DBL Fluorouracil (Fluorouracil)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is DBL Fluorouracil Used For?
DBL Fluorouracil is a cancer treatment medicine that belongs to a group called chemotherapy medicines. It’s designed to fight cancer by targeting cancer cells specifically.
Primary Uses
This medicine treats several types of cancer including breast cancer, colon cancer, rectum cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterine cancer (especially cervical), ovarian cancer, and bladder cancer. It may be used alone or combined with other cancer medicines.
How It Works
DBL Fluorouracil works by killing cancer cells and stopping them from growing and multiplying. This helps control the spread of cancer in your body.
How DBL Fluorouracil Is Given
DBL Fluorouracil is always given by a doctor or nurse in a hospital setting. You cannot take this medicine at home.
How It’s Administered
The medicine can be given in three ways: as an injection directly into a vein, as a continuous slow injection through a drip into a vein, or as a slow injection through a drip into an artery. Your doctor will decide which method and what dose is right for you based on your medical condition.
Treatment Schedule
You may need several courses of treatment depending on how you respond. Additional treatments won’t be given until your blood cell counts return to safe levels and any side effects are under control.
Important: This medicine must only be given by a doctor or nurse – it cannot be self-administered
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- hair loss
- skin rash
- changes in skin or nail appearance
- euphoria
- tiredness
- headache
- dizziness
- fatigue
- irritability
- restlessness
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- yellowing of skin or eyes
- chest pain
- irregular and/or rapid heart-beat
- loss of consciousness
- signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, cough, pain with urination, swollen or red skin)
- unusual bleeding or bruising (including bloody or black stools, blood in urine)
- severe diarrhea
- severe abdominal pain
- severe mouth ulceration
- difficulty swallowing
- seizures or coma
- allergic reactions (shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of face/lips/tongue, rash, itching, hives)
Important Warnings
There are several important situations where DBL Fluorouracil should not be used, and conditions your doctor needs to know about before treatment.
Who Should Not Take DBL Fluorouracil
Do not use if you are allergic to fluorouracil or any ingredients, have an infection or high temperature, have blood disorders with reduced red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets, have blood clotting problems, have lowered immunity due to diseases like HIV/AIDS or cancer, have lowered immunity due to treatments like corticosteroids or radiation therapy, or have complete dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, any enzyme deficiencies (especially dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency which can be life-threatening), previous radiation treatment, other cancer treatments, or if you’re planning vaccinations.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
For females: Tell your doctor immediately if you’re pregnant or planning pregnancy. Use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months after your last dose. Do not breastfeed during treatment. For males: Tell your doctor if your partner plans to become pregnant. Use barrier contraception (like condoms) during treatment and for at least 3 months after your last dose, as this medicine can cause birth defects.
Birth Defects Warning: This medicine may cause birth defects if either partner is using it at the time of conception
Drug Interactions
Several medicines can interfere with DBL Fluorouracil and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- allopurinol (used to treat gout)
- cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers)
- phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy)
- warfarin (used to prevent blood clots)
- brivudine and sorivudine (used to treat viral infections)
- metronidazole (used to treat some types of infections)
- leucovorin (folinic acid) (used together with some cancer therapy)
- levamisole, methotrexate and other cytotoxic medicines (used to treat cancer)
- thiamine (vitamin B1)
Alcohol & Driving
DBL Fluorouracil can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol, so precautions are needed.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may make dizziness or confusion worse, so it’s best to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during treatment.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how this medicine affects you. DBL Fluorouracil may cause dizziness, tiredness, or confusion. If you experience these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that could be dangerous.
Storage
DBL Fluorouracil is stored at the hospital where you receive treatment. The hospital is responsible for proper storage and disposal of any unused medicine.
Overdose Information
Since DBL Fluorouracil is given under medical supervision in a hospital, an overdose is unlikely. However, if you experience severe side effects, tell your doctor or nurse immediately. Overdose symptoms are usually the same as regular side effects but more severe in nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several courses of fluorouracil therapy may be needed depending on your response to treatment. Your doctor will determine the length of treatment based on how well you respond and your blood cell counts.
You should take precautions for one week after treatment including: flushing the toilet twice, wearing gloves when cleaning body fluid spills, washing contaminated clothing separately, using barrier contraception, and disposing of contaminated items properly.
Avoid people with infections, check with your doctor if you get fever or chills, be careful with dental hygiene, avoid sharp objects that could cut you, and avoid contact sports where you might get injured.
Contact your doctor immediately if you think you may be getting an infection, or if you develop fever, chills, cough, sore throat, lower back or side pain, or painful urination.
Check with your doctor before having any dental work. Be careful when using toothbrushes, toothpicks, or dental floss. Your healthcare team may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums.
Remind any doctor, dentist, nurse, or pharmacist you visit that you are being treated with DBL Fluorouracil Injection BP.
You may develop increased sensitivity to sunlight. Avoid excessive sun exposure and sun lamps, wear sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent skin reactions like redness, itching, swelling, or blistering.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.