Abraxane Side Effects

Generic name: paclitaxel protein-bound

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 20, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Abraxane Side Effects associated with paclitaxel protein-bound. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Abraxane.

Applies to paclitaxel protein-bound: intravenous powder for suspension.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Men who are receiving this medicine should not father a child. This medicine can harm the unborn baby of your partner.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are receiving this medicine.

Paclitaxel can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, which will increase the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets in your blood, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, these are the precautions you can take to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection, or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or have painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in your urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects, such as a safety razor, fingernail clippers, or toenail clippers.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine is made from donated human blood. Although the risk is low, some people have received viruses from human blood products. Human donors and donated blood are both tested for viruses before the medicine is prepared. Talk with your doctor if this concerns you.

Check with your doctor right away if you have burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a condition called sensory neuropathy.

Lung or breathing problems may occur if you are receiving this medicine together with gemcitabine. Tell your doctor right away if you have shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or a persistent dry cough.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Abraxane

Along with its needed effects, paclitaxel protein-bound (the active ingredient contained in Abraxane) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking paclitaxel protein-bound:

Other side effects of Abraxane

Some side effects of paclitaxel protein-bound may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to paclitaxel protein-bound: intravenous powder for injection.

Dermatologic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Alopecia (90%), rash
• Common (1% to 10%): Nail disorder, pruritus, dry skin, erythema, nail pigmentation/discoloration, skin hyperpigmentation, onycholysis, nail changes
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nail bed tenderness, urticaria, skin pain, photosensitivity reaction, pigmentation disorder, pruritic rash, skin disorder, hyperhidrosis, onychomadesis, erythematous rash, generalized rash, dermatitis, night sweats, maculopapular rash, vitiligo, hypotrichosis, nail discomfort, generalized pruritus, macular rash, papular rash, skin lesion, swollen face
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Neutropenia (up to 82%), anemia (up to 25%), leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, bone marrow suppression
• Common (1% to 10%): Febrile neutropenia
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Pancytopenia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Peripheral neuropathy, neuropathy, hypoesthesia, paresthesia
• Common (1% to 10%): Peripheral sensory neuropathy, headache, dysgeusia, dizziness, peripheral motor neuropathy, ataxia, sensory disturbance, somnolence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Polyneuropathy, areflexia, dyskinesia, hyporeflexia, neuralgia, sensory loss, syncope, postural dizziness, neuropathic pain, tremor, abnormal gait^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Abnormal ECG (60%) including abnormal ECG in patients with a normal baseline (35%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia, arrhythmia, supraventricular tachycardia, flushing, hot flushes, hypertension, lymphedema, peripheral edema, chest pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypotension, peripheral coldness, orthostatic hypotension, chest discomfort, increased blood pressure
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, left ventricular dysfunction, congestive heart failure, atrioventricular block, thrombosis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia/myalgia (44%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pain in extremity, bone pain, back pain, muscle cramps, limb pain, rigors
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest wall pain, muscular weakness, neck pain, groin pain, muscle spasms, musculoskeletal pain, flank pain, limb discomfort, muscle weakness^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): AST (SGOT) elevations (39%), alkaline phosphatase elevations (36%), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) elevations (14%) patients
• Common (1% to 10%): Bilirubin elevations
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatomegaly
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Hepatic necrosis, hepatic encephalopathy^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (30%), diarrhea (26%), vomiting (18%), constipation, stomatitis
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, upper abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, oral hypoesthesia, mucosal inflammation
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysphagia, flatulence, glossodynia, dry mouth, gingival pain, esophagitis, lower abdominal pain, mouth ulceration, oral pain, rectal hemorrhage
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, pancreatitis, ischemic colitis, neutropenic enterocolitis^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue, asthenia, pyrexia
• Common (1% to 10%): Vertigo, pain, edema, weakness, decreased performance status, malaise, lethargy, hyperpyrexia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Ear pain, tinnitus^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Upper respiratory tract infection, sinusitis, interstitial pneumonitis, dyspnea, epistaxis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, cough, rhinitis, rhinorrhea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nasopharyngitis, pneumonia, productive cough, exertional dyspnea, sinus congestion, decreased breath sounds, pleural effusion, allergic rhinitis, hoarseness, nasal congestion, nasal dryness, wheezing, pulmonary emboli, pulmonary thromboembolism^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Very common (10% or more): Hypersensitivity (up to 12%)
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Severe hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Local

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Swelling, injection site reaction
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Extravasation^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased lacrimation, blurred vision, dry eye, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, madarosis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eye irritation, eye pain, abnormal vision, reduced visual acuity, conjunctivitis, visual disturbance, eye pruritus, keratitis
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Cystoid macular edema^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysuria, pollakiuria, hematuria, nocturia, polyuria, urinary incontinence, breast pain^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Anorexia
• Common (1% to 10%): Dehydration, hypokalemia, weight loss, increased alanine aminotransferase, increased aspartate aminotransferase, increased gamma-glutamyltransferase, decreased hematocrit, decreased red blood cell count, increased blood alkaline phosphatase
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypophosphatasemia, fluid retention, hypoalbuminemia, polydipsia, hyperglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, weight gain, increased blood lactate dehydrogenase, increased blood creatinine, increased blood glucose, increased blood phosphorus, decreased blood potassium, increased bilirubin^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Metastatic pain, tumor necrosis^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia, depression, anxiety
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Restlessness^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Infections (up to 24%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Febrile neutropenia, folliculitis, candidiasis, influenza-like illness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Neutropenic sepsis, oral candidiasis, cellulitis, herpes simplex, viral infection, catheter-related infection, fungal infection, herpes zoster, injection site infection, sepsis, neutropenic sepsis^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Abraxane side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer