Floxuridine

Floxuridine is an antineoplastic medication used in the treatment of digestive system cancers that have spread to the liver.

• Floxuridine is available under the following different brand names: FUDR

Common side effects of Floxuridine include:

• nausea and vomiting (may be severe)
• abdominal pain
• mild diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• tiredness
• redness at the injection site reactions (redness, pain, itching, swelling, bleeding blisters, or sores)
• dry skin
• redness of the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
• watery eyes
• balance problems
• confusion
• rash and itching
• temporary hair loss

Serious side effects of Floxuridine include:

• chest pain or pressure
• blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing
• fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, feeling light-headed
• severe vomiting or diarrhea
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under the skin
• any bleeding that will not stop

Rare side effects of Floxuridine include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, coordination loss, unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult dosage

Powder for injection

• 500 mg/vial

Gastrointestinal (GI) adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts

Adult dosage

• 0.1-0.6 mg/kg/d continuous arterial infusion

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Floxuridine has severe interactions with no other drugs
• Floxuridine has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • adenovirus types 4 and 7 live, oral
  • axicabtagene ciloleucel
  • brexucabtagene autoleucel
  • ciltacabtagene autoleucel
  • deferiprone
  • etrasimod
  • fexinidazole
  • idecabtagene vicleucel
  • influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent, adjuvanted
  • influenza virus vaccine trivalent, adjuvanted
  • lefamulin
  • lisocabtagene maraleucel
  • palifermin
  • pexidartinib
  • pretomanid
  • ropeginterferon alfa 2b
  • tisagenlecleucel
  • tofacitinib
• Floxuridine has moderate interactions with at least 38 other drugs
• Floxuridine has minor interactions with the following drug:
  • maitake
  • taurine
  • vitamins A and E

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Poor nutritional status
• Myelosuppression (leukocyte count below 5000/cu.mm or decreases rapidly or platelets less than 100,000/cu.mm)

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Floxuridine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Floxuridine?”

Cautions

• Hepatic/renal impairment
• Discontinue if leukocyte count falls to below 3500/cu.mm or decreases rapidly or if platelet count falls to less than 100,000/cu.mm)
• Discontinue immediately if myocardial infarction occurs
• Discontinue in case of stomatitis, esophagopharyngitis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, intractable vomiting, GI bleeding, hemorrhage, diarrhea
• Patients who have received high-dose pelvic irradiation or alkylating agents
• Avoid pregnancy

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug is available
• Lactation
  • Excretion in milk unknown; contraindicated