Ixabepilone Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 21, 2025.

Applies to ixabepilone: intravenous powder for solution.

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.

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start receiving this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 7 months after the last dose. Male patients with female partners should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant during treatment with this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause nerve problems (eg, peripheral neuropathy). Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Ixabepilone injection can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood counts are low, 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 the 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 safety razors and fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, chills, cough, dizziness or lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, fever, itching, nausea or vomiting, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, or trouble breathing after receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, fast or uneven heartbeat, nausea, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back ,or neck, sweating, trouble breathing, or vomiting. These could be symptoms of a serious heart problem.

Ixabepilone contains alcohol, which may cause some people to become dizzy or drowsy. If any of these side effects occur, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Some men and women who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

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 ixabepilone

Along with its needed effects, ixabepilone 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 ixabepilone:

Other side effects of ixabepilone

Some side effects of ixabepilone 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 ixabepilone: intravenous powder for injection.

Hematologic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Neutropenia (Grade 4) (36%), leukopenia (41%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Febrile neutropenia, infection with neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Coagulopathy, lymphopenia, hemorrhage^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Flushing, rash, dyspnea, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Peripheral neuropathy (all Grades) (67%), sensory neuropathy (65%), peripheral neuropathy (Grade 3 or 4) (23%), motor neuropathy (16%), taste disorder (12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness
• Frequency not reported: Cognitive disorder, syncope, cerebral hemorrhage, abnormal coordination, lethargy^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Myocardial ischemia, ventricular dysfunction, hot flush
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Supraventricular arrhythmia
• Frequency not reported: Myocardial infarction, supraventricular arrhythmia, left ventricular dysfunction, angina pectoris, atrial flutter, cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia, hypotension, thrombosis, embolism, hypovolemic shock, vasculitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Myalgia/arthralgia (39%), musculoskeletal pain (23%)
• Frequency not reported: Muscular weakness, muscle spasms, trismus^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (53%), abdominal pain (24%), constipation (22%), stomatitis/mucositis, diarrhea
• Common (1% to 10%): Dehydration, gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Frequency not reported: Enterocolitis, ileus, colitis, impaired gastric emptying, esophagitis, dysphagia, gastritis, GI hemorrhage^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (64%), alopecia (31%), nail disorder (24%), skin rash (17%), skin hyperpigmentation (14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, skin exfoliation
• Frequency not reported: Erythema multiforme
• Postmarketing reports: Radiation recall^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Upper respiratory tract infection, dyspnea, cough
• Frequency not reported: Pneumonia, laryngitis, lower respiratory tract infection, pneumonitis, hypoxia, respiratory failure, acute pulmonary edema, dysphonia, pharyngolaryngeal pain^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Acute hepatic failure, jaundice, increased transaminases, increased blood alkaline phosphatase, increased gamma-glutamyltransferase^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Nephrolithiasis, renal failure^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Anorexia (34%), weight loss (11%)
• Frequency not reported: Hyponatremia, metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia, hypovolemia^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased lacrimation^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fatigue/asthenia (60%), pyrexia (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Edema, pain, chest pain
• Frequency not reported: Chills^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Frequency not reported: Sepsis, infection, neutropenic infection, bacterial infection^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Urinary tract infection^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Ixabepilone 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