Abraxane IV

Abraxane IV Warning

This medication may often cause a serious blood disorder (decreased bone marrow function leading to a low number of white blood cells). This effect can lower your body's ability to fight an infection. Your doctor will monitor you closely and check your blood often during treatment. If your white blood cell count is too low, you should not receive this medication. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, cough, persistent sore throat, painful/difficult urination).

This medication contains a form of paclitaxel that is bound to a human protein called albumin. This product acts differently in the body than other forms of paclitaxel. Therefore, this product should not be substituted for or used with any other forms of paclitaxel.

Abraxane IV Side Effects

See also Warning section.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, headache, muscle/joint pain, numbness/tingling/burning of the hands/feet, weakness, or dizziness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.

Temporary hair loss may occur. Normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended.

Many people using this medication have serious side effects. However, your doctor has prescribed this drug because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

• signs of anemia (e.g., unusual tiredness, pale skin)
• easy bruising/bleeding
• fast/slow/irregular heartbeat
• pain/redness/swelling/weakness of the arms/legs
• calf pain/swelling that is warm to the touch
• vision changes

This medication may infrequently irritate the vein it is given into or leak out of the vein and irritate the area. These effects may cause redness, pain, swelling, discoloration, or unusual skin reactions at the injection site, either while the drug is given or rarely 7 to 10 days later. If this drug has leaked out of a vein and caused a skin reaction in the past, you may rarely have a skin reaction in that same area when the drug is given again, even when it is given into another area. Tell your doctor immediately of any unusual skin/injection site symptoms.