Docetaxel (Systemic)

Brand Names : Taxotere

Before Using This Medicine

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:

• Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
• Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
• Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
• Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
• Colchicine or
• Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
• Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
• Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
• Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
• Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) or
• If you have ever been treated with x-rays or cancer medicines - Docetaxel may increase the effects of these medicines or radiation therapy on the blood

• Erythromycins (medicine for infection) or
• Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral) or
• Midazolam (e.g., Versed) or
• Orphenadrine (e.g., Norflex) or
• Testosterone (male hormone) or
• Troleandomycin - Higher blood levels of docetaxel may occur, increasing the chance of serious side effects

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:

• Alcohol abuse or history of - The risk of some side effects affecting the muscles and nerves may be increased

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or
• Herpes zoster (shingles) - Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body

• Fluid in lungs - docetaxel may make your condition worse

• Infection - Docetaxel may decrease your body's ability to fight infection

• Liver disease - The chance of serious side effects is greatly increased