Chemotherapy Drug Information
<< BackDocetaxel
Your doctor has ordered the drug docetaxel to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into your vein. Docetaxel is in a class of drugs known as taxanes; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.
Docetaxel can allergic reactions may occur during docetaxel administration; you will receive medication before each treatment to help prevent these reactions. With these preventive medications, these allergic reactions are uncommon. Your health care provider will watch you carefully during the initial part of the infusion to treat these effects if they occur.
Before taking docetaxel,
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to docetaxel or any other drugs.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), erythromycin, ketoconazole (Nizoral), troleandomycin (TAO), and vitamins.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease.
- You should know that docetaxel may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Docetaxel may harm the fetus.
- Do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.
Side effects from docetaxel are common and include:
- thinned or brittle hair
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- nausea or vomiting
- mouth blistering
- fatigue
If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- severe vomiting
- muscle aches, bone pain, and other flu-like symptoms
- change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
- swelling of the feet, increases in waistline size, weight gain, or overall puffiness