Notes of Using Docetaxel

During the injection time, main function indicators should be closely monitored. In patients with abnormal liver function ,patients using docetaxel with high-dose and patients with non-small cell lung cancer who accepting previous platinum therapy , if the docetaxel is up to 100mg/m2, the treatment-related deaths in the incidence will increase.All patients receiving docetaxel treatment require pre-medication to reduce the incidence of fluid retention. Pre-medication only glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone, docetaxel injection in the first day to start taking 16mg daily , taking 4 to 5 days.Neutropenia is the most common side effects. Docetaxel treatment should be monitored regularly for the number of white blood cells. When the number of patients with neutrophil recovery to> 1500 / mm3 or more before receiving docetaxel treatment, docetaxel during treatment if severe neutropenia (<500 / mm3 and for 7 days or 7 days), the next course of treatment recommended to reduce the dose, if the same problem still occurs, it is recommended to further reduce the dose or stop treatment.In the docetaxel infusion began within the first few minutes of an allergic reaction may occur. If mild symptoms of allergic reactions or local skin reactions such as flushing is not required discontinuation of therapy. Issued if a serious allergic reaction, such as blood pressure more than 20mmHg, bronchospasm or generalized rash / erythema, you need to immediately stop the infusion and symptomatic treatment. Serious adverse reactions that have occurred in patients not re-apply docetaxel.Docetaxel may occur during treatment of peripheral neurotoxicity. If reactions are severe, it is recommended that a course in the next lower dose. Such as skin reactions have been observed to have acral (palm or foot) limitation of erythema with edema, peeling, etc. Such toxicity may cause an interrupt or stop treatment.Patients with liver function damage: If the serum aminotransferase (ALT and or AST) is more than 1.5 times of the upper limit of normal, accompanying by alkaline phosphatase more than 2.5 times of the upper limit of normal, there are high risk of serious adverse reactions, such as toxic deaths, including fatal sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding, Resveratrol and febrile neutropenia syndrome, infection, thrombocytopenia, stomatitis and asthenia. Therefore, these patients should not be used, and in the baseline and before each chemotherapy cycle to test liver function.Use by pregnant and lactating women: There are no adequate and maternal clinical research data with strict control . If the patient using it in pregnancy ,or pregnant in the FDA, they should be notified about  the potential harm to the fetus and potential risk of miscarriage. Women with potential childbearing in should not be pregnant during treatment.It is not clear that whether docetaxel can excrete from human milk. Since many drugs can be excreted from human milk, and docetaxel may cause serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, mothers should stop breast-feeding before using this product. Docetaxel is currently used in the effectiveness and safety of children has not been determined.In the event of overdose, the patient should be moved to a special care unit and close monitoring of vital organ function. Docetaxel overdose, there is no antidote available. Major complications which can indicate include excessive neutropenia, skin reactions and paresthesia.Source:http:// www.cospcn.com