xeloda

Important safety information

Cardiotoxicity : May be more common in patients with a prior history of coronary artery disease. Withhold XELODA for cardiotoxicity as appropriate. The safety of resumption of XELODA in patients with cardiotoxicity that has resolved has not been established. ( 2.5 , 5.3 ) Diarrhea : Withhold XELODA 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 XELODA. Monitor hydration status and kidney function at baseline and as clinically indicated. Withhold XELODA 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 XELODA. Withhold XELODA 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 XELODA in patients who experience a severe cutaneous adverse reaction. ( 5.7 ) Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Syndrome : Withhold XELODA 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. XELODA is not recommended in patients with baseline neutrophil counts <1.5 × 10 9 /L or platelet counts <100 × 10 9 /L. For grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression, withhold XELODA 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 × 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. ( 5.11 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Serious Adverse Reactions or Death from Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase (DPD) Deficiency Patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous variants in the DPYD gene known to result in complete or near complete absence of DPD activity (complete DPD deficiency) are at increased risk for acute early-onset toxicity and serious, including fatal, adverse reactions due to XELODA (e.g., mucositis, diarrhea, neutropenia, and neurotoxicity). Patients with partial DPD activity (partial DPD deficiency) may also have increased risk of serious or fatal, adverse reactions. Prior to initiating XELODA, test patients for genetic variants of the DPYD gene unless immediate treatment is necessary [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.5) ]. Serious adverse reactions may still occur even if no DPYD variants are identified. Avoid use of XELODA in patients with certain homozygous or compound heterozygous DPYD variants that result in complete DPD deficiency. Withhold or permanently discontinue XELODA based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration, and severity of adverse reactions in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe reactions. No XELODA dose has been proven safe for patients with complete DPD deficiency. There are insufficient data to recommend a specific dose in patients with partial DPD deficiency. For patients with partial DPD deficiency, individualize the dosage and modify based on tolerability and intent of treatment. An FDA-authorized test for the detection of genetic variants of the DPYD gene to identify patients at risk of serious adverse reactions with XELODA treatment is not currently available. Currently available tests used to identify DPYD variants may vary in accuracy and design (e.g., which DPYD variant(s) they identify). 5.2 Increased Risk of Bleeding With Concomitant Use of Vitamin K Antagonists Altered coagulation parameters and/or bleeding, including death, have been reported in patients taking XELODA concomitantly with vitamin K antagonists, such as warfarin. Clinically significant increases in PT and INR have been reported in patients who were on stable doses of oral vitamin K antagonists at the time XELODA was introduced. These events occurred within several days and up to several months after initiating XELODA and, in a few cases, within 1 month after stopping XELODA. These events occurred in patients with and without liver metastases. Monitor INR more frequently and adjust the dose of the vitamin K antagonist as appropriate [see Drug Interactions (7.1) ]. 5.3 Cardiotoxicity Cardiotoxicity can occur with XELODA. Myocardial infarction/ischemia, angina, dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, sudden death, electrocardiographic changes, and cardiomyopathy have been reported with XELODA. These adverse reactions may be more common in patients with a prior history of coronary artery disease. Withhold XELODA for cardiotoxicity as appropriate [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . The safety of resumption of XELODA in patients with cardiotoxicity that has resolved have not been established. 5.4 Diarrhea Diarrhea, sometimes severe, can occur with XELODA. In 875 patients with metastatic breast or colorectal cancer who received XELODA as a single agent, the median time to first occurrence of grade 2 to 4 diarrhea was 34 days (range: 1 day to 1 year). The median duration of grade 3 to 4 diarrhea was 5 days. Withhold XELODA and then resume at same or reduced dose or permanently discontinue based on severity and occurrence [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . 5.5 Dehydration Dehydration can occur with XELODA. Patients with anorexia, asthenia, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea may be at an increased risk of developing dehydration with XELODA. Optimize hydration before starting XELODA. Monitor hydration status and kidney function at baseline and as clinically indicated. Withhold XELODA and then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on severity and occurrence [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ]. 5.6 Renal Toxicity Serious renal failure, sometimes fatal, can occur with XELODA. Renal impairment or coadministration of XELODA with other products known to cause renal toxicity may increase the risk of renal toxicity [see Drug Interactions (7.3) ] . Monitor renal function at baseline and as clinically indicated. Optimize hydration before starting XELODA. Withhold XELODA and then resume at same or reduced dose, or permanently discontinue, based on severity and occurrence [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . 5.7 Serious Skin Toxicities Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal, can occur with XELODA [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . Monitor for new or worsening serious skin reactions. Permanently discontinue XELODA for severe cutaneous adverse reactions. 5.8 Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Syndrome Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (PPES) can occur with XELODA. In patients with metastatic breast or colorectal cancer who received XELODA as a single agent, the median time to onset of grades 1 to 3 PPES was 2.6 months (range: 11 days to 1 year). Withhold XELODA and then resume at same or reduced dose or permanently discontinue based on severity and occurrence [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . 5.9 Myelosuppression Myelosuppression can occur with XELODA. In the 875 patients with metastatic breast or colorectal cancer who received XELODA as a single agent, 3.2% had grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 1.7% had grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, and 2.4% had grade 3 or 4 anemia. In the 251 patients with metastatic breast cancer who received XELODA with docetaxel, 68% had grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, 2.8% had grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia, and 10% had grade 3 or 4 anemia. Necrotizing enterocolitis (typhlitis) has been reported. Consider typhlitis in patients with fever, neutropenia and abdominal pain. Monitor complete blood…