Cabazitaxel – Information, Uses and Side Effects

Drug Trade Name: Jevtana

Category: Cancer & Oncology (microtubule inhibitor)

Generic Name: cabazitaxel

Introduction and Quick Information:

Cabazitaxel is used to treat prostate cancer in some people.  This medicine is used in combination with prednisone. 

Cabazitaxel acts by suppressing microtubule function, which is essential for normal mitotic activity. Cabazitaxel is an antineoplastic agent.

Is It Approved by FDA?

Cabazitaxel was approved in 2010 June 17 by the U.S. FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Usage and Benefits of Cabazitaxel:

Cabazitaxel is used to:

• Treat prostate cancer
• Suppresses the activity of microtubules, thereby, restricting mitotic cell division

Cabazitaxel can also be used for purposes others than the ones listed above. You can get more information about other uses of this medicine by talking to your doctor.

Cabazitaxel Side Effects:

From over-the-counter (OTC) medications like minerals and herbal products to prescription medications, it is impossible to find a drug without side effects. Just like any other anti-cancer drug, Cabazitaxel also has a number of side effects. 

Frequent Cabazitaxel Side Effects:

If any of these effects persist for a long time, you should notify your doctor at once to escape from its deleterious effects. Its common side effects are listed below:

• Back pain
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Numbness
• Diarrhea
• Joint pain
• Redness at the injection site
• Mild pain
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Swelling
• Mild weight loss
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Muscle spasms
• Tiredness or weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Burning or tingling sensation in the feet and hands or taste-related changes

Infrequent Cabazitaxel Side Effects:

• Symptoms of allergic reactions:
  • Itching
  • Hives
  • Swelling of the lips, mouth, face, or tongue
  • Rash
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Tightness in the chest
• Blood in the urine
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Slow, fast, or erratic heartbeat
• Fainting
• Persistent or severe nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent or severe dizziness
• Vomiting
• Mouth inflammation or sores
• Persistent or severe tiredness or weakness
• Persistent or severe weight loss
• Symptoms of bleeding in the brain:
  • Confusion
  • Slurred speech
  • One-sided weakness
  • Vision problems
• Symptoms of dehydration:
  • Fast or erratic heartbeat
  • Very dry skin
  • Mouth, or eyes
  • Increased thirst
  • Weakness
• Symptoms of infection:
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle aches
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Swollen lymph glands
  • Fever
  • Painful or increased urination
• Symptoms of kidney problems:
  • Swelling of the ankles, face, hands, feet or other parts of the body
  • Decreased amount of urine produced
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Wheezing

As you notice the above-listed side effects, you must immediately consult your doctor to get medical assistance at the earliest.

General Recommended Dosages of Cabazitaxel:

Nowadays, people, especially in metropolitan cities, flinch from going to a doctor due to easy accessibility to the internet & try to diagnose a disease/syndrome/illness on their own by getting information on the net. It is good to read information related to a disease on the internet, but remember that it is your medical healthcare provider who can better guide you for how to take a particular medicine by defining its amount, strength/power & dosage time. So, always follow your doctor’s advice for proper dosing instructions.

When you a buy a medicine, it usually comes with a leaflet that guides you on how to take a particular medicine. If you still have confusion about the same, you must talk to your doctor.

Cabazitaxel is administered as an injection at hospitals, doctor’s office or clinic. It is taken along with other drugs like prednisone. It is also mandatory to have prednisone as prescribed by your doctor. You must let your doctor know if you have forgotten to take a dose of prednisone or if you have not taken the same as prescribed.

In Case I Miss the Dose?

Well, if you have forgotten to have the medicine on time, no need to be freaked out because this situation can be easily handled by taking the missing dose the moment you remember. If it is a time to have the next scheduled dose, better you skip the missed dose rather than having a double dose of this medicine. However, if you have missed more than one dose, you should talk to your doctor to stamp out this problem.

In Case I Take the Overdose?

If you have taken an overdose of Cabazitaxel, you should rush to the nearby hospital before the condition worsens.

Symptoms may include:

• Sore throat
• Chills
• Persistent or severe nausea
• Fever
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Vomiting
• Cough
• Diarrhea

Drug Interactions of Cabazitaxel:

It has been observed that some people use more than one drug for a specific disease/illness or for different disorders. Many of these combinations are likely to interact negatively. Drugs interact with other drugs, whether these are prescription or over the counter medications.

Let your healthcare professional know if you are having some vitamins, herbal or minerals products, drugs that have been prescribed to you by some other doctor etc.

Here are some medicines that may interact with Cabazitaxel-

• Azole antifungals like:
  • Voriconazole
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoconazole
• Macrolide antibiotics like:
  • Clarithromycin
  • Erythromycin
• HIV protease inhibitors like:
  • Atazanavir
  • Ritonavir
  • Indinavir
• Nefazodone
• Telithromycin
• Nifedipine

All these above-listed medicines increase the risk of Cabazitaxel’s side effects

• Rifamycin, such as:
  • Rifapentine
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin
• Phenytoin
• Carbamazepine
• Phenobarbital

These drugs may reduce Cabazitaxel’s effectiveness.

• Palifermin

It may increase the risk of inflammation or mouth sores.

Note: This is not the complete list of medicines that might interact with Cabazitaxel.

Lifestyle and Food Habits You Must Follow When on Cabazitaxel:

It has been seen that Cabazitaxel decreases the number of platelets (clot-forming cells) in the blood. So, you should restrict those activities that may cause injury or bruising.  Let your doctor know if you have unusual bleeding or bruising. Inform your medical healthcare provider know if you have tarry, bloody or dark stool. This medicine reduces the ability of our body to fight off infection. You should avoid contact with people, who have infections or cold. Visit your doctor if you observe symptoms like sore throat, chills, fever or rash.

Don’t forget to inform your doctor about nonprescription medications, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements as well as prescription drugs that you are consuming, or if you have a weak immune system or low white blood cell count.

How Safe is Cabazitaxel for Pregnant Women or Nursing Mothers?

This medicine kept under the pregnancy category “D.” Cabazitaxel may cause harm to the unborn baby. You should avoid this medicine when you are pregnant. Do not think of getting pregnant while using this medicine. If you believe that you are pregnant, let your medical healthcare professional know about the same without delay.

It is still unknown whether Cabazitaxel is present in the human breast milk or not. Well, as a preventive measure, you must stop breastfeeding while having this drug.

Complications and Conditions Possible Due to Prolonged Use of Cabazitaxel:

If a medical healthcare professional recommends a medicine for the lifetime, it might create a problem by affecting the bodily functions. So, you must report to your medical healthcare provider about any new signs noticed by you while having this medicine. You may be required to change the drug or have a dose adjustment.

Availability of Cabazitaxel:

You can buy Cabazitaxel from any of the local health centers authorized by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, other medical centers or government recognized hospitals.  This medicine is available only on prescription.