Monograph Details
|
|
Neoplasms
> Antimetabolites
|
|
Fluorouracil |
| Manufacturer |
|
Various generic manufacturers |
| Legal Classification |
|
Rx
|
| Pharmacological Class |
|
Antimetabolite. |
| Generic Name |
|
Fluorouracil 50mg/mL; soln for IV inj. |
| Indications |
|
Palliative management of carcinoma of the colon, rectum, breast, stomach, and pancreas. |
| Children |
|
Not recommended. |
| Adults |
|
Give by IV inj. 12mg/kg once daily for 4 successive days; max 800mg/day. If no toxicity is observed, 6mg/kg are given on the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th days unless toxicity occurs. Maintenance therapy: repeat dosage of 1st course every 30 days after the last day of the previous course of treatment; or give a maintenance dose of 10–15mg/kg per week as a single dose; max: 1g/week. Poor risk patients: see literature for dose adjustments. |
| Contraindications |
|
Poor nutritional state. Depressed bone marrow function. Potentially serious infections. |
| Precautions |
|
Narrow margin of safety; monitor for toxicity. Consider hospitalization for 1st course. History of high-dose pelvic irradiation. Previous use of alkylating agents. Widespread involvement of bone marrow by metastatic tumors. Renal or hepatic impairment. Discontinue if signs of toxicity appear (eg, stomatitis, esophagopharyngitis, leukopenia, intractable vomiting, diarrhea, GI ulceration or bleeding, thrombocytopenia, hemorrhage). Monitor WBCs with differential before each dose. Avoid extravasation. Pregnancy (Cat.D); avoid use. Nursing mothers: not recommended. |
| Interactions |
|
Potentiated by leucovorin. |
| Adverse Reactions |
|
Stomatitis, esophagopharyngitis, GI upset, anorexia, leukopenia, alopecia, dermatitis, hand-foot syndrome; others. |
| How Supplied |
|
Contact supplier. |
| Additional Resources |
|
• Related Prescribing Note |
|
|
|
|
