MedlinePlus Drug Information: Fluorouracil

Skip navigation


Other drug names:	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Fluorouracil

(flure oh yoor' a sill)

Contents of this page:
About your treatment Other uses for this medicine Precautions	Side effects In case of emergency/overdose Special instructions Brand names Other names

About your treatment Return to top

Your doctor has ordered the drug fluorouracil to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.

This medication is used to treat:

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.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top

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.

Precautions Return to top

Before taking fluorouracil,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluorouracil or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, leucovorin, and vitamins.
you should know that fluorouracil may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details). Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Fluorouracil may harm the fetus.
do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.

Side effects Return to top

Side effects from fluorouracil are common and include:

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

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

mouth blistering
fatigue

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

In case of emergency/overdose Return to top

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.

Special instructions Return to top

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.

Brand names Return to top

Adrucil®

Other names Return to top

5-FU

Last Revised - 04/01/2003
Last Reviewed - 08/01/2007

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer

AHFS^® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2008. 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.