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Medications for Colorectal Cancer

Other names: Cancer, Colon; Cancer, Colorectal; Cancer, Rectal; Colon Cancer; Colon Carcinoma; Colorectal Carcinoma; Rectal Cancer

About Colorectal Cancer:  The colon and rectum are part of the large intestine (large bowel). Colon and rectum cancers, which are sometimes referred to together as "colorectal cancer," arise from the lining of the large intestine. (When cancer arises from the lining of an organ like the large intestine, it is called a carcinoma.)

Other types of colon cancer are rare, and include lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, and sarcomas. Use of the term "colon cancer" for the rest of this article refers to colon "carcinoma" and not the other, rare types of colon cancer.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs Used to Treat Colorectal Cancer

The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.

Drug name Rx / OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol Reviews Rating Popularity
Xeloda D N 6 reviews
8.0

Generic name: capecitabine systemic

Drug class: antimetabolites

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

oxaliplatin D N 3 reviews
6.0

Generic name: oxaliplatin systemic

Brand name:  Eloxatin

Drug class: alkylating agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

fluorouracil D N Add review Rate

Generic name: fluorouracil systemic

Drug class: antimetabolites

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Avastin C N 3 reviews
7.0

Generic name: bevacizumab systemic

Drug class: VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

leucovorin C N Add review Rate

Generic name: leucovorin systemic

Brand name:  Wellcovorin

Drug class: antidotes

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

capecitabine D N 10 reviews
8.0

Generic name: capecitabine systemic

Brand name:  Xeloda

Drug class: antimetabolites

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

irinotecan D N 2 reviews
3.0

Generic name: irinotecan systemic

Brand name:  Camptosar

Drug class: miscellaneous antineoplastics

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Stivarga D N 2 reviews
10

Generic name: regorafenib systemic

Drug class: multikinase inhibitors, VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

bevacizumab C N 3 reviews
7.0

Generic name: bevacizumab systemic

Brand names:  Avastin, Mvasi

Drug class: VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph

Erbitux C N 4 reviews
7.0

Generic name: cetuximab systemic

Drug class: EGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Camptosar D N 1 review
5.0

Generic name: irinotecan systemic

Drug class: miscellaneous antineoplastics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

cetuximab C N 4 reviews
7.0

Generic name: cetuximab systemic

Brand name:  Erbitux

Drug class: EGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph

Eloxatin D N Add review Rate

Generic name: oxaliplatin systemic

Drug class: alkylating agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Vectibix C N 3 reviews
5.0

Generic name: panitumumab systemic

Drug class: EGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Zaltrap C N Add review Rate

Generic name: ziv-aflibercept systemic

Drug class: VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Fusilev C N Add review Rate

Generic name: levoleucovorin systemic

Drug class: antidotes

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

panitumumab C N 4 reviews
4.0

Generic name: panitumumab systemic

Brand name:  Vectibix

Drug class: EGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph

Betaseron C N X Add review Rate

Generic name: interferon beta-1b systemic

Drug class: interferons

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Lonsurf N Add review Rate

Generic name: tipiracil / trifluridine systemic

Drug class: antineoplastic combinations

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

methotrexate Off Label X N X Add review
6.0

Generic name: methotrexate systemic

Drug class: antimetabolites, antirheumatics, antipsoriatics, other immunosuppressants

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Off Label: Yes

regorafenib D N 2 reviews
10

Generic name: regorafenib systemic

Brand name:  Stivarga

Drug class: multikinase inhibitors, VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions,

For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph

Wellcovorin C N Add review Rate

Generic name: leucovorin systemic

Drug class: antidotes

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph

Keytruda D N Add review Rate

Generic name: pembrolizumab systemic

Drug class: Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Mvasi C N Add review Rate

Generic name: bevacizumab systemic

Drug class: VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Cyramza C N Add review Rate

Generic name: ramucirumab systemic

Drug class: VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Topics under Colorectal Cancer

Learn more about Colorectal Cancer

IBM Watson Micromedex

Symptoms and treatments

Drugs.com Health Center

Mayo Clinic Reference

Legend

Rx Prescription Only
OTC Over the Counter
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over the Counter
Off Label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

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