Tegafur, Gimeracil and Oteracil are combined together in this medicine.
This medicine is used on its own or together with other medicine e.g. cisplatin to treat advanced gastric (stomach) cancer.
Take Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 1 hour after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water. Do not divide, chew or crush the capsule.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the course of the treatment depending on your condition and response to the medication.
Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
If you miss a dose, do not take the missed dose. Take only at your next scheduled dose.
DO NOT double a dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- genetic deficiency of an enzyme called dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD)
- severe bone marrow suppression (a condition in which the blood cells are low)
- severe kidney disease requiring dialysis
- severe and unexpected reaction to other anticancer medicine e.g. fluorouracil, capecitabine
as Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby soon. If you become pregnant while being treated with this medicine, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Do not take Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil with sorivudine or brivudine, a medicine used to treat viral infections.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- stomach or bowel problems e.g. diarrhea, gastric obstruction, nausea, vomiting
- eye disorders e.g. dry eyes
Wear gloves when handling Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil to minimise any skin contact. If contact with broken capsules occurs, wash your hands immediately and thoroughly.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly. Routine tests (e.g. kidney and liver function, blood count monitoring) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you will need to have these tests.
This medicine may cause drowsiness, dizziness or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil may cause any of the following side effects: insomnia, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, cough, hearing problems, loss of appetite, or taste alterations.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- sign and symptoms of kidney damage e.g. little or no urine
- signs and symptoms of liver damage e.g. yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles
- sign and symptoms of pancreas damage e.g. severe abdominal pain, severe back pain, severe nausea and vomiting
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
This medicine may cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Alert your doctor if you have a fever, or a cough or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Alert your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Do not take Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil with the following medicines:
- medicines used to treat cancer e.g. capecitabine, 5-fluorouracil
- medicines used to treat viral infections e.g. sorivudine, brivudine
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin
- medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. phenytoin
- medicine for gout (abnormal metabolism of uric acid) e.g. allopurinol
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As Tegafur + Gimeracil + Oteracil is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired tablets to the clinic, hospital or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
Sign Out
