What is Docetaxel?

Cancer is a disease that may significantly diminish the quality of a person’sperson’s life. There may be different kinds of cancers that affect different people. When a person has cancer, a harmful or malignant tumour slowly expands and takes over some part or parts of the body, depleting the normal functioning of the organ. It impacts or harms the tissues and cells in the area. To treat different cancers, one may take certain medications that will attack the harmful cluster of cells hindering the body’s regular functioning. Docetaxel is a medication that may treat some kinds of cancer. The Docetaxel injection may be used on its own or with other medications. It is generally used to treat particular breast, lung, prostate, stomach, head and neck cancers. Docetaxel injection belongs to a category of medications known as taxanes. It works by hindering the expansion and spread of cancer cells in the person’sperson’s body. 

Docetaxel side effects

Docetaxel Side Effects

There are several Docetaxel uses. The primary purpose of using different types of medication is to treat patients to relieve them of their health impediments. However, alongside the positive effects of medication, patients may also experience some adverse side effects, which may cause some problems for them, especially if they are not addressed correctly. A patient may also experience Docetaxel side effects when taking the medication. While not all patients may experience Docetaxel side effects, knowing about them may be a good idea if one starts experiencing them. If the Docetaxel side effects experienced become severe, a person might be advised to approach their doctor or a suitable medical authority to receive medical assistance. The sooner one can recognise Docetaxel’s side effects, the faster one will be able to receive any medical help they may need. 

Some notable Docetaxel side effects that a patient must report to their doctor or health care professional as soon as possible if experienced are:

  • Experiencing allergic reactions such as skin rashes, itching or hives, and swelling of the face, lips, or tongue of the patient
  • Unclear vision
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Vision changes 
  • Low blood count, resulting from a fall in white and red blood cells as well as the platelets of the person, could put the person at an increased risk of infections and bleeding.
  • Feeling nauseous  
  • Vomiting
  • Pain, redness or irritation near the area where the person was injected
  • Feeling pain, tingling, or numbness in one’s hands or feet
  • Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of one’s skin, which may also occur inside the mouth of the person
  • Experiencing signs of reduced platelets or bleeding which may include bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, nosebleeds
  • Experiencing signs of reduced red blood cells, which may result in a person feeling weak or tired for no apparent reason, experiencing fainting spells or feeling lightheaded
  • A patient may be at an elevated risk of infection, which may cause them to experience fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty urinating
  • Swelling of ankles, feet and hands

Side effects that may usually not require medical attention but one must report to their doctor or a suitable medical professional in case they continue to be bothersome are:

  • Feeling and experiencing constipation
  • Upset stomach
  • Changes in fingernails or toenails of the person
  • Loss of hair 
  • Appetite loss
  • Sores in mouth
  • Pain in muscles 

The above lists may not cover all possible Docetaxel side effects. The medication may also affect patients differently, so the side Docetaxel side effects be observed differently in different patients. Since the same Docetaxel side effects could also appear differently in different patients, one must not expect their reactions to be identical to others who have also experienced Docetaxel side effects. Patients may consult their doctor if they would like to know more about Docetaxel’sDocetaxel’s side effects. 

Docetaxel uses 

There are a handful of Docetaxel uses. Every medication has some use. It may be a good idea to expand one’sone’s understanding of the uses of medication, especially if they are currently taking that medicine or has been given a prescription for it. A person may also want to know about Docetaxel uses for the same reason. While Docetaxel uses may not apply to all patients who take it, it still may help a patient to be aware of the nature of the medication they are taking and what kind of treatments it is used for. 

Some important Docetaxel uses are:

  1. Stomach cancers
  2. Head cancer 
  3. Neck cancer 
  4. Lung cancer 
  5. Prostate cancer

This list may only cover some Docetaxel uses. The list includes more common Docetaxel uses which are able to throw light on the general uses of the medication, but it could have other uses too. One may refer to their doctor or a suitable medical professional if they would like to know what other treatments Docetaxel could be used for. 

Docetaxel price or Docetaxel injection price 

For many reasons, a person may like to know the Docetaxel price or the Docetaxel injection price. Healthcare prices have steeply risen in the last few years, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. Costs related to cancer treatment may also accumulate in huge amounts over time, resulting in massive health-related expenditures. Many patients may like to be informed of the medical costs they will incur, usually because of their financial status. Docetaxel price or Docetaxel injection price may become a deciding factor if someone can receive treatment in many situations.

The Docetaxel price or Docetaxel injection price is: 

  • Docetaxel 120 mg Solvent for Injection 9 ml, 9 at Rs.32.4 

The Docetaxel price or Docetaxel injection price may vary between pharmacies and sellers to some extent but will generally stay within the range of the price given above. 

Docetaxel chemotherapy 

Patients may be given Docetaxel chemotherapy depending on their health situation and personal characteristics such as height, weight, age, etc. If they are suffering from a cancerous or malignant tumour and a type of cancer that may require Docetaxel chemotherapy, their doctor will recommend it. A person may suffer from two kinds of tumours. One kind is called a benign tumour, formed by a cluster of cells that expand slowly and do not move from one location to another. Benign tumours may cause minimal harm to a person. However, A malignant or cancerous tumour may expand fast and change locations. It may damage the cells, tissues and organs where it is present, disturbing the normal functioning of a person’sperson’s body. Docetaxel hinders or slows down the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually completely destroyed by the body.

A big problem with chemotherapy medication is that it may not be able to differentiate between the regular cells in a person’s body and the harmful or cancerous cells. Docetaxel may also impact the growth of normal cells. Other unfavourable effects may also occur due to this. Patients may become more prone to diseases and infections due to fewer healthy cells to fight them off. They may also become unusually weak as a result of Docetaxel chemotherapy. One may consult their doctor or a suitable medical professional to know more about Docetaxel chemotherapy, the side effects, reactions and other related aspects. 

Docetaxel for prostate cancer

A patient may be given Docetaxel for prostate cancer. Docetaxel for prostate cancer will help slow the expansion or growth of the cancerous or malignant tumour near the prostate region, reducing the side effects related to the same and sometimes even completely curing the patient with prostate cancer. 

Long-term side effects of Docetaxel

A person may experience long-term side effects of Docetaxel. The most common types of long-term side effects of Docetaxel may be two types of nerve damage: sensory and motor peripheral neuropathy. Despite these long-term side effects of Docetaxel being less common, some patients who have taken the medication have also reported a loss of hair. This loss of hair may last for years and is permanent. Hence, the patient’s hair does not grow back in the regions affected by the medication in this way. In some extremely rare cases, patients have developed leukaemia. Leukaemia is cancer of tissues that form blood, including the bone marrow in the person’s body.

What must I tell my doctor or medical team before taking Docetaxel medication?

Your doctor or medical team may need to be informed about the following conditions:

  • If you are suffering from an infection, especially a virus infection like chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes
  • Are you suffering from liver disease or have any other issues related to kidneys 
  • Have a low blood count, which could be low white cell, platelet or red cell counts
  • Have you had any reaction to Docetaxel, polysorbate 80, other chemotherapy agents, other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
  • Are you currently pregnant, or are you trying to get pregnant
  • Are currently nursing a child (breastfeeding a child)

There may be some other information about your health condition that a doctor or suitable medical professional may like to know. The patient may cooperate and give them as many details about any of this information as this will usually be for their own benefit, so that one may receive optimal treatment.

Can pregnant women take Docetaxel medication?

A patient may be at a stage in life where they may want to start a family but are also taking Docetaxel at the same time to treat a medical issue they are facing. This may raise concerns about whether one can become pregnant in this state. One may be advised not to become pregnant while taking Docetaxel or six months after stopping it. The medication may be transferred from the pregnant person’s body to the child through the placenta. The medication may cause effects or developmental delays in the child, which one may like to avoid. 

Males and contraception 

Males should be cautious if they are currently taking Docetaxel and can make or are currently trying to get pregnant with someone. They may risk the child’s health in case of an accidental or planned pregnancy. Men who are taking Docetaxel must use condoms if they have intercourse with women that can get pregnant. This is because if the woman does get pregnant, the child that may eventually be born could have some congenital disability. 

Can a person breastfeed a child while taking Docetaxel?

A person may be advised not to breastfeed a child while given Docetaxel. It is recommended not to breastfeed an infant while taking Docetaxel or for one week after stopping it. The medication could pass through the breast milk to the child. Such medication may be unsuitable for a young child and cause health or developmental issues. One must consult their doctor about what course of treatment may be suitable if they have been prescribed Docetaxel but are currently feeding a child. 

Can children take Docetaxel?

Children may generally be given Docetaxel with a lot of precaution. Children may only be prescribed Docetaxel if they really need it. They may require special care when taking the medication, which their guardian may discuss with their doctor or a suitable medical authority. The special care given to the child may depend on their age, weight, height, and health condition, among other significant aspects. 

Risk of cancer 

Medications may have some adverse effects which put the people that consume them for treatment of a particular health condition at risk of suffering from other health issues. Patients may be at an increased risk of developing different types of cancer while taking Docetaxel. The patient may discuss their cancer risk with their doctor or a suitable medical professional. They may be able to understand the risks and benefits of taking Docetaxel better by doing so. 

Alcohol

Alcohol may react with some medications. This medication may contain alcohol, which the patient should discuss with their doctor. If the patient takes any other medication, it could react with the alcohol composition of Docetaxel. This is why they must tell all the doctors or medical professionals they are consulting for all their treatments and the medications they are currently being given. 

A patient must also try and avoid consuming alcohol when taking some medication or different types of medications to avoid any adverse reactions. If one may want to consume alcohol while being given or taking Docetaxel, they may be advised to ask their doctor what amount of alcohol may be suitable for them and their limit. It is still generally advised that persons taking medication or multiple medications try and avoid alcohol consumption to be safe. 

Driving and use of machinery 

A person may become sleepy or disoriented on taking Docetaxel. They may put themselves, as well as other people around them, at risk. A patient must avoid driving, using machinery or carrying out any activity that may need you to be aware and alert, especially if one has experienced severe disorientation after being given Docetaxel medication. Avoiding such activities will minimise the chances of accidents occurring. It will generally create a safe scenario for the patient and the people they may directly impact in case they were to do such activities when feeling the effects of the medication. 

Monitoring and testing 

Patients currently given Docetaxel may be regularly tested and monitored during treatment. This is to ensure that the medication is working as it should and that there are no side effects that may not have been observed. When patients are tested and monitored, they may also have to do blood tests so that the doctors can check the composition of their blood and ensure that everything is as it should be and there are no abnormalities in their blood composition. An abnormal blood composition may reveal some other issues, which is why it may be important for a patient to do so. 

What dosage of Docetaxel should a person take?

Docetaxel will be given to a patient via injection, so they will not have to worry about administering any dosage of the same to themselves. The dosage of Docetaxel will be decided by the doctor concerning the age, weight, height, and health condition, among other aspects relating to the patient.

What shall I do in case I miss my dose of Docetaxel?

Docetaxel is given to patients at a hospital, clinic, or other suitable medical authority. The patient must not self-administer the medication. To take the medication at a suitable time, a patient may have to take an appointment at the hospital, clinic or suitable medical facility. Some situations may arise where the patient cannot attend their appointment or even miss it. In such a situation, the patient should inform their doctor or medical them that they cannot attend their appointment or have missed it and reschedule to a suitable time. It is imperative that patients take their dosage of Docetaxel medication at the right time as advised by their doctor or medical team so that it can have the desired effect on the patients and the treatment may be converted to a cure for the health issue they are facing. The patients must follow the advice of the doctors and medical staff and try not to miss any appointments that have been scheduled for Docetaxel administration.

What shall I do in case of an overdose of Docetaxel medication?

Docetaxel is given or administered to a patient by a doctor, nurse or suitable medical professional. They will be trained in giving injections and probably have experience administering the medication to patients; however, human error may occur at times, and a patient may be given a higher dose of the medication than necessary. On the overdose of the medication, the patient must initially be observed. In case of sudden severe reactions, they may be taken to the emergency room of the medical facility they have received the Docetaxel injection. Suppose the medical facility they have been given Docetaxel does not have an emergency room or the necessary facilities to address the overdose. In that case, they may be taken via ambulance to a different medical facility with an emergency room or suitable facility to assist the patient.

What are the common brand names of Docetaxel?

One may want to know about the alternative names of medication as these may be used at the time of treatment or even when purchasing it from a pharmacy. In case the alternate name for a medicine is used, if the patient is informed about the same, they may be able to avoid confusion relating to the same. Docetaxel also has some alternative names that it may be called by. Common brand names of Docetaxel are Docefrez and Taxotere.

What medications must Docetaxel not be taken along with?

A patient must not take Docetaxel medication alongside any of the following medications:

  • Live virus vaccines

Docetaxel medication could also react with the following medications:

  • Arepitant
  • Certain antibiotics like erythromycin or clarithromycin
  • Antivirals for HIV or hepatitis
  • Medication that may be given for fungal infections such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole
  • Cimetidine
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Conivaptan
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dronedarone
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Imatinib
  • Verapamil

Where will Docetaxel be stored?

A patient may want to know where and how Docetaxel must be stored. The medicine must be stored at a suitable medical facility or pharmacy. It must not be kept at home because patients must not self-administer the medication. The medication must only be given to the patients at a suitable medical facility by a trained medical professional. 

Conclusion 

Patients may receive medications and receive the necessary treatment from doctors, but they must play their role in their own treatment properly as well. Patients must remain informed and aware of the kind of medication they are taking, its side effects and its price, among other important aspects. This will make the treatment afforded by the doctor to the patient smoother and even result in the treatment for the patient that is receiving the treatment being smoother. In the case of Docetaxel medication, the medicine can be given and work as it should. The doctor or medical staff available to the patient may also be able to give the patient any necessary medical assistance in case of an overdose or some side effects if the patient is aware of the symptoms. The role of a patient in their own treatment is hence very important and critical to converting the process of the patient receiving treatment to being entirely cured of the health issue they are facing.