Docetaxel, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by IV to treat several kinds of cancer.
• You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may increase your risk for certain cancers, blood disorders, nerve problems, or death. This medicine may also cause other unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: docetaxel, injection; Docefrez; Taxotere

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat:

• Advanced or spreading breast cancer
• Head and neck cancer
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Stomach cancer

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine or to polysorbate 80
• Liver disease
• Problems with alcohol abuse

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by IV infusion over a 1-hour period. These infusions are given by a healthcare provider at a clinic or hospital, or at home by an IV service. Before you are given this medicine, you will be given steroids. The steroids are given to lessen fluid retention (swelling of your ankles and feet) and other side effects. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about the medicines you are receiving.

What should I watch out for?

This is a very strong medicine and can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. It should only be given where you can be monitored closely. You will need blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may increase your risk for certain cancers, blood disorders, nerve problems, or death. This medicine may also cause fluid buildup (edema). Talk with your provider about this.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

This medicine may affect your ability to drive safely right after you receive an infusion. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may cause changes in your eye that affect central vision or cause blurred vision. Contact your eye care provider right away if you have vision changes.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects.

Do not drink alcohol or take aspirin while receiving this medicine. It may increase the risk of bleeding. Report any unusual bruising or bleeding to your healthcare provider.

This medicine may make your mouth sore. Use a soft bristle brush or mouth swab to brush your teeth.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing); sudden weight gain or swelling in your arms, legs, belly, or any unexplained swelling.

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fever; chills; sore throat; cough; numbness or tingling in your hands or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; severe tiredness or weakness; severe nausea or vomiting; severe stomach pain; yellowing of skin or eyes; dark urine; light-colored stools; vision changes; severe dizziness or fainting; chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; skin redness, peeling, or blistering; pain or redness at the infusion site.

Other: Mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting; muscle or joint pain; mild weakness or tiredness; hair loss, white patches or sores in or around your mouth, changes in your fingernails or toenails, loss of appetite.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), rifapentine (Priftin), telithromycin (Ketek), and tetracycline
• Antidepressants such as desipramine (Norpramin) and nefazodone
• Antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and primidone (Mysoline)
• Aprepitant (Emend)
• Cancer medicines such as abiraterone (Zytiga), carboplatin, ceritinib (Zykadia), cisplatin, crizotinib (Xalkori), doxorubicin (Doxil), enzalutamide (Xtandi), idelalisib (Zydelig), imatinib (Gleevec), mitotane (Lysodren), nilotinib (Tasigna), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), sunitinib (Sutent), vandetanib (Caprelsa), and vemurafenib (Zelboraf)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo)
• Conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• Heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), dronedarone (Multaq), quinidine, and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), cobicistat (Tybost), darunavir (Prezista), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Stribild), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Live vaccines
• St. John's wort
• Thalidomide (Thalomid)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.