What should I do if my white blood cell count is low during oral capecitabine treatment?

Feb 04, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Yang Ziqi

Introduction

Capecitabine is commonly available in tablet form. In general, low white blood cell count during oral capecitabine treatment may be related to the drug's direct effects, bone marrow suppression, drug metabolism issues, combination drug therapy, or impaired immune system, and targeted management is required. In daily life, it is advisable to maintain a light diet and avoid spicy foods to support overall health.

Capecitabine is commonly available in tablet form. During oral administration of capecitabine, low white blood cell count may be related to the drug's direct effects, bone marrow suppression, drug metabolism issues, combination drug therapy, or impaired immune system. Targeted management is required. It is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation and treatment. Specific causes are as follows:

1. Direct drug effect: As a chemotherapy agent, capecitabine’s anticancer mechanism may affect rapidly dividing cells, including hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, leading to decreased white blood cell counts. This is usually a normal drug response, and patients should follow their doctor's instructions when taking the medication.

2. Bone marrow suppression: Capecitabine may suppress bone marrow function, reducing the production of white blood cells. This is a common mechanism by which chemotherapy causes leukopenia. It is generally a normal part of the treatment process and does not require excessive concern.

3. Drug metabolism issues: Individuals may differ in how they metabolize capecitabine, and some patients may be more prone to experiencing white blood cell reduction as a side effect. It is advisable to consult a doctor about whether dosage adjustment or switching to another medication is necessary.

4. Combination drug therapy: If the patient is concurrently receiving other medications or chemotherapy agents, drug interactions may increase the risk of reduced white blood cell count. Before using capecitabine, patients should inform their doctor of all other medications they are currently taking to avoid increased risk of adverse reactions due to drug interactions.

5. Impaired immune system: Chemotherapy drugs may negatively affect the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections, which can lead to reduced white blood cell counts. According to medical advice, medications such as transfer factor injection, tacrolimus capsules, or human immunoglobulin may be used to help restore the damaged immune system.

In daily life, it is important to maintain a light diet and avoid spicy foods to support overall health.

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What to eat when white blood cell count is low

Under normal circumstances, patients with low white blood cell counts can consume nutrient-rich foods such as shiitake mushrooms, red dates, peanuts, beef, and spinach. Additionally, under a doctor's guidance, medications such as Leucogen tablets, Batilol tablets, Vitamin B4 tablets, Dihuang Shengbai tablets, and Compound Zhaofan pills may be taken to increase white blood cell production and enhance immunity. Patients with low white blood cell counts should focus on balanced nutrition in their diet.

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What should I eat to quickly increase low white blood cell count?

Leukopenia patients may consume foods such as shiitake mushrooms, beef, red dates, peanuts, and wolfberries, and may also take medications including vitamin B4 tablets, batyl alcohol tablets, geum root leukocyte-increasing tablets, leucogen tablets, and amoxicillin capsules as directed by a physician. It is important to maintain a balanced diet and adopt a healthy lifestyle with appropriate exercise. If symptoms persist or worsen, timely medical consultation is advised.