InjectionClinical Overview
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) Injection (500mg) is a fluorinated pyrimidine antimetabolite on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. It is intracellularly converted to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate (FdUMP), which forms a stable ternary complex with thymidylate synthase (TS) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (potentiated by leucovorin), blocking thymidylate and DNA synthesis. Indicated for colorectal carcinoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and head and neck cancers.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
Verified Clinical References
Usage Guidelines
Administer intravenously as an IV bolus or continuous IV infusion (often over 24 to 46 hours using an ambulatory infusion pump) as part of multi-agent chemotherapy regimens (FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, FLOT). Leucovorin is given prior to 5-FU to stabilize the TS-FdUMP inhibitory complex.
General Administration Advice: Adhere strictly to the prescribed dosage, frequency, and treatment course. For oral medications, swallow with sufficient water. Never stop antibiotics, psychiatric medications, or antihypertensives abruptly without clinical direction.
Possible Side Effects
Common: Mucositis/stomatitis, diarrhea, myelosuppression (neutropenia with bolus regimens), hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia with continuous infusions), alopecia, nausea. Rare/Severe: Coronary vasospasm, myocardial ischemia/infarction, cerebellar ataxia, and lethal toxicity in patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency.
*Note: Individual physiological responses vary. While many patients experience few or no side effects, notify your treating physician if adverse reactions persist or if hypersensitivity (angioedema, skin rash, dyspnea) occurs.
Precautions & Warnings
Black Box Warning: Patients with dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency cannot catabolize 5-FU and develop life-threatening pancytopenia, enteritis, and shock; pre-treatment DPD testing is strongly recommended. Cardiotoxicity warning (coronary vasospasm/angina); monitor cardiac status. Uridine triacetate is the specific antidote for overdose or severe early-onset toxicity.
Schedule H (Prescription Required)
This medication is scheduled under statutory drug regulatory frameworks (CDSCO / Drugs & Cosmetics Rules). Dispensing requires a valid medical prescription from a registered medical practitioner. Self-medication or unsupervised dosage adjustment carries significant clinical risks.
Medical Disclaimer: Statutory Clinical Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and price-transparency purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, oncological diagnosis, or chemotherapy protocol guidance. Cancer therapies require specialized administration under the direct supervision of a registered medical oncologist in an accredited healthcare facility.