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Fluorouracil (5-FU), sold under the brand name Adrucil among others, is a medication used to treat cancer. By injection into a vein it is used for colon cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. As a cream it is used for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma.

When used by injection most people develop side effects. Common side effects include inflammation of the mouth, loss of appetite, low blood cell counts, hair loss, and inflammation of the skin. When used as a cream irritation at the site of application may occur. Use of either form in pregnancy may harm the baby. Fluorouracil is in the antimetabolite and pyrimidine analog families of medications. How it works is not entirely clear [sic] but believed to involve blocking the action of thymidylate synthase and thus stopping the production of DNA.

Fluorouracil was patented in 1956 and came into medical use in 1962. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

Most common Fluorouracil side effects from eHealthme

• Diarrhea - (3,958 reports)
• Agranulocytosis - (3,637 reports)
• Nausea - (3,426 reports)
• Fever - (2,865 reports)
• Nausea and vomiting - (2,751 reports)
• Thrombocytopenia - (2,593 reports)
• Dehydration - (2,574 reports)
• Febrile neutropenia - (2,189 reports)
• Fatigue - (1,887 reports)
• Weakness - (1,793 reports)

On Jan, 21, 2017  47,368 people reported to have side effects when taking Fluorouracil. Among them, 57 people (0.12%) have Hallucination

On Feb, 02, 2017  47,368 people reported to have side effects when taking Fluorouracil. Among them, 5 people (0.01%) have Hallucination, Auditory