Xeloda (capecitabine) has potential interactions with other medications and some supplements. For example, Xeloda can interact with warfarin (Jantoven) and celecoxib (Celebrex).
Xeloda is used in adults to treat certain forms of the following cancers:
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions. Keep reading to learn about Xeloda’s possible interactions. For a detailed overview of this drug, check out this in-depth Xeloda article.
Before you start taking Xeloda, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions.
To learn whether Xeloda interacts with herbs, vitamins, or supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Xeloda?” section.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The following table lists drugs that may interact with Xeloda. Keep in mind this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Xeloda. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
| certain birth control pills | drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol/levomefolate (Beyaz, Safyral, Tydemy) | can increase the risk of side effects from Xeloda |
| allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim) | — | can make Xeloda less effective |
| celecoxib (Celebrex) | — | can increase the risk of side effects from celecoxib |
| glimepiride (Amaryl) | — | can increase the risk of side effects from glimepiride |
| leucovorin | — | can increase the risk of side effects from Xeloda |
| phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) | — | can increase the risk of side effects from phenytoin |
| warfarin (Jantoven)* | — | can increase the risk of bleeding |
* Xeloda has a boxed warning about the risk of an interaction with certain blood thinners, including warfarin. To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section.
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Xeloda. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Xeloda for you. These are known as contraindications. Allergic reaction is the only contraindication of Xeloda.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Xeloda, any of its ingredients, or a similar drug called fluorouracil, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Xeloda for you. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Xeloda is not known to interact with alcohol. But Xeloda and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as headache, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects, or they may get worse if you drink alcohol during your Xeloda treatment.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking Xeloda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Xeloda.
Interaction with allopurinol
Xeloda can interact with allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim), which is a drug used to lower uric acid levels and treat gout. Taking Xeloda with allopurinol can make Xeloda less effective at treating your cancer.
What you can do
Your doctor will likely avoid prescribing Xeloda with allopurinol. If you currently take allopurinol, your doctor will likely have you switch to a different treatment before you start taking Xeloda. Talk with your doctor about your options.
If you have questions about taking Xeloda with allopurinol, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with celecoxib
Xeloda can interact with celecoxib (Celebrex), which is a pain reliever that reduces inflammation. It’s often used to treat arthritis.
Taking Xeloda with celecoxib can cause your body to break down celecoxib slower than usual. This can make celecoxib levels build up in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects from the drug. Examples include digestive side effects, such as ulcers or bleeding in your stomach or intestine, and cardiovascular side effects, such as heart attack or stroke.
What you can do
If you take Xeloda with celecoxib, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of celecoxib for you. You should not take a higher dose of either medication than your doctor prescribes.
If you take Xeloda and celecoxib together, tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of ulcers or bleeding in your stomach or intestine. These can include heartburn, indigestion, vomiting blood, and passing black or blood-stained stools.
If you have questions about taking Xeloda with celecoxib, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with glimepiride
Xeloda can interact with glimepiride (Amaryl), which is used to help lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.
Taking Xeloda with glimepiride can cause your body to break down glimepiride slower than usual. This can make glimepiride build up in your body, which can raise your risk of low blood sugar.
What you can do
If you take Xeloda with glimepiride, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of glimepiride for you. You should not take a higher dose of either medication than your doctor prescribes.
If you take Xeloda and glimepiride together, tell your doctor right away if you have frequent symptoms of hypoglycemia. These may include tremor, weakness, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
If you have questions about taking Xeloda with glimepiride, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Xeloda may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests.
Here are additional interactions that may occur with Xeloda. Note that this may not be a full list of all other possible interactions with Xeloda.
Does Xeloda interact with supplements?
Before you start taking Xeloda, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs, vitamins, or supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Xeloda interactions with herbs
There are currently no reports of Xeloda interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Xeloda.
Xeloda interactions with vitamins
Xeloda can interact with folic acid or folate supplements, including 5-MTHF (levomefolate). These are forms of vitamin B9. Taking folic acid or folate supplements with Xeloda can raise your risk of side effects from Xeloda. Examples include diarrhea, dehydration, and problems with your blood cells. (To learn more about the drug’s side effects, see this Xeloda side effects article.)
You should not take folic acid or folate supplements during your Xeloda treatment unless recommended by your doctor.
Does Xeloda interact with food?
There are currently no reports of Xeloda interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Xeloda, talk with your doctor.
Does Xeloda interact with vaccines?
You should not receive live vaccines during your Xeloda treatment.
Live vaccines contain weakened versions of the bacteria or virus they’re meant to protect against. They don’t cause infection in people with a healthy immune system. But Xeloda can lower your white blood cell levels, which can weaken your immune system. Getting a live vaccine while you’re taking Xeloda can increase your risk of infection.
Examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, and the nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist). If you need to receive a vaccine, talk with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe.
You can receive non-live vaccines during Xeloda treatment. However, your immune system might not respond as well as usual to these vaccines. So they might not be as effective at protecting you from infection. Your doctor will likely recommend getting up to date with recommended vaccines before you start Xeloda treatment.
Examples of non-live vaccines include tetanus, COVID-19, and the injected flu vaccine.
Does Xeloda interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Xeloda interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Xeloda, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Xeloda interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Xeloda interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Xeloda.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Xeloda. Before taking Xeloda, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Xeloda is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Xeloda include:
Heart disease: Xeloda can cause serious heart-related side effects, including heart failure and heart attack. If you already have heart disease, you may have a higher risk of these side effects. Talk with your doctor about whether Xeloda is right for you.
Kidney problems: Xeloda can cause serious kidney problems. If you already have kidney problems, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. Xeloda levels can also build up in your body and raise your risk of other side effects.
If you have kidney problems and take Xeloda, your doctor will likely monitor your kidney function during treatment. They may also prescribe a lower dosage of the drug for you.
Liver problems: Xeloda can cause liver problems. If you already have a problem with your liver, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. Your doctor will likely monitor your liver function during your Xeloda treatment. They may also prescribe a lower dosage of Xeloda for you.
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency: DPD deficiency is a rare genetic condition that can affect how well your body breaks down Xeloda. If you have this condition, you may have a higher risk of serious side effects with Xeloda.
Due to this risk, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Xeloda for you. You can talk with them about other treatments that may be safer for you.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Xeloda, any of its ingredients, or a similar drug called fluorouracil, your doctor will likely not prescribe Xeloda. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better for you.
Breastfeeding: You should not breastfeed while taking Xeloda and for 1 week after your last dose. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.
Pregnancy: Xeloda is not safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or may become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Xeloda.
If you’re able to become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Xeloda and for 6 months after your last dose. If you’re male and have a sexual partner who’s able to become pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Xeloda and for 3 months after your last dose.
Note: The use of binary terms such as “male” in this article reflects the language of the sources we’ve used. Unless otherwise noted, it’s unclear whether the research we reference included participants with expansive gender identities.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Xeloda. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- the
list of medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Xeloda treatment
It’s also important to understand Xeloda’s
If you did not get paperwork with Xeloda, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you. If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Xeloda exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.