fluorouracil IV

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dry/itchy skin, skin darkening, and sun sensitivity/sunburn may occur. Nausea and vomiting can be severe. In some cases, drug therapy may be necessary to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting. Not eating before your treatment may help relieve vomiting. Changes in diet such as eating several small meals or limiting activity may help lessen some of these effects. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Mild diarrhea is also a common side effect. However, diarrhea can infrequently become persistent or severe, causing very serious problems due to a loss of too much body water (dehydration). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop: persistent/severe diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, or blood/mucus in your stool.
Temporary hair loss may occur. Normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Hand and foot problems sometimes occur with fluorouracil use. You can prevent or reduce these problems by protecting your hands and feet from a great deal of heat or pressure. For example, avoid taking hot baths/showers, handwashing dishes with hot water, taking long walks, and rubbing your hands/feet. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop the following symptoms on your hands/feet: redness, peeling skin, blisters, pain, numbness, tingling, or swelling. If you develop these symptoms, consult your doctor for treatment options (e.g., reducing your dose or stopping fluorouracil therapy, applying ice packs to the hands/feet).
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: headache, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion), vision changes, unusual eye movements, loss of coordination, unusual tiredness.
Get medical help right away if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, blood in the urine, black/bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, stomach/abdominal pain, chest pain, jaw/left arm pain, mouth sores, sore throat, painful swallowing, heartburn, pain/redness/swelling of the arms/legs.
This medication can lower the body\'s ability to fight an infection. Notify your doctor promptly if you develop any signs of an infection such as fever, chills or persistent sore throat.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but get medical help right away if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
Fluorouracil can commonly cause a rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Therefore, get medical help right away if you develop a rash.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before using fluorouracil, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: poor nutrition, decreased bone marrow function/blood cell disorders (e.g., anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia), a serious infection.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver problems, kidney problems.
Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor, and avoid contact with people who have recently received oral polio vaccine.
Use caution with sharp objects like safety razors or nail cutters and avoid activities such as contact sports to lower the chance of getting cut, bruised or injured.
Wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infections.
This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may cause harm to an unborn baby. Women of childbearing age and men should use reliable form(s) of birth control during therapy and for some time afterwards. Consult your doctor for more details.
It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor\'s approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain antibiotics (metronidazole, tinidazole), warfarin.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

NOTES:
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood counts) should be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE:
For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.

STORAGE:
Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
Information last revised September 2012. Copyright(c) 2012 First Databank, Inc.