Premedication with a corticosteroid pill starting a day prior to Taxotere infusion for 3 days is given to reduce the severity of fluid retention and allergic reactions. Your doctor will prescribe the exact regimen.
Full Answer
Can Taxotere cause severe fluid retention?
Severe fluid retention has been reported following Taxotere therapy. Patients should be premedicated with oral corticosteroids prior to each Taxotere administration to reduce the incidence and severity of fluid retention [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].
Is Taxotere a common treatment?
Although Taxotere is a common treatment no one seems to want to talk about it. Managed to get some duretics from my GP who was very alarmed at my swelling. It wasnt just my feet it was my whole body, face everything!
What should be premedicated for Taxotere infusion?
All patients should be premedicated with an oral corticosteroid prior to the initiation of the infusion of Taxotere [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)]. Severe fluid retention has been reported following Taxotere therapy.
Should we reduce the dose of Taxotere if CYP3A4 inhibitors are used?
In patients receiving treatment with Taxotere, close monitoring for toxicity and a Taxotere dose reduction could be considered if systemic administration of a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor cannot be avoided [see Dosage and Administration (2.7), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Does Taxotere cause fluid retention?
The medication causes fluid buildup in the limbs and around the heart and lungs. Most of the time, the side effect is mild to moderate. Doctors typically try to give patients corticosteroids to prevent swelling, but fluid retention can still occur in some patients after premedication.
What helps with chemo edema?
Steps you can take to prevent or lessen edema-related swelling include:Get comfortable. Wear loose clothing and shoes that are not too tight. ... Exercise. Moving the part of your body with edema can help. ... Limit salt (sodium) in your diet. Avoid foods such as chips, bacon, ham, and canned soup. ... Take your medicine.
Does dexamethasone help with fluid retention?
When given at the same dosage, dexamethasone is less likely than hydrocortisone to cause fluid retention. Generic dexamethasone is available.
How do cancer patients reduce swelling?
If edema caused by cancer or by other health conditions, you and your health care team can work together to treat the underlying cause and to reduce swelling and relieve symptoms directly. Treating edema with medications. A type of medication called a diuretic may be able to help relieve edema.
How do I get rid of fluid in my legs and feet?
Support stockingsMovement. Moving and using the muscles in the part of your body affected by edema, especially your legs, may help pump the excess fluid back toward your heart. ... Elevation. ... Massage. ... Compression. ... Protection. ... Reduce salt intake.
Why do chemo patients swell up?
Chemotherapy-related, or cancer swelling: It is a vascular reaction that causes an increased ability for fluid in the cells to "leak" into the layers of the skin, resulting in swelling. This happens much less often than hives alone. The fluid retention causes swelling generally in the tongue, lips, or eyelids.
Why is dexamethasone given with Taxotere?
A small number of people who take Taxotere have severe fluid retention, which can be life- threatening. To help avoid this problem, you must take another medication such as dexamethasone (DECKS-A-METH-A-SONE) prior to each Taxotere treatment.
How long can you safely take dexamethasone?
Your doctor will tell you how long to take it for. When used to treat croup in children, your doctor will give a single one-off dose. For some conditions you may only need to take dexamethasone for a few days or weeks. However, for other conditions you may need to take it for longer, sometimes for several months.
Why is premedication with oral corticosteroids required prior to Taxotere administration?
For breast and non-small cell lung cancers, premedication consisting of an oral corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone 16 mg per day (e.g. 8 mg BID) for 3 days starting 1 day prior to docetaxel administration, unless contraindicated, can reduce the incidence and severity of fluid retention as well as the severity of ...
How do I get rid of fluid in my legs?
Put your legs on pillows to raise them above your heart while lying down. Exercise your legs. This helps pump fluid from your legs back to your heart. Follow a low-salt diet, which may reduce fluid buildup and swelling.
Why does cancer cause fluid buildup?
Fluid can build up when: cancer cells irritate the lining of the abdomen and make it produce too much fluid. lymph glands in the abdomen get blocked and can't drain fluid properly. cancer has spread to the liver and raises the pressure in nearby blood vessels, which forces fluid out.
Does Chemo make you retain fluid?
Chemotherapy may cause swelling (edema), leading the body to retain extra fluid. This is also known as fluid retention or lymphedema. You may feel hungrier while undergoing chemotherapy, or you may feel nauseous and then relief when you eat.
What is taxotere used for?
Breast Cancer. Taxotere is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior chemotherapy. Taxotere in combination with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with operable node-positive breast cancer.
How long before taxotere infusion?
For metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, given the concurrent use of prednisone, the recommended premedication regimen is oral dexamethasone 8 mg at 12 hours, 3 hours, and 1 hour before the Taxotere infusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].
What is docetaxel made of?
Docetaxel is an antineoplastic agent belonging to the taxoid family. It is prepared by semisynthesis beginning with a precursor extracted from the renewable needle biomass of yew plants. The chemical name for docetaxel is (2R,3S)-N-carboxy-3-phenylisoserine,N- tert -butyl ester, 13-ester with 5β-20-epoxy-1,2α,4,7β,10β,13α-hexahydroxytax-11-en-9-one ...
How long is taxotere stable?
Taxotere final dilution for infusion, if stored between 2°C and 25°C (36°F and 77°F) is stable for 6 hours. Taxotere final dilution for infusion (in either 0.9% Sodium Chloride solution or 5% Dextrose solution) should be used within 6 hours (including the 1-hour intravenous administration).
How does docetaxel work?
Docetaxel is an antineoplastic agent that acts by disrupting the microtubular network in cells that is essential for mitotic and interphase cellular functions. Docetaxel binds to free tubulin and promotes the assembly of tubulin into stable microtubules while simultaneously inhibiting their disassembly. This leads to the production of microtubule bundles without normal function and to the stabilization of microtubules, which results in the inhibition of mitosis in cells. Docetaxel's binding to microtubules does not alter the number of protofilaments in the bound microtubules, a feature which differs from most spindle poisons currently in clinical use.
Which isoenzyme is docetaxel metabolized by?
In vitro drug interaction studies revealed that docetaxel is metabolized by the CYP3A4 isoenzyme, and its metabolism may be modified by the concomitant administration of compounds that induce, inhibit, or are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 [see Drug Interactions (7) ].
Is taxotere cytotoxic?
Taxotere is a cytotoxic anticancer drug and, as with other potentially toxic compounds, caution should be exercised when handling and preparing Taxotere solutions. The use of gloves is recommended [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.3) ].
How does docetaxel work?
Docetaxel works by disrupting the microtubular network in cells, which is essential for cell division and other normal cellular functions. Docetaxel interferes with the function of microtubules, resulting in inactive microtubule bundles, causing cells to die.
Can you give a corticosteroid before a cancer infusion?
The dosage and schedule are determined by the person's size and type of cancer. It can be given alone or with other drugs. You will be given a corticosteroid prior to the infusion to prevent severe fluid retention and allergic reactions.
Can docetaxel cause liver pain?
Your labs will be closely monitored prior to each dose of docetaxel and the dose may be decreased or held if your liver function is not normal. Even when carefully and correctly administered by trained personnel, this drug may cause a feeling of burning and pain.
