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Capecitabine

Capecitabine Side Effects

Allison Baxley, PharmD, BCOPConnie Zheng, PharmD
Reviewed by Allison Baxley, PharmD, BCOP, Connie Zheng, PharmD
Last reviewed on January 26, 2024

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Hand-and-foot syndrome (up to 60%)
  • Diarrhea (up to 55%)
  • Nausea (up to 43%)
  • Fatigue or tiredness (up to 42%%)
  • Stomach pain (up to 35%)
  • Vomiting (up to 27%)
  • Open mouth sores (up to 25%)

Note: Side effects were reported by people who took [[EDITOR|DRUG_DISPLAY_NAME]] for colon or colorectal cancer.

Less Common Side Effects

  • Constipation
  • Change in taste
  • Hair loss
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Trouble catching your breath
  • Eye irritation

Capecitabine serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Severe diarrhea or blood in your stool
  • Severe skin reactions: rash, blisters, peeling skin, painful swelling
  • Heart problems: heart attack, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm

Source: DailyMed

The following Capecitabine side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Abdominal or stomach pain

diarrhea

loss of fingerprints

nausea

numbness, pain, tingling, or other unusual sensations in the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet

pain, blistering, peeling, redness, or swelling of the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet

pain, redness, swelling, sores, or ulcers in your mouth or on your lips

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

Less common or rare

Abdominal or stomach cramping or pain (severe)

agitation

back pain

bleeding and bruising

bleeding gums

blood in the urine or stools

bloody nose

bloody or black, tarry stools

blurred vision

burning, dry, or itching eyes

chest pain

chills

clumsiness or unsteadiness

cold

collapse

coma

confusion

constipation

convulsions

cough or hoarseness (accompanied by fever or chills)

cough producing mucus

coughing or spitting up blood

dark urine

decreased frequency or amount of urine

difficulty with breathing

difficulty with swallowing or pain in the back of throat or chest when swallowing

discharge from the eyes

drowsiness

dry mouth

excessive tearing

extra heartbeats

eye redness, irritation, or pain

fainting

fast or irregular heartbeat

fever or chills

flu-like symptoms

hallucinations

headache, sudden and severe

heavier menstrual periods

high fever

hot, red skin on the feet or legs

inability to speak

increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding

increased thirst

irritability

itching in the genital or other skin areas

lightheadedness

light-colored stools

loss of consciousness

lower back or side pain (accompanied by fever or chills)

muscle aches or cramps

muscle spasms

nosebleeds

numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips

painful or difficult urination (accompanied by fever or chills)

painful, swollen feet or legs

pain, tenderness, or swelling in the upper abdominal or stomach area

pale skin

paralysis

pinpoint red spots on the skin

problems with coordination

prolonged bleeding from cuts

rapid, shallow breathing

red or dark brown urine

redness, pain, or swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid

scaling

seizures

severe constipation

skin rash or itching

slow or irregular heartbeat

slurred speech

sneezing, sore throat, or stuffy nose

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stiff neck

stomach bloating, burning, or cramping

swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

swelling of the lymph nodes

swollen glands

temporary blindness

tiredness or weakness

trouble with speaking

troubled breathing or tightness in the chest

unexplained nosebleeds

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual lump or swelling in the chest

vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe

weight gain or loss

white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue

white patches with diaper rash

yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Chest discomfort, tightness, or heaviness

dilated neck veins

dizziness

extreme fatigue

irregular breathing

no blood pressure or pulse

pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck

stopping of heart

sweating

unconsciousness

weight gain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings

changes or discoloration in the fingernails or toenails

difficulty with moving

discouragement

headache

heartburn

increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

muscle pain

pain

pain and redness of the skin at the place of x-ray treatment

pain in the joints or limbs

red, sore eyes

sunken eyes

thirst

trouble sleeping

weakness

wrinkled skin

Rare

Bone pain

change in color of treated skin

difficulty with walking

discouragement

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

feeling sad or empty

full or bloated feeling or pressure in the stomach

general feeling of discomfort or illness

hot flushes

impaired balance

increased sweating

joint pain

lack of appetite

loss of interest or pleasure

muscle weakness

noisy breathing

pain in the rectum

pain, swelling, or redness in the joints

passing less gas

rough, scratchy sound to voice

runny nose

sensation of spinning

shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

shivering

sores on the skin

swelling of abdominal or stomach area

tremor or shaking of the hands or feet

trouble concentrating

voice changes

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Why trust our experts?

Allison is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist with more than 12 years of clinical experience in oncology. After completing her residency, she accepted a position at the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and she has remained there ever since.
Connie Zheng, PharmD, is a drug information pharmacist at GoodRx and a licensed pharmacist in California. She has over 6 years of experience working in independent pharmacies.

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