Xelox

Xelox is an oral medication that contains a combination of the chemotherapy drugs Xeloda (capecitabine) and oxaliplatin. Available since 1998, Xeloda is the only FDA-approved chemotherapy pill for both metastatic breast cancer and colorectal cancer (adjuvant and metastatic).

Xelox is usually taken in 21 day cycles. Typically, Xelox patients take the pill for 14 consecutive days followed by a 7 day rest period where no medication is taken. Although there are no restrictions on foods, beverages, or activities while taking Xelox, patients should not take Xelox if they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Xelox may also be unsafe in patients who have a known hypersensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and in patients with known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency. In addition, patients with severe renal impairment generally should not take Xelox. For patients with moderate renal impairment, Xelox dose reduction is required.

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In some cases, severe bleeding and death have resulted when Xelox and the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin) were taken together, or when treatment with warfarin (Coumadin) was started in the month following treatment with Xelox. As a result, Xelox Patients should talk to their doctors if they are taking warfarin. Additionally, patients should talk to their doctors before taking Xelox in combination with any of the following drugs:

phenytoin (Dilantin)
leucovorin (Wellcovorin)
folic acid

How Xelox Works
When swallowed, an ingredient in Xelox is activated by enzymes within the body. A naturally occurring protein called thymidine phosphorylase, or TP, transforms the Xeloda in Xelox into 5-FU, a powerful cell-killing drug. Because many cancers have higher TP levels than normal tissue, more 5-FU is delivered to tumors than to normal tissue. Thus, cancer cells are killed while most normal cells survive.

Xelox Side Effects
Xelox side effects may vary depending on what other chemotherapy drugs are being taken. In rare cases, Xelox patients have suffered from severe allergic reactions and sudden death. However, the most common adverse side effects reported by Xelox users are:

diarrhea
nausea
stomatitis
hand-foot syndrome

If you or a loved one took Xelox and suffered a serious side effect, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to assess your legal rights.

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