Capecitabine
Pyrimidine Analogues
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- Drug class
- Pyrimidine Analogues
- Availability
- Prescription only
- Routes
- Oral
- Markets covered
- 4
- Products on record
- 53
- FDA reports (12 mo)
- 3,607
Overview
Plain-language summary, compiled from the cited regulatory records
Capecitabine is a pyrimidine analogue [1]. It is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor used to treat certain types of cancer [1].
Capecitabine is approved for the adjuvant treatment of Stage III colon cancer, either alone or with other chemotherapy drugs [1]. It is also used for the perioperative treatment of adults with locally advanced rectal cancer as part of chemoradiotherapy [1]. Additionally, it is indicated for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with other therapies [1].
In the past 12 months, there have been 3607 adverse event reports associated with capecitabine [2]. The most frequently reported adverse events include diarrhea, nausea, malignant neoplasm progression, off-label use, and myelosuppression [2].
This is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Regulatory status by market
| Market | Regulator | Products | Last revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB United Kingdom | MHRA | 28 | May 15, 2026 |
| CA Canada | Health Canada | 16 | May 28, 2026 |
| EU European Union | EMA | 5 | July 11, 2025 |
| US United States | FDA | 4 | February 3, 2026 |
GBUnited Kingdom· MHRA
28 products
Uses
1). 1). 1). 1) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Previous therapy should have included an anthracycline. as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of taxanes and an anthracycline containing chemotherapy regimen or for whom further anthracycline therapy is not indicated.
How to take
CACanada· Health Canada
16 products
Uses
Caution:
ACH-CAPECITABINE (capecitabine) is a potent drug and should be prescribed only by physicians experienced with cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.
ACH-CAPECITABINE (capecitabine) is indicated for:
Colorectal Cancer Monotherapy • ACH-CAPECITABINE (capecitabine) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage III (Dukes’ stage C) colon cancer. • ACH-CAPECITABINE is also indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Combination Therapy ACH-CAPECITABINE in combination with oxaliplatin is indicated for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer following failure of irinotecan-containing combination chemotherapy. In second-line metastatic disease, subgroup analyses for PFS and OS for age suggest that ACH- CAPECITABINE in combination with oxaliplatin may be less effective in patients over the age of 65.
EUEuropean Union· EMA
5 products
Uses
1). 1). 1). 1) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Previous therapy should have included an anthracycline. - as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of taxanes and an anthracycline containing chemotherapy regimen or for whom further anthracycline therapy is not indicated.
3
How to take
USUnited States· FDA
4 products
Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Capecitabine tablet is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor indicated for: Colorectal Cancer • adjuvant treatment of patients with Stage III colon cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen.
1 ) • perioperative treatment of adults with locally advanced rectal cancer as a component of chemoradiotherapy. 1 ) • treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen.
1 ) Breast Cancer • treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer as a single agent if an anthracycline-or taxane-containing chemotherapy is not indicated. 2 ) • treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with docetaxel after disease progression on prior anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.
2 ) Gastric, Esophageal, or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer • treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic gastric, esophageal, or gastroesophageal junction cancer as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen. 3 ) • treatment of adults with HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have not received prior treatment for metastatic disease as a component of a combination regimen.
Drug interactions
Known interactions involving Capecitabine. Select one for details. This list is informational and not a complete interaction checker.
Showing 240 of 294. Type above to find a specific drug.
Interaction data compiled from DDInter (academic, CC-BY). Severity classification only - this is not a complete interaction checker and not medical advice.
Sources & citations
- [1]MHRA (UK) · PLGB200751266 · revised May 15, 2026
- [2]Health Canada (DPD) · 02426757 · revised April 27, 2026
- [3]European Medicines Agency · EMEA/H/C/002362 · revised July 11, 2025
- [4]FDA DailyMed · 007e3432-c8aa-2a… · revised November 20, 2025 [PDF]
- [5]OpenFDA adverse-event reports (US), 12 months ending June 4, 2026.
Information on this page is compiled from public regulatory records. Drugvu is not affiliated with any regulator or pharmaceutical manufacturer. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.