|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Docetaxel (doe-se-TAX-el) belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics. It is used to treat breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.
Docetaxel interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by docetaxel, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.
Docetaxel may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Before you begin treatment with docetaxel, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Docetaxel is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For docetaxel, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to docetaxel.
Pregnancy--Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant. Studies in rats and rabbits have shown that docetaxel causes miscarriages and deaths of the fetus, as well as problems in the mother.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before taking this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving docetaxel. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving docetaxel.
Breast-feeding--It is not known whether docetaxel passes into breast milk. However, because this medicine may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.
Children--Docetaxel has been studied in a limited number of children. The study showed that children are especially sensitive to the effects of docetaxel and cannot be given usual doses of the medicine.
Older adults--This medicine has been tested in elderly patients and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving docetaxel, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of docetaxel. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
This medicine often causes nausea and vomiting, which is usually mild. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects.
Your doctor may direct you to take a corticosteroid medicine such as dexamethasone (e.g., Decadron), starting the day before you receive an injection of docetaxel and continuing for a few days after a docetaxel treatment. This other medicine decreases the chance of an allergic reaction to docetaxel and certain other side effects. It is very important that you take each dose of the corticosteroid medicine as directed .
Dosing--The dose of docetaxel will be different for
different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things,
including what the medicine is being used for, the patient's size, and whether
or not other medicines are also being taken. If you are
receiving docetaxel at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directions
on the label
. If you have any questions about the proper dose of docetaxel,
ask your doctor. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits
to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for
unwanted effects. While you are being treated with docetaxel, and after you stop treatment
with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)
without your doctor's approval
. Docetaxel may lower your body's resistance
and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant
to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not
take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio
virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within
the past several months. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same
room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should
consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth. Docetaxel can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your
blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the
number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this
occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood
count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
Precautions While Using This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Some side effects will have signs or symptoms that you can see or feel. Your doctor may watch for others by doing certain tests.
Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; cough or hoarseness (accompanied by fever or chills); difficult or painful urination (accompanied by fever or chills); fever or chills; lower back or side pain (accompanied by fever or chills); noisy, rattling breathing; pinpoint red spots on skin; troubled breathing while at rest; unusual bleeding or bruising
Rare
Chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath
Docetaxel sometimes causes allergic reactions, especially during the first few treatments. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you notice back pain or itching during an injection . Your doctor or nurse will be watching out for other signs of an allergic reaction while you are receiving this medicine, and will be ready to treat any serious effects right away.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Swelling of abdomen, face, fingers, hands, feet, or lower legs; unusual tiredness or weakness; weight gain
Less common
Red, scaly, swollen, or peeling areas of skin (severe)
Rare
Decrease in blood pressure, sometimes with dizziness or fainting; increase in blood pressure, sometimes with dizziness or headaches
This medicine may also cause the following side effects that your doctor will watch out for:
More common
Anemia; low white blood cell count
Less common
High or low blood pressure; low platelet count in blood
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Burning, numbness, tingling, or pain in arms, hands, legs, or feet; diarrhea; nausea; skin rash or redness (mild); sores or ulcers on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth; weakness in arms, hands, legs, or feet
Less common
Change in color of fingernails or toenails; dry, red, hot, or irritated skin at place of injection; headache; loosening or loss of fingernails or toenails, sometimes painful; pain in joints or muscles; pain, swelling, or lump under the skin at place of injection; vomiting
This medicine usually causes a temporary loss of hair. After treatment with docetaxel has ended, normal hair growth should return.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in the product labeling, docetaxel is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.
Developed: 09/17/1997
Revised: 08/16/2000
| Micromedex, Inc. Disclaimer |
| Health Topics | Drug Information | Dictionaries | Directories | Other Resources |
|
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
Copyright and Privacy Policy, We welcome your comments. Last updated: 24 January 2001 |