Abraxane Side Effects

Generic name: paclitaxel protein-bound

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 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.

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Intravenous route (powder for suspension)

Severe Myelosuppression. Do not administer paclitaxel protein-bound particles therapy to patients with baseline neutrophil counts less than 1500 cells/mm(3).Monitor for neutropenia, which may be severe and result in infection or sepsis.Perform frequent complete blood cell counts on all patients receiving paclitaxel protein-bound particles.

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:

More common side effects

• black, tarry stools
• bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
• blurred or double vision
• chest pain
• chills
• cough
• fever
• loss of taste
• lower back or side pain
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• rapid weight gain
• sneezing
• sore mouth, tongue, or throat
• tightness in the chest
• tingling of the hands or feet
• troubled breathing with exertion
• ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual weight gain or loss
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common side effects

• anxiety
• bleeding
• blood in the urine or stools
• burning, tingling, numbness or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
• confusion
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• fast, pounding, slow, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
• inability to speak
• pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• rapid, shallow breathing
• sensation of pins and needles
• severe, sudden headache
• skin itching, rash, or redness
• slurred or slow speech
• stabbing pain
• sudden loss of coordination
• sudden, severe weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
• sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
• sweating
• swelling of the face, throat, or tongue
• thickening of bronchial secretions
• trouble thinking or walking

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:

More common side effects

• cracked lips
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• difficulty with moving
• headache
• lack or loss of strength
• loss of hair
• muscle pain or stiffness
• nausea
• pain in the joints
• swelling
• vomiting

Less common side effects

• bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, a feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

Rare side effects

• nail changes

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]

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