What it means
It belongs to the taxane group and treats breast, ovarian, lung and other cancers. Serious effects are severe allergic reactions during the infusion, low white blood cell counts and nerve damage (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet); hair loss is common. It is on the ISMP list of names confused with docetaxel, and its brand Taxol is confused with Paxil.
For the nurse
Give the premedications ordered to prevent a reaction (usually a steroid and antihistamines), use the tubing and in-line filter the label requires, and watch closely during the infusion for flushing, trouble breathing or low blood pressure. Check blood counts before each dose. ISMP lists chemotherapy as high-alert, so doses are double-checked.
At a glance
| Drug class | antineoplastic (taxane) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Taxol |
| Spanish | paclitaxel |
| Also written | Taxol |
Easy to confuse with
paroxetine
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety disorders.
clopidogrel
An antiplatelet drug that keeps platelets from clumping together to form clots.
Related terms
antineoplastic
A drug used to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or stopping them from growing and dividing.
onc/o
A word part that means tumor or mass.