paclitaxel - injection, Onxol, Taxol

BRAND NAME(S): Onxol, Taxol

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

WARNING: Paclitaxel may infrequently cause serious (rarely fatal) allergic reactions. Patients who experience a severe allergic reaction with this drug must never use it again. Your doctor may prescribe other medications (e.g., antihistamines, corticosteroids) to help prevent an allergic reaction. However, severe allergic reactions may still occur in a few patients. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any signs of an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing, or chest pain.

This medication may often cause a serious blood disorder (decreased bone marrow function leading to a low number of white blood cells). This effect can lower your body's ability to fight an infection. Your doctor will monitor you closely and check your blood often during treatment. If your white blood cell count is too low, you should not receive this medication. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, cough, persistent sore throat, painful/difficult urination).

USES: Paclitaxel is used to treat various types of cancer. It is a cancer chemotherapy drug that works by slowing or stopping cancer cell growth.

HOW TO USE: Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist before you start using paclitaxel. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.This medication is given by injection into a vein by a health care professional. It is given on a schedule as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition, body size, and response to treatment.

SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warning section.Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, muscle/joint pain, numbness/tingling/burning of the hands/feet, flushing, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.Temporary hair loss may occur. Normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended.This medication may infrequently cause changes to your blood pressure and heart rate. You should be closely monitored for these changes during the infusion of this medication. Tell your doctor promptly if you have increasing dizziness, headache, or a fast/slow/irregular heartbeat.Many people using this medication have serious side effects. However, your doctor has prescribed this drug because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: signs of anemia (e.g., unusual tiredness, pale skin), easy bruising/bleeding, fainting, confusion, pain/redness/swelling/weakness of the arms/legs, calf pain/swelling that is warm to the touch, coughing up blood, persistent nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, vision/hearing changes, seizures.This medication may infrequently irritate the vein it is given into or leak out of the vein and irritate the area. These effects may cause redness, pain, swelling, discoloration, or unusual skin reactions at the injection site, either while the drug is given or rarely 7 to 10 days later. If this drug has leaked out of a vein and caused a skin reaction in the past, you may rarely have a skin reaction in that same area when the drug is given again, even when it is given into another area. Tell your doctor immediately of any unusual skin/injection site symptoms.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

PRECAUTIONS: Before using paclitaxel, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as polyoxyethylated castor oil), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: blood disorders (e.g., low white blood cell count), decreased bone marrow function, current infections, heart problems (e.g., fast/slow/irregular heartbeat), high or low blood pressure, liver disease.This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor, and avoid contact with people who have recently received polio vaccine by mouth or flu vaccine inhaled through the nose.Since this medication can increase your risk of developing serious infections, wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infections. Avoid contact with people who have illnesses that may spread to others (e.g., flu, chickenpox).To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured, use caution with sharp objects like safety razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports.Caution is advised when using this drug in children because it contains alcohol. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of alcohol, especially drowsiness and confusion.Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially the decrease in bone marrow function and numbness/tingling/burning of the hands/feet.Men using this medication should not plan to father a child while receiving treatment. This medication may affect sperm production in men and increase the risk of harm to the unborn baby. Therefore, reliable forms of birth control should be used during treatment and for some time afterwards. Consult your doctor for more details. If your partner becomes pregnant while you are using this medication, tell your doctor immediately.This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss reliable forms of birth control. It is recommended that men and women use 2 effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms, birth control pills) while using this medication and for some time afterwards. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately.It is not known if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast- feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.Some products that may interact with this drug include: other drugs that may decrease bone marrow function (e.g., azathioprine, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole), drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove paclitaxel from your body (such as azole antifungals including ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics including erythromycin, rifamycins including rifabutin, St. John's wort, certain anti-seizure medicines including phenytoin).This medication can affect the removal of other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include buspirone, eletriptan, felodipine, some benzodiazepines (such as midazolam, triazolam), some drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction-ED or pulmonary hypertension (such as sildenafil, tadalafil), some statin drugs (such as lovastatin, simvastatin), among others.Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., carbamazepine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone).Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that may cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

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OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

NOTES: Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., complete blood counts) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE: For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.

STORAGE: Not applicable. This medication is given in a clinic and will not be stored at home.MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised November 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.