Generic name: Docetaxel Injection (Non-Alcohol Formula) [ doe-se-TAKS-el ]
Drug class: Mitotic inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 6, 2023.

Uses of Docetaxel Injection:

• It is used to treat cancer.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Docetaxel Injection?

• If you are allergic to docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula); any part of docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula); or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, or telithromycin.
• If you are taking voriconazole.
• If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) and for 1 week after your last dose.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula).

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Docetaxel Injection?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) affects you.
• You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• Rarely, other cancers have happened in people taking docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) with some other cancer treatments. This includes certain blood cancers and kidney cancer. This may happen months to years after treatment. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• Hair loss is common with docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula). Most of the time, normal hair growth has come back. Sometimes, hair growth has not gone back to normal. Talk with the doctor.
• Some people have felt very tired or weak with docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula). This may last a few days up to several weeks. Call the doctor if these signs are very bad, cause problems with daily living, or do not go away.
• This medicine can cause a severe bowel problem (neutropenic enterocolitis). This problem can be deadly, sometimes as early as the first day signs happen. Call your doctor right away if you have stomach pain with or without a fever, tender stomach, or diarrhea.
• Liver problems have rarely happened with docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula). Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• This medicine may cause a certain eye problem called cystoid macular edema (CME). You may need to have eye exams while using docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula). Call your doctor right away if you have a change in eyesight like blurred eyesight or loss of eyesight.
• If you are 65 or older, use docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine may affect being able to father a child. Talk with the doctor.
• Men with a partner who may get pregnant must use birth control while taking docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If your partner gets pregnant, call the doctor right away.
• This medicine may cause harm to an unborn baby. A pregnancy test will be done before you start docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) to show that you are NOT pregnant.
• Women must use birth control while taking docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.

How is this medicine (Docetaxel Injection) best taken?

Use docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.
• A steroid drug like dexamethasone will be given before docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) to lower side effects. Talk with the doctor. Tell the doctor if the steroid drug is not used as your doctor has told you.
• Talk with your doctor before getting any vaccines. Use of some vaccines with docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) may either raise the chance of an infection or make the vaccine not work as well.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

Related/similar drugs

Enhertu, Erleada, Verzenio, Opdivo, methotrexate, estradiol, Keytruda, Arimidex, pembrolizumab

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of bleeding like throwing up or coughing up blood; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; abnormal vaginal bleeding; bruises without a cause or that get bigger; or bleeding you cannot stop.
• Signs of lung or breathing problems like shortness of breath or other trouble breathing, cough, or fever.
• Signs of a very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in the mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.
• Dizziness or passing out.
• Fast or abnormal heartbeat.
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Muscle weakness.
• Any skin reaction.
• This medicine may cause tissue damage if the drug leaks from the vein. Tell your nurse if you have any redness, burning, pain, swelling, blisters, skin sores, or leaking of fluid where the drug is going into your body.

What are some other side effects of Docetaxel Injection?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Mouth sores.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Change in nails.
• Change in taste.
• Not hungry.
• Muscle or joint pain.
• Flushing.
• Eye redness.
• More tears.
• Weight loss.
• Constipation, diarrhea, throwing up, and upset stomach are common with docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula). If these happen, talk with your doctor about ways to lower these side effects. Call your doctor right away if any of these effects bother you, do not go away, or get very bad.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Docetaxel Injection?

• If you need to store docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula) at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about docetaxel injection (non-alcohol formula), please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer