# The value of pharmacist medication therapy management of capecitabine

## TL;DR

Pharmacists working with oncologists can reduce side effects in cancer patients taking capecitabine, especially in the gut, nervous system, and blood.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that pharmacist-led medication therapy management reduces capecitabine-related adverse effects in cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Pharmacist intervention significantly reduced gastrointestinal adverse effects like anorexia and nausea.
- Significant improvement in central and peripheral nervous system symptoms, such as insomnia.
- Pharmacists helped lower the incidence of pain and leukopenia in patients.

## Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the value of the medication therapy management (MTM) provided by an oncologist - pharmacist joint clinic for patients self - administering capecitabine, and to identify intervention programs tailored for pharmacists.

A total of 200 patients were included in the study and were followed up for 1 year. Among them, 100 received MTM and the other 100 were considered a control group. A retrospective, longitudinal comparison of adverse effects (AEs) in capecitabine patients who receive MTM vs. those who do not. During this period, pharmacists systematically reviewed aspects such as drug indications, usage and dosage, as well as the improvement and resolution of AEs, and report the identified problems to the doctor, and discuss with the doctor about prescribing medications for the patient for prevention or treatment. With a particular focus on evaluating the improvement of patients’ AEs during the follow - up stage.

Our research results indicate that the gastrointestinal tract (χ2 = 26.868, p = 0.000) is a common site for AEs, with particularly notable differences observed in symptoms such as anorexia and nausea. Furthermore, significant differences in AEs affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems (χ2 = 20.864, p = 0.000) are evident between the two groups, especially concerning insomnia symptoms. Among the hematological AEs, the most pronounced phenomenon is the decrease in hemoglobin levels (χ2 = 21.333, p = 0.000). Moreover, pharmacist intervention can lower the incidence of pain and leukopenia. There was no significant difference in the levels of the various tumor markers between the two groups.

In the joint outpatient service model of oncologists and pharmacists, pharmacists can manage patients taking oral capecitabine through MTM. This measure can reduce the incidence of drug AEs related to capecitabine, especially those in the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and blood system, thereby enhancing the safety of patients’ medication.