Xeloda & Eating

[bankusboysmom]

Good Morning Ladies,

This question is for those of you that take Xeloda: I was told to take it with a "substantial" meal twice a day. What is meant by substantial? I eat one good meal and a smaller meal each day. It's all I can do and I feel much better when I stick with this amount of food. When it says "take with food" is it to keep side effects down? or to help with absorption of the drug to make it work as effectively as possible?

Thanks for your help,

Melinda

[Iwasborntodothis]

Wow no one ever explained this to me Thank You!!!

[Jonesburger]

Sandra, your explanation was the most detailed and helpful explanation I’ve learned for Xeloda. Thank you. I wish I had this info while I was on It. It didn’t work for me (after 6 months) so I wonder if I could have made it more effective by eating differently.

I’m now on Exemestane and Verzenio and was told to take a meal with Exemestane but I’ve only taken it with a slice of toast in the morning or a glass of smoothie. Do you think this is enough?

Now I wonder if I have to force myself to eat something more substantial.

For Verzenio, I wasn’t told to eat it with a meal so I take my AM pill first thing without food. And again at 10:30pm without food.

[Gorgeousness]

Your explanation is so good. I fast between 8pm and 12pm so take my morning ones with a glass of water with lemon juice. Do you think I should change this?

[hdhonda]

WOW Sandra, makes me wonder if this is why some of these drugs aren't working for even a short time. Maybe the patient should have been told why food and water is important. Drug Information inserted in the drug package is useless, most folks can't read them without a magnifier. Thank you for being you. Blessings, Hannah

[Rbeth]

I was taking Xeloda and my Cancer numbers 27-29 went up while I was on it - 171 to 184 in a week. I was on a week then off two weeks. I am getting a PET scan on Wednesday. I took my meds at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM. I thought if I took it at night with some fruit that was food. What do you consider a meal?

I have MBC in the lining of my stomach and my rectum. Thanks for the information. Reenie

[SeattleMom]

Hi Melinda!

I’m on Xeloda, and I have found that a large meal is unnecessary; ie bowl of cereal will suffice in the morning. As I understand it, getting a bit of food in your stomach helps to prevent queasy stomach/nausea.

Hope this helps! 💗💗🙏🏻🙏🏻

Linda

[SeattleMom]

Thx for the info, Sandra. I was unaware of the importance of quick absorption. Sure would be nice if oncologists explained this process with patients! 🙄🙄

[SeattleMom]

Good point. I should say that I pick up my meds at Seattle’s cancer care center, and pharmacist simply mentioned importance of taking with food. Your explanation was so much more helpful. Sometimes wonder if the pharmacies, even at cancer centers, are just too “busy” to explain the “why’s.” 🙄🙄

[Gwennie123]

Thanks For your very helpful explanation. It’s the first time it’s been explained so beautifully.

[626262]

Thank you so much for the explanation about the Xeloda. It is so helpful to have a description of the digestive process. It is information that can help so many. Even those of us that have been on the drug for over year! Very grateful for your knowledge and taking the time to inform that which the pharmacists and physicians often fall short.

[Sparky95]

Hi Sandra,

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise. I know Xeloda is probably my next line of treatment. I appreciate knowing it is an oral form of 5FU. I was treated with CMF back in 95.

Esther

[Cureforever]

Hi again,The doctor told me to take it with food. Then some lady here wrote to take it 30 mins after the meal. I asked her how she knows it. She said that it’s on the instruction to the drug.

I believe that I read the instruction and found it there

I started waiting 30 mins after the meal.

Thanks

[Cureforever]

Thank you Sandra,As always I appreciate your help. I used to do as you but then started waiting for 30 mins after I read the instruction

Best Ty o you and all of us