Distamine 500mg Tablet
Manufacturer
Neon Laboratories Ltd
Salt Composition
Capecitabine (500mg)
Key Information
Short Description
Distamine 500mg Tablet is used in the treatment of cancer of breast, colon, and rectum.
Dosage Form
Tablet
Introduction
Distamine 500mg 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.
Directions for 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. Distamine 500mg Tablet is to be taken with food.
Safety Information
Side Effects
vomiting weakness nausea abdominal pain diarrhea
Alcohol Warning
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Distamine 500mg Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Breastfeeding Warning
Distamine 500mg Tablet is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.
Pregnancy Warning
Distamine 500mg 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.
Interacting Medicines
Allopurinol Acenocoumarol Fosphenytoin Phenytoin
How it works
Distamine 500mg 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.
Quick Tips
Distamine 500mg 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the common side effects of Distamine 500mg Tablet?
The common side effects of Distamine 500mg 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, joint, 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.
What are the serious side effects of Distamine 500mg Tablet?
The use of Distamine 500mg 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.
Does Distamine 500mg Tablet make you tired?
Yes, Distamine 500mg 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 Distamine 500mg Tablet may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
What is the most important information that I should know about Distamine 500mg Tablet?
It is important to know that Distamine 500mg Tablet can interfere with the 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.
How long do I need to take Distamine 500mg Tablet?
The duration of treatment with Distamine 500mg 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. Distamine 500mg 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.
Do I need to use birth control method while using Distamine 500mg Tablet?
Yes, birth control methods are a must while using Distamine 500mg 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.
What kind of drug is Distamine 500mg Tablet?
Distamine 500mg Tablet is an anti-cancer (antineoplastic or cytotoxic) chemotherapy drug. Distamine 500mg Tablet is classified as an 'antimetabolite.' Distamine 500mg 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.
Do I need to get any tests done while on Distamine 500mg Tablet?
The doctor will check you on a regular basis while you are taking Distamine 500mg 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.
Should Distamine 500mg 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 Distamine 500mg Tablet needs to be crushed or cut, it should be done by a trained professional using appropriate equipment and safety procedures.
