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Paclitaxel (Intravenous Route)
Drug Information provided by: MicromedexUS Brand Names
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Description
Paclitaxel belongs to the group of medicines called antineoplastics. It is used to treat cancer of the ovaries, breast, certain types of lung cancer, and a cancer of the skin and mucous membranes more commonly found in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.
Paclitaxel interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by paclitaxel, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with paclitaxel, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Paclitaxel is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, paclitaxel is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
- Cancer of the bladder
- Cancer of the cervix
- Cancer of the endometrium
- Cancer of the fallopian tube or lining of the abdomen (spreading from the ovary)
- Cancer of the esophagus
- Cancers of the head and neck
- Small cell lung cancer (a certain type found in the tissues of the lungs)
- Cancer of the stomach
- Cancer of the prostate
- Cancer of the testes
- Cancer of unknown primary site
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Solution
