What is Paclitaxel injection?
- Paclitaxel injection manufactured with human albumin is used to treat breast cancer that has not improved or that has come back after treatment with other medications.
- Paclitaxel injection manufactured with polyoxyethylated castor oil is used to treat ovarian cancer (cancer that begins in the female reproductive organs where eggs are formed), breast cancer, and lung cancer.
- Paclitaxel injection with polyoxyethylated castor oil is also used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin) in people who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents.
- It works by stopping the growth and spread of cancer cells.
- Paclitaxel belongs to a group of medicines called “taxanes” used in cancer.
- Paclitaxel is the part of the medicine that affects the cancer, it works by stopping cancer cells from dividing – this means that they die.
- Paclitaxel is used in metastatic breast cancer when at least one other therapy has been tried but has not worked and you are unsuitable for treatments containing a group of medicines called “anthracyclines”.
Paclitaxel Injection – Taj Ando Pharmaceuticals, South Africa | Paclitaxel injection manufactured with human albumin is used to treat breast cancer that has not improved or that has come back after treatment with other medications. Paclitaxel Injection – Taj Ando Pharmaceuticals, South Africa | Paclitaxel injection manufactured with human albumin is used to treat breast cancer that has not improved or that has come back after treatment with other medications.
Side Effects
Paclitaxel may cause side effects.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• pain, redness, swelling, or sores in the place where the medication was injected
• weakness
• muscle or joint pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• sores in the mouth
• hair loss
Some side effects can be serious.
If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
• numbness, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
• pale skin
• excessive tiredness
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• chest pain
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• fainting
• hardening, darkening, or peeling of the skin in the area where the medication was injected
• blistering or peeling skin
* Paclitaxel may cause other side effects.
* Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
How should this medicine be used?
- Paclitaxel injection comes as a liquid to be given intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic.
- It is usually given once every 3 weeks.
Other Uses of this Medicine
- Paclitaxel injection is also sometimes used to treat cancer of the head and neck, esophagus (tube that connects the mouth and stomach), bladder, endometrium (lining of the uterus), and cervix (opening of the uterus).
- Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before receiving paclitaxel injection
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to paclitaxel, any other medications, human albumin, polyoxyethylated castor oil, or medications that contain polyoxyethylated castor oil such as cyclosporine injection (Sandimmune) and teniposide (Vumon). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not know if a medication that you are allergic to contains human albumin or polyoxyethylated castor oil.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or heart disease.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you plan to father a child. You or your partner should not become pregnant while you are receiving paclitaxel injection. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy in yourself or your partner during your treatment with paclitaxel injection. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you or your partner become pregnant while receiving paclitaxel injection, call your doctor. Paclitaxel may harm the fetus.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving paclitaxel injection.
• If you are using paclitaxel manufactured with polyoxyethylated castor oil, you should know that the medication contains alcohol. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages or medications that may affect your thinking or judgment during your treatment.
• Talk to your doctor before you receive any vaccinations during your treatment with paclitaxel.
• You should know that paclitaxel may make it more difficult for your body to fight infection. Wash your hands often and avoid crowds and people who are sick during your treatment with paclitaxel.
• You should know that paclitaxel may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
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