Paclitaxel, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: paclitaxel, injection; Onxol; Taxol

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat:

• breast cancer
• advanced cancer of the ovaries
• non-small cell lung cancer
• AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• heart problems
• liver disease.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have recently had an infection or been exposed to chickenpox or shingles (herpes zoster).

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

These infusions are given by your healthcare provider.

Other medicines (by mouth and by injection) are given before this medicine to help prevent allergic reactions and stomach problems. Follow your healthcare provider's directions exactly for any medicines you may have to take by mouth. Take only the medicines approved by your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine needs to be given on a regular schedule. Be sure to keep all your appointments for your treatment.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may cause mouth sores. Use a soft bristle brush or mouth swab to brush your teeth.

You may need to drink more water while receiving this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Hair loss is common during this treatment. Your hair will grow back after the treatments are stopped.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe tingling or burning in your hands or feet; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; pinpoint red spots on skin; unusual bleeding or bruising; irregular heartbeat; fever; chills; cough; lower back or side pain; sore throat; painful mouth sores that keep you from drinking liquids; severe nausea or vomiting; severe diarrhea or stomach pain; yellow skin or eyes; trouble urinating.

Other: Hair loss, loss of appetite, muscle or bone pain, vision changes.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S., Eryc), norfloxacin (Noroxin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline)
• antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and nefazodone
• antifungals such as clotrimazole (Mycelex), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine (Rescriptor), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene), quinidine (quinidine sulfate, quinidine gluconate), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin)
• herbal remedies such as dong quai, black cohosh, valerian, kava, gotu kola, and St. John's wort
• live vaccines
• other cancer medicines such as carboplatin (Paraplatin), cisplatin (Platinol), or doxorubicin (ADR)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.