EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE

1113-1117 San Marcelino St. cor. Gonzales St,.

Ermita, Manila
Tel. # 521 2710 loc. 5432, 5518

School of Nursing
DRUG STUDY
Name of Student:
Patient:
Diagnosis:

Medication
Brand Name:
Adrucil

Generic Name:
5-Fluorouracil

Dosage:
1. 596Mg in
100CC PNSS
for 15 minutes
2. 894MG in
D5W 1L for
22hours
Frequency:

Once a day

Mechanism of
Action
5-FU acts in
several ways,
but principally
as a thymidylate
synthase (TS)
inhibitor.
Interrupting the
action of this
enzyme blocks
synthesis of the
pyrimidine
thymidine,
which is a
nucleoside
required for
DNA
replication.
Thymidylate
synthase
methylates
deoxyuridine
monophosphate
(dUMP) to form
thymidine
monophosphate
(dTMP).
Administration
of 5-FU causes a

Adverse Effects

Diarrhea.
Nausea and
possible
occasional
vomiting.
Mouth sores.
Poor appetite.
Watery eyes,
sensitivity to
light
(photophobia)
(see eye
problems).
Taste changes,
metallic taste in
mouth during
infusion.
Discoloration
along vein
through which
the medication is
given.
Low blood
counts.

Indication
Fluorouracil is
a chemotherapy
drug and is
used to treat the
patients
colorectal
cancer. The
patient is
supposed to
have 9 sessions
of fluorouracil
and is on her 2nd
session of
chemotherapy.

Nursing
Responsibilities
>Watch for and
report signs of
abnormal
bleeding from
any source during
thrombocytopenic
period (day 7
17); inspect skin
for ecchymotic
and petechial
areas. Protect
patient from
trauma.
>Report
disorientation or
confusion; drug
should be
withdrawn
immediately.
>Inspect patient's
mouth daily.
Promptly report
cracked lips,
xerostomia, white
patches, and
erythema
>Report
intractable

Route:
Intravenous

scarcity in
dTMP, so
rapidly dividing
cancerous cells
undergo cell
death via
thymineless
death

vomiting to
physician.
>Report
development of
maculopapular
rash; it usually
responds to
symptomatic
treatment