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Paclitaxel Coupon - Paclitaxel 16.7ml of 6mg/ml vial

paclitaxel

Generic Taxol
Used for Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Kaposi's Sarcoma
Used for Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Kaposi's Sarcoma

Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a chemotherapy medication used to treat many cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer. It’s commonly used off-label as well for other types of cancers. Typically, paclitaxel (Taxol) is given as an infusion through the veins (IV). It’s likely that you’ll receive it in combination with other anticancer medications. Since paclitaxel (Taxol) can cause serious allergic reactions, your provider will ask you to take medications to prevent reactions before each dose.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Julia Lee, PharmD, BCOP
reviewer
Connie Zheng, PharmD
Last reviewed on August 21, 2023
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsContraindicationsLatest newsImagesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Paclitaxel (Taxol)?

What is Paclitaxel (Taxol) used for?

How Paclitaxel (Taxol) works

Paclitaxel (Taxol) is a chemotherapy medication that works by blocking cells from growing. Cells have substances called microtubules inside them, which are important for maintaining cell structure and normal functioning. Paclitaxel (Taxol), also known as a microtubule inhibitor, interferes with normal microtubule growth. By doing so, it stops rapidly dividing cells (like tumor cells) from growing and spreading.

Are you looking for information on albumin-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane) instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsTaxol (brand no longer available)
Drug ClassMicrotubule inhibitor
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
basics-icon

What are the side effects of Paclitaxel (Taxol)?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Low blood cell counts (up to 90%)
  • Hair loss (87%)
  • Feeling numbness and tingling (60%)
  • Muscle, bone, or joint pain (60%)
  • Nausea and vomiting (52%)
  • Allergic reaction (41%)
  • Diarrhea (38%)
  • Mouth sores (31%)
  • Infection (30%)

Other Side Effects

  • Injection site reactions
Please note: Side effect information is from studies of people who received paclitaxel (Taxol) alone for ovarian or breast cancer. Your side effect experience might be different depending on your cancer and your treatment plan.

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Serious allergic reactions: swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, difficulty swallowing, rash, itching, trouble breathing
  • Lower blood cell counts (serious infections): unusual bleeding or bruising, fever
  • Abnormal heart rhythm: racing heartbeat, feeling lightheaded

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Black or tarry stools

blurred vision

burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations

confusion

cough or hoarseness with fever or chills

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

feeling of warmth

fever or chills

lower back or side pain

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

shortness of breath

skin rash or itching

sore throat

sweating

troubled breathing with exertion

ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth

unsteadiness or awkwardness

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

Less common

Blood in the urine or stools

difficult or labored breathing

pinpoint red spots on the skin

shortness of breath (severe)

slow heartbeat

tightness in the chest

wheezing

Incidence not known

Anxiety

blue lips, fingernails, or skin

difficult or troubled breathing

fainting

fast heartbeat

irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing

sudden shortness of breath

Some 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

Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

cracked lips

diarrhea

difficulty with swallowing

hair loss

nausea or vomiting

numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet

pain in the joints or muscles, especially in the arms or legs

thinning of the hair

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Paclitaxel (Taxol)

thumbs-up

Pros

Recommended treatment for breast cancer, NSCLC, and ovarian cancer, along with other chemotherapy medications

Given weekly to every 3 weeks in an infusion center or clinic, so doesn’t need to be taken every day

thumbs-down

Cons

Commonly causes hair loss

Can cause serious allergic reactions

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Paclitaxel (Taxol)

pharmacist

  • Alert your care team immediately if you've symptoms of an allergic reaction during your paclitaxel (Taxol) infusion, such as feeling flushed or dizzy, or having trouble breathing. If so, your team will pause the paclitaxel (Taxol) infusion and give supportive medications to manage the reaction. Once your condition improves, your team might restart the infusion at a slower rate and adjust your premedications for future infusions.

    • On occasion, paclitaxel (Taxol) can irritate the area around where you’re receiving the infusion, especially if it leaks out of the vein and into the surrounding tissue (extravasation). During your infusion, let your treatment team know if you notice redness, pain, swelling, or blistering near your IV site. They might need to pause the infusion and give you a warm compress or other supportive medications to help manage the irritation.

      • Paclitaxel (Taxol) can damage the nerves. Let your provider know if you have new or worsening tingling in your hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy). These could be signs of nerve problems due to paclitaxel (Taxol). Your provider might need to lower your dose or have you take a short break from paclitaxel (Taxol) treatment while your nerve symptoms resolve.

        • Paclitaxel (Taxol) can affect your white blood cells, which raises your risk for infection. If you have a fever higher than 100.4°F, contact your healthcare team so you can get treatment for infection.

          • It’s common to have hair loss (alopecia) with paclitaxel (Taxol) treatment. Generally, your hair will grow back after you stop treatment, but might take 3-6 months to come back. Your hair might also grow back with a different color or texture than before.

            • Paclitaxel (Taxol) is transferred through breastmilk, so you should avoid breastfeeding while receiving this medication and for 2 weeks after your last dose.

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Paclitaxel (Taxol)

              Will I lose my hair while taking paclitaxel (Taxol)?
              It’s likely you’ll lose your hair while receiving treatment with paclitaxel (Taxol). This is because paclitaxel (Taxol) works against cells in the body that divide rapidly, including tumor cells. But chemotherapy can also damage some normal cells that grow quickly, like hair cells. Usually, hair loss starts within the first few weeks of treatment. Hair can fall out in clumps, and can affect hair on all parts of the body. If you’re concerned about losing your hair while taking paclitaxel (Taxol), talk to your provider. They can talk with you about options for dealing with hair loss, such as using cooling caps or resources for lower-cost or free wigs.
              How can I manage numbness and tingling while on paclitaxel (Taxol) treatment?
              Paclitaxel (Taxol) can cause nerve damage, leading to discomfort, pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy). Talk with your provider if your symptoms are disrupting your daily activities. They can recommend medications to help with peripheral neuropathy. They might also adjust the paclitaxel (Taxol) dose or give you a longer break between treatments to help relieve your side effects.
              How can I manage diarrhea while on paclitaxel (Taxol) treatment?
              Diarrhea is a common paclitaxel (Taxol) side effect. Try to stay well-hydrated and eat small, frequent meals. If you’re having many more stools per day than normal, talk with your healthcare team. They’ll check on your symptoms and potential causes of the diarrhea, and might recommend medications to prevent diarrhea.
              How long will I need to take paclitaxel (Taxol)?
              How long you receive paclitaxel (Taxol) depends on how well you tolerate the medication, your overall treatment plan, and how well paclitaxel (Taxol) works against your cancer. You should take paclitaxel (Taxol) as instructed by your healthcare team to make sure the treatment can work at its best against your cancer.
              Is paclitaxel (Taxol) safe for me to take while pregnant?
              Paclitaxel (Taxol) hasn't been well-studied in human pregnancy. Animal studies suggest that it can harm unborn babies. But limited research in people shows that babies born to mothers who've received taxane-based chemotherapy (like paclitaxel (Taxol)) during pregnancy didn't experience any more harm compared to babies born to mothers who didn't receive such treatment. If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your provider about the risk and benefits of taking paclitaxel (Taxol) in pregnancy.
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              warings-icon

              What are the risks and warnings for Paclitaxel (Taxol)?

              Paclitaxel (Taxol) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

              risk-warning

              Serious allergic reactions

              • Risk factors: First or second paclitaxel (Taxol) infusion

                Paclitaxel (Taxol) can cause serious allergic reactions, including symptoms such as dizziness, trouble breathing, swelling in your lips or tongue, itching, or hives. In rare cases it could be fatal. Usually, these reactions happened with the first or second paclitaxel (Taxol) infusion. To prevent a serious reaction, your provider will give you pretreatment medications, including a corticosteroid, an antihistamine, and a histamine-2 (H2) blocker.

                If you have a reaction to paclitaxel (Taxol), your treatment team will pause the infusion and give medications to treat the reaction. Once your symptoms improve, your team might try to restart the infusion at a slower rate. If you have a severe reaction to paclitaxel (Taxol), you might need to go to the hospital for monitoring. After a severe reaction to paclitaxel (Taxol), your provider might recommend desensitization, where you’ll be closely monitored while you get small doses of paclitaxel (Taxol) slowly to help you tolerate treatment. Or, they might change your treatment plan altogether.

                risk-warning

                Only given under care of trained healthcare provider

                Paclitaxel (Taxol) should only be given by a trained healthcare provider in a facility that is licensed to give this medication. Because of the risk of serious side effects, such as allergic reaction, the facility needs to be equipped to treat those complications.

                risk-warning

                Low blood cell counts (bone marrow suppression)

                • Risk factors: Higher paclitaxel (Taxol) dose

                  [EDITOR|DRUG_DISPLAY_NAME|||title]] can damage the bone marrow and cause low blood cell counts. This can lead to fatigue due to low red blood cells, higher risk of bleeding due to low platelets, and higher risk of infection due to low white blood cell counts.

                  Let your healthcare team know if you have unusual bleeding or bruising, or signs of infection, like a fever. Before every infusion, your provider will check your blood tests to make sure your white blood cell levels are at a safe level. If your white blood cell counts are low, your provider will delay your infusion. They might also adjust your dose for future treatments if your blood cell counts go too low. You won’t be able to receive paclitaxel (Taxol) if your neutrophil count is too low (less than 1,500 cells/mm^3^ in most cases).

                  risk-warning

                  Abnormal heart rhythm

                  In very rare situations, people receiving paclitaxel (Taxol) developed abnormal heart rhythms, which required a pacemaker in some cases. Let your provider know if you feel a racing or fluttering heart beat, or dizziness. They can check your heart rhythm to make sure paclitaxel (Taxol)’s still safe for you.

                  risk-warning

                  Harm to the unborn baby

                  Based on animal studies, paclitaxel (Taxol) can cause harm to an unborn baby. Talk with your provider if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant before starting treatment with this medication.

                  dosage

                  Paclitaxel (Taxol) dosage forms

                  Typical dosing for Paclitaxel (Taxol)

                  Your provider will determine your dose of paclitaxel (Taxol) based on your body surface area (BSA) in units of m2, which takes into consideration height and weight.

                  • You’ll receive paclitaxel (Taxol) as an infusion through the vein (IV), given by a healthcare provider. The specific dose and how often you receive it depends on the cancer and your individual treatment plan. Usually, it’s given once every 3 weeks, but can be given as often as once a week.

                  interactions

                  Interactions between Paclitaxel (Taxol) and other drugs

                  Paclitaxel (Taxol) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Paclitaxel (Taxol). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                  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 this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                  Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                  contraindications-icon

                  Paclitaxel (Taxol) contraindications

                  Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Paclitaxel (Taxol) will not be safe for you to take.

                  • Hypersensitivity to polyoxyl 35 castor oil

                  • Baseline absolute neutrophil count less than 1500 cells/mm^3^, or less than 1000 cells/mm^3^ in people with Kaposi’s sarcoma

                  images

                  Paclitaxel (Taxol) images

                  yellow - Paclitaxel 100mg / 16.7mL Solution for Injection
                  This medicine is Yellow Vial.yellow - Paclitaxel 100mg / 16.7mL Solution for Injection
                  yellow - Paclitaxel 100mg / 16.7mL Solution for Injection
                  This medicine is Yellow Vial.yellow - Paclitaxel 100mg / 16.7mL Solution for Injection

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