Capecitabine Side Effects

Brand Names: Xeloda

Please note - some side effects for Capecitabine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Capecitabine - for the Consumer

Capecitabine

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Capecitabine:

Back, joint, or muscle pain; constipation; dizziness; eye irritation; headache; itchy or dry skin; loss of appetite; mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; stomach pain; taste changes; tiredness; trouble sleeping; upset stomach; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry stools; bloody diarrhea; chest, jaw, or left arm pain; decreased amount of urine; discolored skin; dry mouth or eyes; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever higher than 100.5 degrees F, chills, or sore throat; hair loss; increased thirst; leg pain or swelling; moderate to severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; mood or mental changes (eg, depression); nail problems; numbness of an arm or leg; numbness, pain, tingling, blistering, swelling, or redness in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet; pain, redness, swelling, or sores in the mouth or throat; persistent cough or wheezing; shortness of breath; sudden, severe headache or vomiting; swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including lymphopenia (58% to 94%), anemia (44% to 74%), neutropenia (16% to 22%), and thrombocytopenia (15% to 21%) have been reported. Cases of severe hypertriglyceridemia induced by capecitabine have also been reported.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea (50%), nausea (44%), vomiting (26%), stomatitis (23%), abdominal pain (17%), constipation (9%), and dyspepsia (6%) have been reported. A case of capecitabine-induced pancreatitis has also been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including hand and foot syndrome (35% to 45%), dermatitis (23% to 31%), nail disorder (4%), alopecia, erythematous rash, pruritus, eruptive multiple lentigo maligna-like lesions, radiation recall dermatitis, pyogenic granulomas, photoeruption, hyperpigmentation, and inflammatory responses in actinic keratosis have been reported. A case of leopard-like vitiligo and a case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus have also been reported.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including hyperbilirubinemia (34%) and hepatic failure have been reported.

General

General side effects including fatigue (34%), pyrexia (10%), and limb pain (4%) have been reported.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects including anorexia (20%) and dehydration (5%) have been reported.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including paresthesia (12%), headache (7%), dizziness (5%), and insomnia (3%) have been reported. A case of cerebellar ataxia has also been reported.

Ocular

Ocular side effects including eye irritation (10%) and lacrimal duct stenosis have been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including edema (6%) have been reported. Three cases of severe angina-like chest pain possibly or probably related to capecitabine treatment have been reported. One case of capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm has also been reported.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including myalgia (4%) have been reported.

Other

Other side effects including a case of tumor lysis syndrome have been reported.

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