Do NOT use Xeloda if:

You should not take Xeloda if you are allergic to capecitabine or fluorouracil (Adrucil), or if you have severe kidney disease or a metabolic disorder called DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase) deficiency. Do not use Xeloda if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control while you are taking Xeloda, whether you are a man or a woman. Tell your doctor if a pregnancy occurs during treatment. You should not breast-feed while you are taking Xeloda.

Before you take Xeloda, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, a history of coronary artery disease, or if you are also taking folic acid (contained in many vitamin and mineral supplements), leucovorin (Wellcovorin), phenytoin (Dilantin), or a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin).

While taking Xeloda, you will need blood tests at your doctor's office on a regular basis. Do not miss any appointments. You must remain under the care of a doctor while you are taking Xeloda.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as severe vomiting or diarrhea, fever or flu symptoms, pain or redness of your hands or feet, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), chest pain, sudden numbness or weakness, or fainting. 

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use Xeloda if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby.

Use birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking Xeloda, whether you are a man or a woman. Tell your doctor if a pregnancy occurs during treatment.

It is not known whether capecitabine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking Xeloda. People over 80 years old may be more likely to have certain side effects from Xeloda.

Important safety information: 

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

bosentan (Tracleer);

fluoxetine (Prozac);

fosphenytoin (Cerebyx);

montelukast (Singulair) or zafirlukast (Accolate);

rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate);

selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar);

voriconazole (Vfend);

cancer medication such as paclitaxel (Taxol) or tamoxifen (Soltamox);

heart or blood pressure medications such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), carvedilol (Coreg), losartan (Hyzaar, Cozaar), or torsemide (Demadex);

type 2 diabetes medications such as glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), nateglinide (Starlix), pioglitazone (Actos, Actoplus Met), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia, Avandamet), or tolbutamide (Orinase); or

sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Gantanol, Gantrisin, Septra, SMX-TMP, and others).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Xeloda. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Xeloda: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:


severe diarrhea (more than 4 times per day, or during the night);

vomiting (more than once in 24 hours);

nausea, loss of appetite, eating much less than usual;

weakness, feeling light-headed, hot or dry skin;

pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, blistering, or peeling skin on your hands or feet;

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

swelling, white patches, or sores in your mouth or throat;

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;

sudden numbness, weakness, headache, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, or balance; or

slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop).

Less serious Xeloda side effects may include:

stomach pain or upset, constipation;

tired feeling;

temporary hair loss;

mild skin rash;

headache, dizziness;

altered sense of taste;

back pain, joint or muscle pain;

eye irritation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.