Paclitaxel Injection

Conditions Treated

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.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

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.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication 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. When paclitaxel injection manufactured with polyoxyethylated castor oil is used to treat Kaposi's sarcoma, it may be given once every 2 or 3 weeks. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while using this medicine.

Are There Any Special Instructions

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. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin), and telithromycin (Ketek); certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); aripiprazole (Abilify);certain benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam, and triazolam (Halcion); buspirone (Buspar); certain calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc, in Azor, in Caduet, in Lotrel), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Tarka, Verelan); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol); other chemotherapy medications for cancer such as doxorubicin (Doxil); certain cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor); cimetidine (Tagamet); cisplatin (Platinol); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); fluoxetine (Prozac, Safarem, in Symbyax); efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla); fluvoxamine; gemfibrozil (Lopid); imatinib (Gleevec); methadone (Dolophine); montelukast (Singulair); nefazodone; nevirapine (Viramune); phenytoin; pimozide (Orap); protease inhibitors used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), and saquinavir (Invirase); quinidine; quinine (Qualaquin); rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, in Rifamate); sildenafil (Viagra); tacrolimus (Prograf); tamoxifen (Nolvadex); trazodone; and vincristine. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with paclitaxel, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or heart disease. 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.