Bdocin 500mg Tablet (Capecitabine)

Bdocin 500mg Tablet contains capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine cytotoxic chemotherapy medicine converted in the body to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). It is used in colorectal, breast, and several gastrointestinal cancer treatments. The 500 mg tablet is a strength, not a universal dose; treatment is usually calculated from body surface area and the regimen.

Hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, mucositis, and myelosuppression are common clinically important toxicities. Severe or fatal toxicity can occur in patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency. However, this medicine requires strict medical supervision.

• Colon cancer
  
• Colorectal cancer
  
• Breast cancer
  
• Gastric cancer
  
• Pancreatic cancer
  
• Biliary tract cancer

Capecitabine 500mg tablets may be used after surgery, for advanced or metastatic cancer, or with other medicines depending on the cancer type. The dose and treatment schedule vary according to the disease and treatment plan.

Capecitabine tablets are converted into 5-FU in the body. The active metabolites of 5-FU block thymidylate synthase, an enzyme needed for DNA production, and can also interfere with RNA function. This disrupts the production of genetic material needed for cancer cell growth and multiplication, helping slow the growth of cancer cells.

X-ACT: In stage III colon cancer, capecitabine 500mg worked about as well as the older 5-FU plus leucovorin treatment after surgery.

CREATE-X: In some HER2-negative breast cancer patients who still had invasive cancer after chemotherapy before surgery, the capecitabine tablet improved treatment outcomes.

Capecitabine 500mg tablets may produce side effects that range from minor to major. Monitoring regularly will help in detecting these side effects and adjusting treatment accordingly.

Common side effects

• Hand-foot syndrome
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Nausea/vomiting
  
• Mouth sores
  
• Fatigue
  
• Reduced appetite
  
• Abdominal discomfort
  
• Low blood counts

Serious side effects

• Severe diarrhea/dehydration
  
• Severe DPD-deficiency toxicity
  
• Cardiotoxicity/ischemia
  
• Severe skin reactions
  
• Liver toxicity
  
• Myelosuppression
  

Important: These are only general references to be used when giving treatments. The physician will prescribe the proper dosage, frequency, interaction with other drugs, adjustment of dosage because of renal or hepatic dysfunction, and management of adverse effects depending on the patient's status.

If a dose is missed, do not replace it or take extra tablets. Take the next scheduled dose at the usual time. Do not repeat a dose after vomiting.

• The renal function must be evaluated periodically since it influences capecitabine 500mg clearance.
  
• Blood examinations have to be carried out in order to control the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets levels.
  
• The liver function and bilirubin levels have to be assessed in order to detect any potential liver disorders.
  
• Any manifestation like redness, swelling, pain, and peeling of hands and feet and sores in the mouth should be controlled.
  
• It is important to report any cases of diarrhea and dehydration.
  

1. Current Xeloda/capecitabine prescribing information https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/020896s037lbl.pdf​
   
2.  Twelves C, et al. X-ACT https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17241512/​
   
3. Masuda N, et al. CREATE-X. NEJM https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1612645​
   
4. Current NCCN colorectal and breast cancer guidelines https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/category_1​