Paclitaxel Side Effects (Cont.)

Paclitaxel Chemotherapy Cancer Treatment

Serious Paclitaxel Side Effects

Some side effects with paclitaxel, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:

An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) during a paclitaxel infusion
High blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension) during an infusion
Severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Blood in the stool
Signs of an infection, such as fever or chills (see Chemotherapy and Infections)
Severe fluid retention or difficulty breathing (Fluid Retention During Chemotherapy)
Severe mouth sores
Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, and unexplained swelling.

Final Thoughts on Paclitaxel Side Effects

You may experience some or none of the paclitaxel side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking the drug, or if something "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect of paclitaxel, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD

Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;

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Precautions and Warnings With Paclitaxel

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