docetaxel anhydrous at a glance
Medicine class
Taxane cytotoxic chemotherapy
Main licensed uses
Selected breast, non-small-cell lung, prostate, gastric, and head-and-neck cancers
Administration
Given into a vein by a trained healthcare professional in a specialist cancer unit
Before treatment
Blood-cell counts and liver function are checked; corticosteroid premedication is commonly prescribed
What is docetaxel anhydrous used for?
This product is licensed for the following cancers, with the exact combination and treatment setting determined by the oncology team:
Early, locally advanced, or metastatic breast cancer in specified treatment settings
Locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer
Metastatic castration-resistant or hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
Metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, including the gastro-oesophageal junction
Induction treatment of locally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck
How does docetaxel anhydrous work?
Docetaxel binds to tubulin and stabilises microtubules, preventing their normal breakdown. This disrupts cell division and other essential cellular functions, causing susceptible cancer cells to die.
docetaxel anhydrous preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 20 mg/mL
How to take docetaxel anhydrous
Docetaxel is prepared and given into a vein by trained staff in a specialist cancer unit.
Take prescribed corticosteroid premedication exactly as instructed to help reduce fluid retention and infusion reactions.
Blood-cell counts and liver function are checked before treatment.
Tell the team about infection symptoms, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, numbness or tingling, breathing problems, or previous reactions to paclitaxel.
Do not drive or operate machinery if treatment effects, including those related to the formulation's alcohol content, make you dizzy or impaired.
docetaxel anhydrous side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced white blood cells and increased infection risk
- Anaemia and tiredness
- Hair loss, which can occasionally persist
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation
- Sore mouth and altered taste
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands and feet
- Muscle or joint pain
- Skin, hand-foot, and nail changes
- Swelling or weight gain from fluid retention
- Increased tearing
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever or other signs of infection associated with low white-cell counts
- Severe infusion or allergic reaction, including breathing difficulty, bronchospasm, marked low blood pressure, or widespread rash
- Severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bowel bleeding, or other signs of enterocolitis
- New or worsening cough, fever, or breathlessness suggesting lung inflammation
- Blistering, peeling, bleeding, or widespread pustular skin reactions
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Severe visual disturbance, fainting, or an abnormal heartbeat
docetaxel anhydrous in pregnancy
Docetaxel can harm a developing baby and should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly indicated by the specialist team. Effective contraception is required during treatment and afterwards for the product-specified period. Tell the oncology team immediately about pregnancy or plans to conceive, and discuss fertility preservation before treatment where relevant.
docetaxel anhydrous while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding must stop during treatment because transfer into milk is unknown and serious effects in a nursing infant are possible. Ask the oncology and infant-feeding teams when breastfeeding could safely restart after all treatments are completed.
docetaxel anhydrous interactions
Give the oncology pharmacist a complete list of prescribed, non-prescribed, and complementary products. Important examples include:
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, and voriconazole
They can reduce docetaxel metabolism and increase toxicity, so avoidance or close specialist surveillance may be required.
Ciclosporin and erythromycin
They may alter CYP3A-mediated docetaxel metabolism and require specialist review.
Other medicines affected by alcohol
The ethanol in this formulation may modify their effects and contribute to central nervous system impairment.
Common questions about docetaxel anhydrous
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What cancers is docetaxel anhydrous used to treat?
Its licences cover specified settings in breast, non-small-cell lung, prostate, gastric, and head-and-neck cancers. It may be used alone or with other treatments.
How is docetaxel anhydrous given?
A trained healthcare professional gives it into a vein in a specialist cancer unit; it is not taken at home.
Why is a steroid prescribed?
Corticosteroid premedication helps reduce fluid retention and hypersensitivity reactions.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.