Docetaxel (Taxotere, others) - Uses, Side Effects, and More

What are the most common side effects of docetaxel?

The most common side effects of docetaxel are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

• Infections
• Blood disorders (see below)
• Nerve problems (see below)
• Change in how things taste
• Shortness of breath
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Problems with your nails
• Fluid retention (see below)
• Weakness (see below)
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Mouth or lip sores
• Hair loss
• Injection site reaction, such as skin redness, tenderness, or swelling
• Muscle pain

There may be other side effects of docetaxel that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of docetaxel?

While less common, the most serious side effects of docetaxel are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Docetaxel may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

• Breathing problems or wheezing
• Racing heart
• Fever or general ill feeling
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
• Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
• Stomach cramps
• Joint pain

Blood Disorders. Docetaxel can cause blood disorders, such as low neutrophils (neutropenia), low red blood cell levels (anemia), and low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia). Attend all appointments for blood work so your healthcare provider can monitor your blood cell counts. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of blood disorders.

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Frequent infection
• Unusual weakness or tiredness
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
• Headache
• Fast or abnormal heartbeat

Stomach Problems. Docetaxel can cause dangerous stomach (gastrointestinal) issues including enterocolitis and neutropenic colitis. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms of stomach problems.

• Stomach pain or swelling in your stomach
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Tiredness

Fluid Retention (Edema). Docetaxel can cause fluid retention, also called edema. Too much fluid can be life-threatening. Be sure to take the medicine (corticosteroid) your healthcare provider gives you to help prevent fluid retention. Before getting docetaxel, tell your healthcare provider If you forget to take the corticosteroid such as dexamethasone or do not take it exactly as you were told. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

• Shortness of breath
• Stretched or shiny skin
• Swollen body parts, such as the belly, legs, or ankles
• Weight gain

Blood Problems or New Cancer. Docetaxel may increase the risk of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), which are blood disorders where your body does not make enough healthy blood cells. Docetaxel may also raise the risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), which is a type of blood cancer. It may also cause kidney (renal) cancer. These conditions have been reported by a small number of people who used docetaxel, and most happened months to years later. Keep all appointments to check your blood work while receiving and after docetaxel treatment.

• Tiredness or weakness
• Weight loss
• Frequent infections
• Fever
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Shortness of breath
• Blood in pee or poop

Severe Skin Reactions. Docetaxel can cause severe skin reactions, called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) that can lead to death if not treated. If you develop a rash, call your healthcare provider right away. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of SJS or TEN.

• Painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
• Flat red rash or blisters on your skin, mouth, nose, and genitals
• Red, painful, watery eyes
• Flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, and muscle aches

Nerve Problems. Nerves are the fibers that carry sensations from your body to the brain. Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are using docetaxel. Problems with your nerves while using docetaxel can also cause pain and change how things taste. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Vision Problems. Docetaxel may increase your risk of macular edema. Macular edema happens when fluid builds up in the back of your eye. Keep any scheduled eye exams before starting or while using docetaxel. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of macular edema.

• Blurriness or shadows
• Sensitivity to light
• Worsening vision
• A blind spot in the middle of your vision
• Dull or unusually colored or tinted vision

Weakness. Docetaxel can cause extreme weakness and tiredness in some people. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how docetaxel affects you.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome. Docetaxel can cause a fast breakdown of cancer cells. This can lead to a condition called tumor lysis syndrome, which can be serious. It is important to drink plenty of water while receiving docetaxel and keep all appointments for blood work, so your healthcare provider can see how your body is responding to docetaxel. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs of tumor lysis syndrome while taking docetaxel.

• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness
• Swelling or fluid retention
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle cramps
• Seizures