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Tegafur and Uracil
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About tegafur and uracil
| Type of medicine | Antimetabolite |
| Used for | Colorectal cancer |
| Also called | Uftoral® |
| Available as | Capsules |
This medicine is used alongside a preparation known as calcium folinate to treat colorectal cancer.
Before taking tegafur and uracil
Before taking tegafur and uracil make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or intend to have children in the future, or breast-feeding.
- If you suffer from liver, kidney or heart problems.
- If your bone marrow does not function properly.
- If you have bowel pain and constipation.
- If you are receiving or have recently received radiotherapy.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine.
- If you are under 18 years of age.
- If you are taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
How to take tegafur and uracil
- Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
- Take your medication exactly as directed by your doctor.
- This medicine must be taken at least one hour before food or one hour after meals. Take it at the same time as the calcium folinate your doctor has also prescribed for you.
- Try to take this medicine at the same times each day to avoid missing any doses.
- This medicine occasionally causes you to feel or be sick. It is important to keep taking this medicine at regular dosage times even if you begin to feel unwell.
- If you are sick shortly after taking a dose, or you forget a dose, check with your doctor. You will be told whether to take the dose again, or wait until the next dose is due.
Getting the most from your treatment
- Before buying any medicines, check with your pharmacist which medicines are safe for you to take alongside this medicine.
- Important: You must not get pregnant while taking this medicine. If you are male, you must not get a woman pregnant. Ask your doctor, hospital or pharmacist about suitable contraception.
- You must keep your regular appointments with the doctor or hospital so your progress can be checked. You may need to have regular blood tests during your treatment with this medicine.
- Before having any kind of surgery, including dental or emergency treatment tell the surgeon, doctor or dentist you are taking this medicine.
- While you are taking this medicine, and for a while after you stop treatment, do not have any immunisations (vaccinations) without talking to your doctor first. This preparation lowers the body's resistance and there is a chance that you may get an infection from the vaccine.
Can tegafur and uracil cause problems
Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.
| Common side-effects | What can I do if I experience this |
| Diarrhoea | Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids. If severe, let your doctor know |
| Feeling or being sick | Eat little and often and stick to simple foods such as dry toast. Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids. If the sickness continues, speak with your doctor |
| Dizziness, drowsiness, confusion | Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert |
| Headache, muscle pain | Ask your pharmacist or doctor to recommend a suitable pain-killer |
| Constipation | Try to eat a well balanced diet containing plenty of fibre and drink 6-8 glasses of water each day |
| Dry mouth | Try chewing sugar-free gum, sucking pieces of ice, or sugar-free sweets |
| Increased sensitivity to sunlight | Avoid sun beds, and try to avoid sunlight or use a sun protection cream higher than factor 15 until you know how your skin reacts |
| Stomach pain, sores in mouth and throat, loss of appetite, weakness, dehydration, change in taste, difficulty in sleeping, depression, tingling feeling, watery eyes, swelling of the ankles and lower legs, cough, difficulty in breathing, hair loss, skin rash and peeling, weight loss, sweating | Speak with your doctor if troublesome |
This medicine can lower the number of white cells in your blood, increasing the chance of you getting an infection. If possible avoid people with infections and check with your doctor if you think you are getting an infection.
If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to this medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store tegafur and uracil
- Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Important information about all medicines
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References
- British National Formulary; 54th Edition (September 2007) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF).
- Summary of Product Characteristics, Uftoral®, Merck Ltd, electronic Medicines Compendium. Text revised 26 November 2006, accessed 21 February 2008.
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