Your doctor has ordered the drug fluorouracil to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.
colon cancer
rectal cancer
breast cancer
stomach cancer
pancreatic cancer
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Fluorouracil belongs to a group of drugs known as antimetabolites. It resembles a normal cell nutrient needed by cancer cells to grow. The cancer cells take up fluorouracil, which then interferes with their growth.
Fluorouracil is also used to treat ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and bladder cancer. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
thinned or brittle hair
headache
weakness or achiness
drying or darkening of the skin or nails
sensitivity of skin to sunlight
blistering skin or acne
loss of appetite or weight
tingling in the hands or feet
mouth blistering
fatigue
painful urination or red urine
black, tarry stools
diarrhea
stomach pain
unusual bruising or bleeding
swelling of the feet or legs
cough
fever
sore throat
nausea and vomiting
rash
yellowing of the skin or eyes
joint pain
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
The most common side effect of fluorouracil is a decrease in the number of blood cells. Your doctor may order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by the drug.
Last Reviewed - 04/01/2012
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.