Benzicap 500 Tablet
Benzicap 500 Tablet is used in the treatment of cancer of breast, colon, and rectum. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor. It is used alone or in combination with some other medicine as a part of chemotherapy.
Benzicap 500 Tablet
Basic Information
Important information about this medicine
About This Medicine
General information about this product
Benzicap 500 Tablet is used in the treatment of cancer of breast, colon, and rectum. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor. It is used alone or in combination with some other medicine as a part of chemotherapy.
Benzicap 500 Tablet is used in the treatment of cancer of breast, colon, and rectum. It may be also used to treat other conditions, as determined by the doctor. It is used alone or in combination with some other medicine as a part of chemotherapy.
Benzicap 500 Tablet should be taken with food within 30 minutes after eating a meal. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.
The most common side effects of this medicine include vomiting, weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (decrease white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver, and blood uric acid levels.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your doctor know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.
03Uses
Cancer of colon and rectum
Breast cancer
04How To Use
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Benzicap 500 Tablet is to be taken with food.
05How It Works
Benzicap 500 Tablet is an anticancer medication. Inside the body, this medicine gets converted into 5-fluorouracil (chemical). This chemical hampers the synthesis of genetic materials (RNA and DNA) in the cancer cells, thereby interferes with their growth. This slows down the growth of cancer cells and eventually kills them.
06What If You Miss A Dose?
Q: What if you forget to take this medicine?
A:
07Side Effects
Fatigue
Vomiting
Increased bilirubin in the blood
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation)
Weight loss
Stomatitis (Inflammation of the mouth)
Hair loss
Dehydration
Constipation
Eye irritation
Nausea
Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
Hand-foot syndrome
Fever
Pain
Breathlessness
Low blood platelets
Decreased appetite
Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils)
Edema (swelling)
08Safety Information
Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Benzicap 500 Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR
Benzicap 500 Tablet is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.
Breast feeding:UNSAFE
Benzicap 500 Tablet is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
Driving:UNSAFE
Benzicap 500 Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
Kidney:CAUTION
Benzicap 500 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Benzicap 500 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Benzicap 500 Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
Liver:CAUTION
Benzicap 500 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Benzicap 500 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Benzicap 500 Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.
09Drug Tips
Benzicap 500 Tablet is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of colon, rectum or breast cancers.
It is oral chemotherapy, hence it is preferred by many patients.
It should be taken within 30 minutes after eating a meal.
The dose and the number of treatment cycles needed will depend on the type and stage of cancer that is being treated.
It may cause dizziness and tiredness. Don’t drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
Frequency of hair loss is much less compared to other chemotherapy drugs.
Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Your doctor may regularly monitor your blood cells during treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, rash or severe diarrhea.
Inform your doctor immediately if you start to have side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, mouth sores, chest pain or loss of appetite.
Benzicap 500 Tablet is used alone or in combination with other medicines for the treatment of colon, rectum or breast cancers.
It is oral chemotherapy, hence it is preferred by many patients.
It should be taken within 30 minutes after eating a meal.
The dose and the number of treatment cycles needed will depend on the type and stage of cancer that is being treated.
It may cause dizziness and tiredness. Don’t drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
Use a reliable contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine.
Frequency of hair loss is much less compared to other chemotherapy drugs.
Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Your doctor may regularly monitor your blood cells during treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, rash or severe diarrhea.
Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection such as fever, sore throat, rash or severe diarrhea.
Inform your doctor immediately if you start to have side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, mouth sores, chest pain or loss of appetite.
References
Sources and references
Chabner BA, Bertino J, Cleary J, et al. Cytotoxic Agents. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1698.
Chu E, Sartorelli AC. Cancer Chemotherapy. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 947.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. p. 191.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Capecitabine. [Updated 2018 Dec 3]. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2020] (online) Available from: View
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 27 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: View
Fresenius Kabi. Capecitabine [producr Information]. [Accessed 12 Jun, 2023] (online) Available from: View
