Docetaxel

All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.

Here are some important things to think about:

• Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
• Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
• If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Hives.
• Signs of infection such as a fever or chills.
• Severe nausea and vomiting.
• Severe diarrhea.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes or belly pain. This may mean the medicine has damaged your liver.
• Swollen belly, ankles, or feet.

Common side effects of this medicine include:

• A lack of energy (fatigue).
• Skin reactions, such as a rash or mild swelling of the hands or feet.
• Muscle or joint aches.
• Mouth sores (stomatitis).
• Nail changes, such as nails becoming soft and tender.
• Numbness and tingling in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy).
• Hair loss. This is reversible, and hair will grow back when treatment ends.

Taking this medicine may cause you to get Reference acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) Opens New Window. But this is very rare.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

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