Adverse effects of 5-fluorouracil: Focus on rare side effects

Abstract

5-fluorouracial (5-FU) is an antimetabolite chemotherapy drug.  5-FU has many adverse effects like any other chemotherapy agent as it has effects not only on cancer cells, but healthy cell as well. Serious side effects which are uncommon (occurring in about 1% of patients) and will be the focus of this paper are cardiac effects, hyperammonemia or encephalopathy and neurologic effects. There are many other side effects associated with 5-FU.  In this paper we will discuss the rare side effects and alternatives on what to do if they occur during treatment based on case reports.