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Taxol

Paclitaxel

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7.8

4.5 Effectiveness

8.9 Side Effects

5 Holistic Benefits

RateADrug users have reported 23 Taxol side effects and 1 Taxol benefit.

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Treatment Information

Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

The generic name of Taxol is paclitaxel.

Taxol contains active ingredient paclitaxel, which is a form of chemotherapy medication for cancer known as a 'taxane.'

Inactive ingredients in Taxol infusion include polyoxyethylated castrol oil and dehydrated ethanol.

Taxol functions by inhibiting carcinogenic cells from dividing and multiplying. It destroys the cancer cells and inhibits the cancer from growing and spreading.

Taxol is used in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer. It is administered in combination with cisplatin as first-line therapy.

Taxol is also used as adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast carcinoma given periodically to standard doxorubicin-containing combination chemotherapy.

Taxol is usually administered in the hospital as a three-hour intravenous infusion drip at two or three week intervals between treatments. The purpose of the treatment is to progressively shrink the cancer over repeated cycles of chemotherapy, allowing normal, healthy cells to recover during the interim phase.

Common Uses:

Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.
Used in combination with another drug called cisplatin during first-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer where surgery and radiation therapy is not possible.
Used for adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer.
Used in treating breast cancer after combination chemotherapy fails in case of metastatic conditions or recurrence of cancer within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy.
Recommended when prior treatment consisted of an anthracycline unless clinically contraindicated.
Also used for second-line treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

Off Label Uses:

Treatment of bladder cancer.
Treatment of head and neck cancer.
Used in preparation of stem cell transplants.

Side Effects:
Neutropenia, a condition marked by decreased levels of white blood cells called neutrophils.
Anemia.
Alteration in heart rhythms.
Bleeding problems.
Blood clotting problems.
Bradycardia or low heart beat.
Burning and tingling.
Diarrhea.
Hair loss.
Joint pain.
Leukopenia.
Low blood pressure.
Mouth sores.
Muscle pain.
Nausea and vomiting.
Sores in the digestive tract.

Cautions / Warnings:

Not recommended for people with allergic reactions to Taxol (allergic reactions include rashes, swelling, dizziness, itching, dyspnea and chest pain).
It can cause blood disorder where the bone marrow functioning is affected, creating a decrease in the WBC count which in turn will affect the body's ability to combat infections.
Physician consultation is required for people suffering from:
Abnormally low blood pressure.
Anemia.
Angina.
Blood clotting disorder.
Chronic heart failure.
Decreased blood cell count like platelets WBC, and neutropils.
Decreased bone marrow functioning.
Epileptic disorders.
Fungal infections.
Heart attack.
High blood pressure.
Infection caused by bacteria.
Liver conditions.
Numbness.
Nursing mothers.
Parkinsons disease.
Pregnancy.
Slow heartbeat.
Tingling or pain of hands or feet.
Viral infections.

Drug Interactions:
Antibiotics like Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, Isoniazid, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole, and Telithromycin.
Certain anticonvulsants like Carbamazepine, Fosphenytoin, Oxcarbazepine, Phenobarbital, Pentobarbital, Phenytoin, and Primidone.
Vaccinations like chickenpox vaccine, varicella vaccine, FluMist, MMR vaccine, Polio vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, smallpox vaccine, yellow fever vaccine, and BCG vaccine.
Protease inhibitors like Amprenavir, Atazanavir, Fosamprenavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, and Rifamycin.

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Taxol Comments

27 May 2014

THIS DRUG SHOULD NOT BE ON THE MARKET!! Women are being targeted by drug companies and the harmful effects of chemo BY FAR OUTWEIGH ANY SMALL CANCER!! If you accept a biopsy without complete tissue removal - you are being robbed of your life and preyed upon by drug makers! 5% of world population and 50% of all pharmaceuticals sold in the USA for population control and monetary gain!! DONT ALLOW THIS SCAM TO CONTINUE ON WOMEN!! Heartless Congress is 100% responsible!! FDA DO YOUR JOB AND PROTECT AMERICANS FROM THIS HORRIBLE THING CALLED CHEMO!!

—Posted by Disgusted by Pharmaceutical Companies in USA

06 Jan 2012

I am on prescribed (high) dose of Taxotere which is given via Porta Cath every 3 weeks, with one treatment to go. Moderate to severe muscle/bone/joint pain is the most significant side effect since I have been on this drug. My genital area has been affected with swelling, itching and pain and of course hair loss in the area. I have been applying ice packs to the area to reduce the swelling and Vagisil for the itching and keeping area dry as possible. Also use sitz baths with 1tsp salt which seems to help in healing the labial area. Nausea which can be moderate to severe is still a problem for me though so am still taking Metoclopramide almost daily. Overall symptoms/side effects could be worse but will be glad when treatment is finally over.

—Posted by Sandra

21 Oct 2010

Severe netropenia resulted in several hospitalizations, required me to take daily shots of nupigen and neulasta. Worse side effects occured 3-4 days after infusion and lasted approx. 48 hours. Can compare it too having the flu by with symptoms being magnifed 10x.

—Posted by Anonymous

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About Taxol

The generic name of Taxol is paclitaxel. Taxol contains active ingredient paclitaxel, which is a form of chemotherapy medication for cancer known as a 'taxane.' Inactive ingredients in Taxol infusion include polyoxyethylated castrol oil and dehydrated ethanol. Taxol functions by inhibiting carcinogenic cells from dividing and multiplying. It destroys the cancer cells and inhibits the cancer from growing and spreading. Taxol is used in the treatment of advanced stage ovarian cancer. It is administered in combination with cisplatin as first-line therapy. Taxol is also used as adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast carcinoma given periodically to standard doxorubicin-containing combination chemotherapy. Taxol is usually administered in the hospital as a three-hour intravenous infusion drip at two or three week intervals between treatments. The purpose of the treatment is to progressively shrink the cancer over repeated cycles of chemotherapy, allowing normal, healthy cells to recover during the interim phase.

About Paclitaxel

Paclitaxel is a mitotic inhibitor drug used in the treatment of cancer. It was discovered at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in 1967 when Monroe E. Wall and Mansukh C. Wani isolated the compound from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, and noted its antitumor activity in a broad range of rodent tumors. By 1970, the two scientists had determined the structure of paclitaxel. Paclitaxel has since become an effective tool of doctors who treat patients with lung, ovarian, breast cancer, and advanced forms of Kaposi's sarcoma. It is sold under the tradename Taxol. Together with docetaxel, it forms the drug category of the taxanes.

Paclitaxel is also used for the prevention of restenosis (recurrent narrowing) of coronary stents; locally delivered to the wall of the coronary artery, a paclitaxel coating limits the growth of neointima (scar tissue) within stents. Paclitaxel drug eluting coated stents are sold under the trade name Taxus by Boston Scientific in the United States.

Source: Wikipedia

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