Download Medications for Colorectal Cancer

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Medications for Colorectal Cancer
by Michelle Badash, MS
En Español (Spanish Version)
The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below.
Only the most general side effects are included. Ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use
each of these medications only as recommended by your doctor, and according to the instructions provided. If you
have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
Medications may help to either prevent or reduce side effects of treatment, or to manage certain side effects once
they occur. You can develop side effects from the treatment and/or from the cancer itself. Tell your doctor when
you notice a new symptom, and ask him or her if any of these medications are appropriate for you.
Prescription Medications
+ Nausea Therapies
Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Ondansetron (Zofran)
Granisetron (Kytril)
Metoclopramide (Octamide, Metoclopramide Intensol, Reglan)
+ Corticosteroids
Dexamethasone (Cortastat, Dalalone, Decadrol, Decadron, Decaject, Dexacorten, Dexamethasone Intensol,
Dexasone, Dexone, Hexadrol, Mymethasone, Primethasone, Solurex)
Prednisone (Cordrol, Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone, Prednicot, Prednisone Intensol, Pred-Pak,
Sterapred)
+ Painkillers—Narcotics
Hydrocodone (Dilaudid, Hydrostat)
Methadone (Astramorph PF, Duramorph, Kadian, MS Contin, OMS Concentrate, Oramorph SR, Rescudose,
RMS Uniserts, Roxanol)
Oxycodone and Acetaminophen (Percocet)
+ Blood Stem Cell Support Drugs
Filgrastim (Neupogen)
Epoetin (Epogen, Procrit)
Over-the-Counter Medications
+ Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Ibuprofen (Advil, Bayer Select Ibuprofen, Dolgesic, Excedrin IB, Genpril, Haltran, Ibifon, Ibren, Ibu,
Ibuprin, Ibuprohm, Medipren, Midol IB, Motrin, Nuprin, Q-Profen, Rufen, Trendar)
Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn)
Prescription Medications
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Nausea Therapies
Common names include:
Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Ondansetron (Zofran)
Granisetron (Kytril)
Metoclopramide (Octamide, Metoclopramide Intensol, Reglan)
Medications for nausea, also called anti-emetics, are given to help treat nausea and vomiting that may be caused
by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery to treat cancer. Prochlorperazine can be taken by mouth, injection, or a
suppository. Ondansetron and granisetron can be taken orally or as injections; metoclopramide is usually given by
injection.
Possible side effects include:
For prochlorperazine:
Blurred vision, change in color vision, or difficulty seeing at night
Fainting
Loss of balance control
Restlessness or need to keep moving
Shuffling walk
Stiffness of arms or legs
Trembling and shaking of hands and fingers
For ondansetron:
Constipation
Diarrhea
Fever
Headache
For granisetron:
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Headache
Unusual tiredness or weakness
For metoclopramide:
Diarrhea (with high doses)
Drowsiness
Restlessness
Increased risk of tardive dyskinesia (a serious neurological condition) in patients who take metoclopramide
for longer than three months
Corticosteroids
Common names include:
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Dexamethasone (Cortastat, Dalalone, Decadrol, Decadron, Decaject, Dexacorten, Dexamethasone Intensol,
Dexasone, Dexone, Hexadrol, Mymethasone, Primethasone, Solurex)
Prednisone (Cordrol, Deltasone, Liquid Pred, Meticorten, Orasone, Prednicot, Prednisone Intensol, Pred-Pak,
Sterapred)
Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and relieve pain due to inflammation. You may experience pain and
inflammation for a variety of reasons, such as:
Bone pain from cancer that has spread to your bones
Edema (fluid build up in cells) caused by tumors or treatment
Possible side effects include:
Increased appetite
Indigestion
Nervousness or restlessness
Painkillers—Narcotics
Common names include:
Hydrocodone (Dilaudid, Hydrostat)
Methadone (Astramorph PF, Duramorph, Kadian, MS Contin, OMS Concentrate, Oramorph SR, Rescudose,
RMS Uniserts, Roxanol)
Oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet)
Narcotics act on the central nervous system to relieve pain. These drugs can be very effective; however, narcotics
must be used with great caution because they can be mentally and/or physically addicting. If you are going to take
one of these drugs for a long period of time, your doctor will closely monitor you.
Percocet is a combination medication; the narcotic analgesic and acetaminophen used together may provide better
pain relief than either medicine used alone.
The most common side effects of narcotics include:
Dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint
Drowsiness
Nausea or vomiting
Blood Stem Cell Support Drugs
Common names include:
Filgrastim (Neupogen)
Epoetin (Epogen, Procrit)
During cancer treatment, blood cells can be destroyed along with cancer cells. Filgrastim helps your bone marrow
make new white blood cells, which help your body fight infection. Therefore, filgrastim helps to reduce your risk
of infection.
Epoetin helps your bone marrow make new red blood cells. Low red blood cell levels can lead to anemia.
Therefore, epoetin helps reduce your risk of anemia.
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Both filgrastim and epoetin are given by injection in your doctor's office.
Possible side effects include:
For filgrastim:
Headache
Pain in arms or legs
Pain in joints or muscles
Pain in lower back or pelvis
Skin rash or itching
For epoetin:
Cough, sneezing, or sore throat
Fever
Swelling of face, fingers, ankles, feet, or lower legs
Weight gain
Over-the-Counter Medications
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Common names include:
Ibuprofen (Advil, Bayer Select Ibuprofen, Dolgesic, Excedrin IB, Genpril, Haltran, Ibifon, Ibren, Ibu,
Ibuprin, Ibuprohm, Medipren, Midol IB, Motrin, Nuprin, Q-Profen, Rufen, Trendar)
Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn)
NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation. You may experience pain and inflammation for a variety of
reasons, such as:
Bone pain from cancer that has spread to your bones
Edema (fluid build up in cells) caused by tumors or treatment
Possible side effects include:
Stomach cramps, pain, or discomfort
Dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness
Headache
Heartburn, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
Special Considerations
Whenever you are taking a prescription medication, take the following precautions:
Take your medication as directed. Do not change the amount or the schedule.
Do not stop taking them without talking to your doctor.
Do not share them.
Know what the results and side effects. Report them to your doctor.
Some drugs can be dangerous when mixed. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you are taking more than one
drug. This includes over-the-counter medication and herb or dietary supplements.
Plan ahead for refills so you don’t run out.
REFERENCES:
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American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp .
FDA's MedWatch safety alerts: March 2009. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm142815.htm . Published March 23, 2009. Accessed
August 4, 2009.
National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/ .
United States Pharmacopeial Convention. USP DI. 21st ed. Englewood, CO: Micromedex; 2001
Last reviewed September 2011 by Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 9/19/2011
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