Fluorouracil

— THERAPEUTIC CATEGORIES —
  • Breast cancer
  • Colorectal and other GI cancers
  • Pancreatic, thyroid, and other endocrine cancers

Fluorouracil Generic Name & Formulations

General Description

Fluorouracil 50mg/mL; soln for IV inj.

Pharmacological Class

Antimetabolite.

How Supplied

Contact supplier.

Fluorouracil Indications

Indications

Palliative management of carcinoma of the breast.

Fluorouracil Dosage and Administration

Adult

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.

Children

Not recommended.

Fluorouracil Contraindications

Contraindications

Poor nutritional state. Depressed bone marrow function. Potentially serious infections.

Fluorouracil Boxed Warnings

Not Applicable

Fluorouracil Warnings/Precautions

Warnings/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.

Fluorouracil Pharmacokinetics

See Literature

Fluorouracil Interactions

Interactions

Potentiated by leucovorin.

Fluorouracil Adverse Reactions

Adverse Reactions

Stomatitis, esophagopharyngitis, GI upset, anorexia, leukopenia, alopecia, dermatitis, hand-foot syndrome; others.

Fluorouracil Clinical Trials

See Literature

Fluorouracil Note

Notes

Testing considerations: TS (thymidylate synthase), MSI (microsatellite instability), DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase). Formerly known under the brand name Adrucil.

Fluorouracil Patient Counseling

See Literature

Fluorouracil Generic Name & Formulations

General Description

Fluorouracil 50mg/mL; soln for IV inj.

Pharmacological Class

Antimetabolite.

How Supplied

Contact supplier.

Fluorouracil Indications

Indications

Palliative management of carcinoma of the colon, rectum, and stomach.

Fluorouracil Dosage and Administration

Adult

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.

Children

Not recommended.

Fluorouracil Contraindications

Contraindications

Poor nutritional state. Depressed bone marrow function. Potentially serious infections.

Fluorouracil Boxed Warnings

Not Applicable

Fluorouracil Warnings/Precautions

Warnings/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.

Fluorouracil Pharmacokinetics

See Literature

Fluorouracil Interactions

Interactions

Potentiated by leucovorin.

Fluorouracil Adverse Reactions

Adverse Reactions

Stomatitis, esophagopharyngitis, GI upset, anorexia, leukopenia, alopecia, dermatitis, hand-foot syndrome; others.

Fluorouracil Clinical Trials

See Literature

Fluorouracil Note

Notes

Testing considerations: TS (thymidylate synthase), MSI (microsatellite instability), DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase). Formerly known under the brand name Adrucil.

Fluorouracil Patient Counseling

See Literature

Fluorouracil Generic Name & Formulations

General Description

Fluorouracil 50mg/mL; soln for IV inj.

Pharmacological Class

Antimetabolite.

How Supplied

Contact supplier.

Fluorouracil Indications

Indications

Palliative management of carcinoma of the pancreas.

Fluorouracil Dosage and Administration

Adult

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.

Children

Not recommended.

Fluorouracil Contraindications

Contraindications

Poor nutritional state. Depressed bone marrow function. Potentially serious infections.

Fluorouracil Boxed Warnings

Not Applicable

Fluorouracil Warnings/Precautions

Warnings/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.

Fluorouracil Pharmacokinetics

See Literature

Fluorouracil Interactions

Interactions

Potentiated by leucovorin.

Fluorouracil Adverse Reactions

Adverse Reactions

Stomatitis, esophagopharyngitis, GI upset, anorexia, leukopenia, alopecia, dermatitis, hand-foot syndrome; others.

Fluorouracil Clinical Trials

See Literature

Fluorouracil Note

Notes

Testing considerations: TS (thymidylate synthase), MSI (microsatellite instability), DPD (dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase). Formerly known under the brand name Adrucil.

Fluorouracil Patient Counseling

See Literature