriptional enzymes can mistakenly incorporate FUTP in place of uridine triphosphate (UTP) during the synthesis of RNA. This metabolic error can interfere with RNA processing and protein synthesis.
Who should not take it
Capecitabine tablets are contraindicated in patients with history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to fluorouracil or capecitabine [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )]. History of severe hypersensitivity reactions to fluorouracil or capecitabine (4)
Warnings and cautions
• Cardiotoxicity : May be more common in patients with a prior history of coronary artery disease. Withhold capecitabine tablets for cardiotoxicity as appropriate. The safety of resumption of capecitabine tablets in patients with cardiotoxicity that has resolved has not been established. ( 2.5 , 5.3 ) • Diarrhea : Withhold capecitabine tablets and then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on severity and occurrence. ( 2.5 , 5.4 ) • Dehydration : Optimize hydration before starting capecitabine tablets. Monitor hydration status and kidney function at baseline and as clinically indicated. Withhold capecitabine tablets and then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on severity and occurrence. ( 2.5 , 5.5 ) • Renal Toxicity : Monitor renal function at baseline and as clinically indicated. Optimize hydration before starting capecitabine tablets. Withhold capecitabine tablets and then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on severity and occurrence. ( 2.5 , 5.6 ) • Serious Skin Toxicities : Monitor for new or worsening serious skin reactions. Permanently discontinue capecitabine tablets in patients who experience a severe cutaneous adverse reaction. ( 5.7 ) • Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Syndrome : Withhold capecitabine tablets then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on severity and occurrence. ( 2.5 , 5.8 ) • Myelosuppression : Monitor complete blood count at baseline and before each cycle. capecitabine tablets is not recommended in patients with baseline neutrophil counts <1.5 x 10 9 /L or platelet counts <100 x 10 9 /L. For grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression, withhold capecitabine tablets and then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on occurrence. ( 2.5 , 5.9 ) • Hyperbilirubinemia : Patients with Grade 3-4 hyperbilirubinemia may resume treatment once the event is Grade 2 or less (<3 x ULN), using the percent of current dose as shown in column 3 of Table 1 ( 2.5 , 5.10 ) ] • Embryo-Fetal Toxicity : Can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. […]
Reported side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Cardiotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Dehydration [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Renal Toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Serious Skin Toxicities [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] Hyperbilirubinemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] • Most common adverse reactions in patients who received capecitabine tablets as a single agent for the adjuvant treatment for colon cancer (>30%) were palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, diarrhea, and nausea. ( 6.1 ) • Most common adverse reactions (>30%) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received capecitabine tablets as a single agent were anemia, diarrhea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, hyperbilirubinemia, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. ( 6.1 ) • Most common adverse reactions (>30%) in patients with metastatic breast cancer who received capecitabine tablets with docetaxel were diarrhea, stomatitis, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, nausea, alopecia, vomiting, edema, and abdominal pain. ( 6.1 ) • Most common adverse reactions (>30%) in patients with metastatic breast cancer who received capecitabine tablets as a single agent were lymphopenia, anemia, diarrhea, handand- foot syndrome, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and dermatitis. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc., at 1-888-375-3784 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. […]
Interactions with other medicines
• Allopurinol: Avoid concomitant use of allopurinol with capecitabine tablets. ( 7.1 ) • Leucovorin : Closely monitor for toxicities when capecitabine tablets is coadministered with leucovorin. ( 7.1 ) • CYP2C9 substrates : Closely monitor for adverse reactions when CYP2C9 substrates are coadministered with capecitabine tablets. ( 7.2 ) • Vitamin K antagonists : Monitor INR more frequently and dose adjust oral vitamin K antagonist as appropriate • Phenytoin : Closely monitor phenytoin levels in patients taking capecitabine tablets concomitantly with phenytoin and adjust the phenytoin dose as appropriate. ( 7.2 ) • Nephrotoxic drugs : Closely monitor for signs of renal toxicity when capecitabine tablets is used concomitantly with nephrotoxic drugs. ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Effect of Other Drugs on Capecitabine Tablets Allopurinol Concomitant use with allopurinol may decrease concentration of capecitabine’s active metabolites [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )], which may decrease efficacy. Avoid concomitant use of allopurinol with capecitabine tablets. Leucovorin The concentration of fluorouracil is increased and its toxicity may be enhanced by leucovorin, folic acid, or folate analog products. Deaths from severe enterocolitis, diarrhea, and dehydration have been reported in elderly patients receiving weekly leucovorin and fluorouracil. Instruct patients not to take products containing folic acid or folate analog products unless directed to do so by their healthcare provider. 7.2 Effect of Capecitabine Tablets on Other Drugs CYP2C9 Substrates Capecitabine tablets increased exposure of CYP2C9 substrates [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ], which may increase the risk of adverse reactions related to these substrates. Closely monitor for adverse reactions of CYP2C9 substrates where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious adverse reactions when used concomitantly with capecitabine tablets (e.g., anticoagulants, antidiabetic drugs). […]
Use in specific groups
• Lactation : Advise not to breastfeed. ( 8.2 ) • Hepatic Impairment : Monitor patients with hepatic impairment more frequently for adverse reactions. (8.7) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on findings in animal reproduction studies and its mechanism of action [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )], capecitabine tablets can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Available human data with capecitabine tablets use in pregnant women is not sufficient to inform the drug-associated risk. In animal reproduction studies, administration of capecitabine to pregnant animals during the period of organogenesis caused embryolethality and teratogenicity in mice and embryolethality in monkeys at 0.2 and 0.6 times the exposure (AUC) in patients receiving the recommended dose of 1,250 mg/m 2 twice daily, respectively (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Oral administration of capecitabine to pregnant mice during the period of organogenesis at a dose of 198 mg/kg/day caused malformations and embryo lethality. In separate pharmacokinetic studies, this dose in mice produced 5’-DFUR AUC values that were approximately 0.2 times the AUC values in patients administered the recommended daily dose. Malformations in mice included cleft palate, anophthalmia, microphthalmia, oligodactyly, polydactyly, syndactyly, kinky tail and dilation of cerebral ventricles. Oral administration of capecitabine to pregnant monkeys during the period of organogenesis at a dose of 90 mg/kg/day, caused fetal lethality. This dose produced 5’-DFUR AUC values that were approximately 0.6 times the AUC values in patients administered the recommended daily dose. […]
If too much is taken
Administer uridine triacetate within 96 hours for management of capecitabine tablets overdose. Although no clinical experience using dialysis as a treatment for capecitabine tablets overdose has been reported, dialysis may be of benefit in reducing circulating concentrations of 5’-DFUR, a low– molecular-weight metabolite of the parent compound.
Before you take anything new
Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every medicine you take — including ones bought without a prescription, herbal products and supplements. Interactions are one of the most common avoidable causes of harm from medicines, and a pharmacist can check your full list in a couple of minutes.
This page is built from the openFDA record of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approved labelling for this product, effective 20 November 2025. Label text has been shortened and reformatted for readability; safety wording has not been altered in meaning. FDA labelling describes products approved in the United States — brand names, strengths, formulations and approved uses may differ in your country. Always read the leaflet that comes with your own pack. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the FDA. Retrieved 2026-07-30.