Paclitaxel : Before Using

Paclitaxel - Systemic

Brand Names

Taxol Paclitaxel *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For paclitaxel, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to paclitaxel.

Pregnancy care

Tell your family doctor if you are pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant. Studies in rats and rabbits have shown that paclitaxel causes miscarriages and deaths of the fetus, as well as problems in the mother.

Be sure that you have discussed this with your family doctor before taking this drug. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving paclitaxel. Tell your family doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving paclitaxel.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether paclitaxel passes into breast milk. However, because this drug may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.

Use for Children

There is no special info comparing use of paclitaxel in child with use in other age groups.

Elderly care

This drug has been tested in a limited number of diseaseds and has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving paclitaxel, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with x-rays or cancer medication Paclitaxel may increase the side effects of medication or radiation therapy on the blood

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of paclitaxel. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Herpes zoster - shingles chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body

Heart rhythm problems May be made worse by paclitaxel

Infection Paclitaxel may decrease your body's ability to fight infection