Chemotherapy Drug Information
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Your doctor has ordered the drug paclitaxel to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein. Paclitaxel 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.
Before taking paclitaxel,
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to paclitaxel, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), teniposide (Vumon), other drugs containing Cremophor EL (polyoxyethylated castor oil) or any other drugs.
- You should know that paclitaxel 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. Paclitaxel may harm the fetus.
- Do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.
- Your doctor will prescribe a medication called dexamethasone (Decadron) which must be taken before your treatment. If you forget to take the dexamethasone, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Side effects from paclitaxel are common, and include:
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- change in taste
- thinned or brittle hair
- pain in the joints of the arms or legs lasting 2-3 days
- changes in the color of the nails
- tingling in the hands or toes
- mouth blistering
- fatigue
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- change in normal bowel habits for more than 2 days
- fever or chills
- difficulty swallowing
- shortness of breath
- skin rash