Citabin Tablet

Composition Capecitabine (500mg)
Rx Prescription Required
Pack strip of 10 tablets
Storage Store below 30°C
Chemical Class Deoxycytidine Derivative
Action Class Antimetabolites
Habbit Forming No
Manufacturer United Biotech Pvt Ltd
Manufacturer address FC/B-1 (Extn.), Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate Mathura Road, New Delhi – 110 044

Citabin 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.

Breast cancer
Cancer of colon and rectum

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. Citabin Tablet is to be taken with food.

Citabin 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.

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Citabin 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.

Q. What are the side effects of Citabin Tablet?

The side effects of Citabin Tablet include stomach pain or upset stomach, constipation, loss of appetite, and change in ability to taste food. It may also cause increased thirst, unusual tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache, hair loss, skin rash, back, join, or muscle pain. You may also experience red, swollen, itchy, or teary eyes and trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Inform your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe and persist for long.

Q. What are the serious side effects of Citabin Tablet?

The use of Citabin Tablet may cause various serious side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, sores in the mouth, swelling, pain, redness, or peeling of skin on the palms and soles of the feet. One may also experience fever, chills, sore throat, or other signs of an infection, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, chest pain or pressure, fast heartbeat, dark urine and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any such symptoms.

Q. Does Citabin Tablet make you tired?

Yes, Citabin Tablet may make you tired and you may also feel weak, as these are the most common side effects of the medicine. Hence, it is possible that use of Citabin Tablet may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Q. What is the most important information that I should know about Citabin Tablet?

It is important to know that Citabin Tablet can interfere with working of blood thinners like warfarin. This type of interference can cause a change in the rate of clot formation and can cause bleeding that can even lead to death. The risk is higher for cancer patients, especially those who are over 60 years of age. Seek immediate medical help if you experience symptoms like unusual bleeding, vomiting or spitting up blood or brown material that resembles coffee grounds, bloody or black, tarry stools, blood in urine, red or dark-brown urine, or easy bruising.

Q. How long do I need to take Citabin Tablet?

The duration of treatment with Citabin Tablet depends on the nature of your illness and individual response to treatment. Usually, it is given as a series of treatment cycles, each of these cycles lasts for 21 days. Citabin Tablet is given for 14 days followed by a rest period of 7 days. You should continue taking this medicine for the time prescribed by the doctor.

Q. Do I need to use birth control method while using Citabin Tablet?

Yes, birth control methods are a must while using Citabin Tablet, as this medicine may harm your unborn child. Females should continue using these methods for 6 months after the final dose. On the other hand, men using these medicines whose partners can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 3 months after the final dose.

Q. What kind of drug is Citabin Tablet?

Citabin Tablet is an anti-cancer (antineoplastic or cytotoxic) chemotherapy drug. Citabin Tablet is classified as an “antimetabolite.” Citabin Tablet itself is not a cytostatic medicine; it gets converted into an active anti-cancer medicine (more in tumour tissue than in normal tissue) only after getting absorbed by the body.

Q. Do I need to get any tests done while on Citabin Tablet?

The doctor will check you on a regular basis while you are taking Citabin Tablet to monitor side effects and your response to therapy. You may need to get your blood test done as advised by the doctor to monitor your complete blood count (CBC) as well as the function of kidneys and liver.

Q. Should Citabin Tablet be taken with or without food?

Capecitabine should be taken within 30 minutes after finishing a meal. Swallow tablets as a whole (do not cut or crush) with water. Consult your doctor if you cannot take the whole tablet. If Citabin Tablet needs to be crushed or cut, it should be done by a trained professional using appropriate equipment and safety procedures.

In Breast cancer

Citabin Tablet helps to treat breast cancer and it may be used alone or in combination with other medicines or treatment modalities like chemotherapy. It relieves the symptoms of breast cancer such as breast lumps, bloody discharge from nipples or changes in the shape or texture of the breast. Citabin Tablet kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. Discuss with your doctor if any of the side effects bother you.

In Cancer of colon and rectum

Cancer of the colon and rectum, also known as colorectal cancer (CRC) or bowel cancer, is the development of cancer from two parts of the large intestine, namely, the colon or rectum. In this type of cancer, the person may notice symptoms such as blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, and fatigue. Citabin Tablet treats and also lowers the risk of developing further cancerous growths (polyps) and bowel cancer. It kills or stops the growth of cancer cells and also prevents the multiplication of cancer cells. It is an effective, yet very toxic medicine and you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Avoid drinking alcohol or smoking while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.show moreshow less

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Blisters on fingers/feet

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Nausea

Weakness

Vomiting

Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Citabin Tablet. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Citabin 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

Citabin Tablet is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Driving:UNSAFE

Citabin Tablet may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.

Kidney:CAUTION

Citabin Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Citabin Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Citabin Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.

Liver:CAUTION

Citabin Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Citabin Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Use of Citabin Tablet is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease.

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.

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