Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Paclitaxel may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain or diarrhea;
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
• numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;
• severe redness or irritation, swelling or a hard lump, or other skin changes where the injection was given (may occur 7 to 10 days after an injection);
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• cough with mucus, chest pain, feeling short of breath;
• chest pain, shortness of breath, fast or slow heartbeats;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;
• a seizure;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;
• low red blood cells (anemia)–pale skin, unusual tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet; or
• low white blood cell counts–fever, mouth sores, skin sores, sore throat, cough, trouble breathing.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects of paclitaxel may include:

• fever, chills, or other signs of infection;
• anemia;
• feeling weak, tired, or light-headed;
• bleeding;
• trouble breathing or swallowing;
• hair loss, skin rash, hives;
• numbness, tingling, or burning;
• swelling in your face, hands, or feet;
• sores or white patches in or around your mouth;
• joint or muscle pain;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; or
• tenderness or irritation where the medicine was injected.