Details

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Tegafur 100mg + Uracil 224mg Capsules is an anticancer medication.

Tegafur is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil belonging to group antimetabolites, that is rapidly converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) inside the body and uracil delays the catabolism of 5-FU. This maintains required concentrations of 5-FU in the tumor cell.

Tegafur is preferred over 5-FU because of its efficacy, less adverse effects and low cost.

Mechanism of action: (1)Tegafur acts by converting to  5-FU that is further metabolized into active cytotoxic metabolites into 5-fluorouridine 5′-monophosphate (5-FUMP) and 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-monophosphate (5-FdUMP).These metabolites inhibits  RNA processing  and DNA synthesis & function by binding to them. This results in death of the cancer cell.(2)  5-FU is rapidly cataboliszed by enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). uracil inhibits this enzyme delaying the removal of 5-FU from the body.

It is available as UFT in both International and Indian markets.

 

Uses

• Tegafur 100mg + Uracil 224mg Capsules is primarily prescribed in metastatic colorectal cancer as the first line of treatment along with calcium calcium folinate.
• UFT is also indicated in Anal  cancer, Breast cancer, Gastroesophageal cancer,Head  and neck cancer, Hepatocellular cancer,gallbladder & bile dcut cancer, Uterine cervical cancer,pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer.

 

Dosage

• UFT comes as opaque, white, hard gelatin capsules containing white granules and/or white powder in airtight containers.
• Final dosages are determined by the doctor on the basis of factors such as medical condition, age, weight and ongoing medications.
• Dose is adjusted to minimise the dose related side effects.
• UFT is stored at temperatures not more than 25°C.

 

Side effects

• Headache
• Fever
• Infection
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Mucositis
• Diarrhea
• Neurotoxicity
• abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hepatic toxicity
• Gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding
• Myelosuppression

 

Precautions

• Tegafur 100mg + Uracil 224mg Capsules is contraindicated in case of allergy to 5-FU or other components of the drug.
• It is also contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women as it causes severe damage to the foetus.
• Tegafur 100mg + Uracil 224mg Capsules must be used carefully in patients of severe myelosuppression, hepatic dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, heart patients and bowel obstruction symptoms.
• Regular blood tests and liver function tests must be done.
• Patients must be monitored carefully to avoid any dose related side effects.
• Tell the doctor about ongoing medications and any allergy before starting the drug.
• Always tell the doctor about pregnancy or future plan of pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Calcium folinate is also prescribed with this drug to minimise the toxic effects.