Xeloda Starting Dosage

devotion10
devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband has just completed eight FOLFOX/Avastin treatments (he had to stop Oxi after 4 sessions) for his stage four recurring colorectal cancer with mets to liver and lungs. His most recent CT scans showed stable disease in abdomen, slight decrease in liver, and slight increase in lungs .... his oncologist has switched his treatment to Xeloda pills 4000 mg for two weeks on, one week of, and Avastin every three weeks. Is this high a starting dosage typical?

Comments

  • LOUSWIFT
    LOUSWIFT Member Posts: 371 Member
    #2
    Xeloda
    I took the max dose in 2006 which was 3000mg per day (may be more now) and I got very bad hand and foot syndrome as a result. However, I took it for 15 weeks almost quit week 13 but stuck it out. Still have nerve damage in my feet and one finger. But as I recall the stuff didn't hit me hard until week 3. I'm sure he can take it he sounds like one strong determined guy with what he's been through. All my best! Lou
  • bigCrandy
    bigCrandy Member Posts: 75
    #3
    probably typical
    I was put on xeloda at 4000mg, 8 pills, 4 in the morning, 4 in the evening. I was supposed to take it for 2 weeks and then take a week off. I had to quit after 9 days with severe hand and foot syndrome, especially the palms and fingers of my hands and also severe mouth sores. After I stopped taking them, the skin on my palms and fingers peeled off completely, my mouth was so bad I couldn't hardly eat anything, blisters on lips and in mouth. I lost 7 or 8 pounds in about 4 days. I've been on every chemo out there the past 3 yrs. I was diagnosed stage 3C but now am stage 4 with mets to lungs and several lymph nodes. My oncologist just started me on Erbitux and Irinotecan yesterday, we will see what happens. I hope and pray that your husband handles the pills better than I did. As soon as he notices his hands getting red and puffy and sore, tell him to let his oncologist know right away, it could get serious fast. I put it off to long and continued to work mowing and weedeating everyday wearing gloves to protect my hands which probably made matters worse due to the extra friction of using my hands to much. He wanted to reduce the dosage down to 3000mg but I just stopped taking them because of how bad everything was. Everybody is different when it comes to side effects. God Bless both of you, stay strong, Randy
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #4
    Stage II here
    I too had to quit the oxi. Made it thru' 5 treatments.

    Started Xeloda 3,300 mgs. 3 weeks later my Doc dropped me down to 3,000 mgs. Got the hand & foot syndrome. Caught it very early in the game and was reduced to 2,000 mgs.which seems to be the dose for me.

    I think they try to go by height/weight. My Doc says that rarely works but it is a starting point and then they can reduce the meds as needed.

    Good luck with the Xeloda. At least it is more convenient than the 5-FU pump.Make sure he takes it within 30 minutes of eating and drinks lots of water with it. It is pretty hard on the stomach.

    -Pat
  • devotion10
    devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
    #5
    LOUSWIFT said:

    Xeloda
    I took the max dose in 2006 which was 3000mg per day (may be more now) and I got very bad hand and foot syndrome as a result. However, I took it for 15 weeks almost quit week 13 but stuck it out. Still have nerve damage in my feet and one finger. But as I recall the stuff didn't hit me hard until week 3. I'm sure he can take it he sounds like one strong determined guy with what he's been through. All my best! Lou

    Thank you Lou
    He went into his adventure with some existing neuropathy which did get a bit worse with the Oxi. I am hoping that he will not have serious side effects with the Xeloda, but I understand that it is accumulative. Again, thank you or your response.
  • devotion10
    devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
    #6
    bigCrandy said:

    probably typical
    I was put on xeloda at 4000mg, 8 pills, 4 in the morning, 4 in the evening. I was supposed to take it for 2 weeks and then take a week off. I had to quit after 9 days with severe hand and foot syndrome, especially the palms and fingers of my hands and also severe mouth sores. After I stopped taking them, the skin on my palms and fingers peeled off completely, my mouth was so bad I couldn't hardly eat anything, blisters on lips and in mouth. I lost 7 or 8 pounds in about 4 days. I've been on every chemo out there the past 3 yrs. I was diagnosed stage 3C but now am stage 4 with mets to lungs and several lymph nodes. My oncologist just started me on Erbitux and Irinotecan yesterday, we will see what happens. I hope and pray that your husband handles the pills better than I did. As soon as he notices his hands getting red and puffy and sore, tell him to let his oncologist know right away, it could get serious fast. I put it off to long and continued to work mowing and weedeating everyday wearing gloves to protect my hands which probably made matters worse due to the extra friction of using my hands to much. He wanted to reduce the dosage down to 3000mg but I just stopped taking them because of how bad everything was. Everybody is different when it comes to side effects. God Bless both of you, stay strong, Randy

    Randy, I am appreciated your response.
    Yes, this is exactly his treatment plan with the Avastin added. It sound as if you had quite a bad experience with the Xeloda and I wish you the best of luck with your new treatment plan. Thank you for your kind words.
  • Brenda3.16
    Brenda3.16 Member Posts: 209
    #7
    Jaylo969 said:

    Stage II here
    I too had to quit the oxi. Made it thru' 5 treatments.

    Started Xeloda 3,300 mgs. 3 weeks later my Doc dropped me down to 3,000 mgs. Got the hand & foot syndrome. Caught it very early in the game and was reduced to 2,000 mgs.which seems to be the dose for me.

    I think they try to go by height/weight. My Doc says that rarely works but it is a starting point and then they can reduce the meds as needed.

    Good luck with the Xeloda. At least it is more convenient than the 5-FU pump.Make sure he takes it within 30 minutes of eating and drinks lots of water with it. It is pretty hard on the stomach.

    -Pat

    I have been on Xeloda since
    I have been on Xeloda since Sept 2009. I started at 3600 mg, 7 days on and 7 days off. My onc just reduced the dose to 3000 mg last week. I had mild redness in hands and feet. I have not had any side effects. I also get Avastin every other week. I work full time, travel, exedrcise, and run my 14 year old daughter all over. I take Vit B6 twice a day it is supposed to help with Hand/Foot syndrome. I also use bag balm at least once a day on my hands and feet. I always take the Xeloda 30mins after eating and drind a large glass of water.

    I was thrilled to be rid of the 5-FU pump !!

    Good Luck,

    Brenda
  • devotion10
    devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
    #8
    Jaylo969 said:

    Stage II here
    I too had to quit the oxi. Made it thru' 5 treatments.

    Started Xeloda 3,300 mgs. 3 weeks later my Doc dropped me down to 3,000 mgs. Got the hand & foot syndrome. Caught it very early in the game and was reduced to 2,000 mgs.which seems to be the dose for me.

    I think they try to go by height/weight. My Doc says that rarely works but it is a starting point and then they can reduce the meds as needed.

    Good luck with the Xeloda. At least it is more convenient than the 5-FU pump.Make sure he takes it within 30 minutes of eating and drinks lots of water with it. It is pretty hard on the stomach.

    -Pat

    Glad you responded
    It is good to hear both the good and the bad experiences of the Xeloda .... I am glad that you have found a dosage that works for you. It is a shame that one has to get the hand and foot syndrome to signal the necessity of a lower dosage, isn't it? My husband is happy to be without the pump this weekend, but I am privately very afraid for him and what adverse side effects he may have over the next period of time. Thank you for your advice regarding the eating/water.
  • devotion10
    devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
    #9
    Jaylo969 said:

    Stage II here
    I too had to quit the oxi. Made it thru' 5 treatments.

    Started Xeloda 3,300 mgs. 3 weeks later my Doc dropped me down to 3,000 mgs. Got the hand & foot syndrome. Caught it very early in the game and was reduced to 2,000 mgs.which seems to be the dose for me.

    I think they try to go by height/weight. My Doc says that rarely works but it is a starting point and then they can reduce the meds as needed.

    Good luck with the Xeloda. At least it is more convenient than the 5-FU pump.Make sure he takes it within 30 minutes of eating and drinks lots of water with it. It is pretty hard on the stomach.

    -Pat

    Pat -- message below for you
    Still getting a handle on posting replies.
  • devotion10
    devotion10 Member Posts: 623 Member
    #10
    Brenda3.16 said:

    I have been on Xeloda since
    I have been on Xeloda since Sept 2009. I started at 3600 mg, 7 days on and 7 days off. My onc just reduced the dose to 3000 mg last week. I had mild redness in hands and feet. I have not had any side effects. I also get Avastin every other week. I work full time, travel, exedrcise, and run my 14 year old daughter all over. I take Vit B6 twice a day it is supposed to help with Hand/Foot syndrome. I also use bag balm at least once a day on my hands and feet. I always take the Xeloda 30mins after eating and drind a large glass of water.

    I was thrilled to be rid of the 5-FU pump !!

    Good Luck,

    Brenda

    Brenda -- This is encouraging.
    I know that the Xeloda treatment can vary so much between individuals. I am hoping my husband will be one of the lucky ones like you. He has had no nausea with the 5-FU, only fatigue. He has also continued to work and tries to exercise on his treadmill as much as possible. He is 69 and was in excellent health before his diagnosis. I will suggest the Vit B6 to him and we purchased the bag balm. He thinks it smells like something he should polish his shoes with, but I understand it is helpful. Thanks again for your comments and good luck to you.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #11
    Hi D
    This is typical and normal to begin treatment.

    What he can do as things progesss (the toxicity builds up steadily every week) is to have his onc adjust his dosage down to 3000 mgs a day, but switch to a 7-on and 7-off schedule.

    This benefits you 2 ways - it helps on the toxicity of the drug to tolerate it better and it will save you an extra Rx each month - one bottle will carry him a month.

    Start out strong like you're doing, but when the feet and stomach begin to give you too much trouble, ask your onc about the switch. You'll still be delivering a very strong dose of chemo, but going from 14/7 to 7/7 will make it much more bearable as the treatment wanes on.

    I did Xeloda for 11-months.

    Take care - Craig
  • kersha
    kersha Member Posts: 63
    #12
    xeloda dosing
    My husband started off with 3000mg daily for 7 days and 7 days off but he got bad hand and foot syndrome also after the 5th cycle he got diarrhea and lost like 10lbs that the doc. stopped treatment. After a few weeks when he stabilized he started back at 2000mg daily for 7 days on and 7 days off with avastin and is doing well on that.
  • pacificlou
    pacificlou Member Posts: 2
    #13
    kersha said:

    xeloda dosing
    My husband started off with 3000mg daily for 7 days and 7 days off but he got bad hand and foot syndrome also after the 5th cycle he got diarrhea and lost like 10lbs that the doc. stopped treatment. After a few weeks when he stabilized he started back at 2000mg daily for 7 days on and 7 days off with avastin and is doing well on that.

    Just Started with xeloda

    Curious as to how many hours between taking xeloda, they recomend 12 hours between but that seems a little too long? Thanks

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    edited September 2018 #14
    pacificlou said:

    Just Started with xeloda

    Curious as to how many hours between taking xeloda, they recomend 12 hours between but that seems a little too long? Thanks

    Hello

    Just to let you know that this is a very old thread, and many of those posting here have passed away.  The member you have replied under has not posted since last year, so may not respond. 

    Why don't you open up a new thread here  https://csn.cancer.org/forum/128   and see if anyone else can help you with your question. 

    Tru

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