Does Capecitabine Interact with Leucovorin?
CDI records a major classification for Capecitabine and Leucovorin. The stored summary is: Concentration of fluorouracil is increased and toxicity may be enhanced. Deaths from severe enterocolitis, diarrhea, and dehydration reported in elderly patients. The mechanism involves increased fluorouracil concentration and enhanced toxicity. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
- Severity
- Major
- Capecitabine Class
- Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
Increased fluorouracil concentration and enhanced toxicity
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Capecitabine and your doctor is considering prescribing Leucovorin (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider