Taxotere is a prescription medication used to treat certain types of breast, lung, prostate, stomach, and head and neck cancers. It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines. Taxotere belongs to a group of drugs called taxanes, which stop the growth and spread of cancer cells.
This medication comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare provider, once every 3 weeks.
Common side effects of Taxotere include changes in taste, anemia, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
Taxotere can cause serious side effects, including death.
The chance of death in people who receive Taxotere is higher if you:
- have liver problems
- receive high doses of Taxotere
- have non-small cell lung cancer and have been treated with chemotherapy medicines that contain platinum
Taxotere can affect your blood cells. Your doctor should do routine blood tests during treatment with Taxotere. This will include regular checks of your white blood cell counts. If your white blood cells are too low, your doctor may not treat you with Taxotere until you have enough white blood cells. People with low white blood counts can develop life-threatening infections. The earliest sign of infection may be fever. Follow your doctor's instructions for how often to take your temperature while taking Taxotere. Call your doctor right away if you have a fever.
Serious allergic reactions can happen in people who take Taxotere. Serious allergic reactions are medical emergencies that can lead to death and must be treated right away. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of a serious allergic reaction:
- trouble breathing
- sudden swelling of your face, lips, tongue, throat, or trouble swallowing
- hives (raised bumps), rash, or redness all over your body
Your body may hold too much fluid (severe fluid retention) during treatment with Taxotere. This can be life threatening. To decrease the chance of this happening, you must take another medicine, a corticosteroid, before each Taxotere treatment. You must take the corticosteroid exactly as your doctor tells you. Tell your doctor or nurse before your Taxotere treatment if you forget to take the corticosteroid dose or do not take it as your doctor tells you.
