Zevtaxel 60mg Injection contains the active constituent cabazitaxel. It is an anticancer medicine used with steroid medicine prednisone or prednisolone to treat people with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer that has progressed after treatment with other anticancer medications, including docetaxel. Cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled multiplication of cells. Many early-stage prostate cancers need normal testosterone (male hormone) levels to grow. In hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer, cancer keeps growing even when the amount of testosterone in the body is reduced to low levels. This medicine should not be used if you have a severe abnormal liver function or have recently been vaccinated against yellow fever.
Its major toxicities include myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, and allergic reactions. Neutropenia is the most common adverse reaction to this drug. Monitoring of complete blood counts is essential on a weekly basis during cycle 1 and before each treatment cycle thereafter so that the dose can be adjusted, if needed. Vaccination with a live attenuated vaccine should be avoided in patients receiving the medicine, instead killed or inactivated vaccines can be administered.
Consult your doctor before using this medication if you are pregnant or plan to have a baby. This drug is unsafe to use during pregnancy as it causes harm to an unborn fetus. Your healthcare practitioner will conduct a pregnancy test before you start treatment with this drug. Discuss with your doctor effective birth control methods and utilize them for at least two weeks following the last dose. Avoid breastfeeding your baby while on the treatment as it is unknown if this drug passes into the breast milk.
Uses of Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
Therapeutic Effects of Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
It is a mitotic inhibitor that works by disrupting the normal process of cell division. This interferes with the microtubules that help to form the cell's cytoskeleton. Microtubules are essential for the normal process of cell division, as they help to pull apart the chromosomes during mitosis. By inhibiting microtubules, this drug prevents the cancer cells from dividing properly and ultimately leads to their death.
Interaction of Zevtaxel 60mg Injection with other drugs
Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional or vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications may interact with Zevtaxel 60mg Injection and reduce effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.
More Information about Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
How to consume Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
The medicine will be administered to you by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. The recommended dose for this drug is 25mg, administered as an intravenous infusion over one hour every three weeks, in combination with oral prednisone (10 mg daily). The dose can be adjusted based on individual patient factors, such as age, body weight, and other medical conditions.
Safety Advices for Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
Pregnancy
It is unsafe to use during pregnancy whether Zevtaxel 60mg injection can be taken during pregnancy. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy during the treatment.
Breast Feeding
It is unsafe to breastfeed during the treatment with this Zevtaxel 60mg injection because it may cause harm to the baby. Please consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Lungs
It is unknown whether Zevtaxel 60mg injection can be used for patients with lung problems. Consult your doctor if you have any lung diseases before starting the treatment.
Liver
It is unknown whether Zevtaxel 60mg injection can be used for patients with liver disorders. Inform your physician if you have any liver problems before starting treatment with this drug.
Alcohol
It is unknown whether consuming alcohol interacts with the Zevtaxel 60mg injection. Please consult your doctor for more advice.
Driving
It is unsafe to drive vehicles or operate heavy machinery after taking the Zevtaxel 60mg injection because it contains a small amount of alcohol which may cause dizziness and impair your concentration.
Side Effects of Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all drugs cause side effects, not everyone gets them.
Serious
- Low white blood cells
- Infection (fever, cough, muscle aches, burning on urination)
- Severe allergic reactions (rash, itching, breathing problems, swelling of face, chest, or throat tightness)
- Kidney damage
- Severe stomach pain
Common
- Low red blood cell count
- Low blood platelet count
- Constipation
- Back pain, joint pain
- Decreased appetite
- Hair loss
- Numbness, burning, tingling, or decreased sensation in your feet or hands
- Taste change
- Headache, dizziness
- Inflammation of the mouth
- Blood in urine
Word of Advice
Drink at least two litres of fluids every day when you are having diarrhoea. Avoid milk, dairy products, high fibre food or spicy food while you are having diarrhoea. Rinsing your mouth with an alcohol-free mouth gargle or salt water may help reduce chances of infections like mouth ulcers. Risk of infection can occur as this drug can reduce the WBC count in your blood, so it is advised to avoid crowds and people who are sick, wash your hands after toileting. You must not become pregnant during treatment and must use an effective method of contraception. If pregnancy occurs during your treatment, you must inform your doctor immediately. This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. If you are addicted to alcohol, have liver disease or epilepsy, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
FAQs
Q 1. Why is prednisone given with Zevtaxel 60mg Injection?
This drug is designed to kill cancer cells by decreasing their ability to divide into more cells. Prednisone is taken with Zevtaxel 60mg Injection as part of the chemotherapy regimen to possibly slow the growth of cancer cells and reduce side effects from chemotherapy.
Q 2. How does Zevtaxel 60mg Injection work?
This drug shrinks tumors by attacking rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, so they can no longer grow and divide.
Q 3. Who should not use Zevtaxel 60mg injections?
Zevtaxel 60mg Injection is not indicated for children and adolescents under the age of 18. It should not be used in people who are allergic to this drug, as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Q 4. Is it safe for women of reproductive potential to use Zevtaxel 60mg injections?
Zevtaxel 60mg injections are not recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tell your healthcare provider before starting this treatment if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to have a baby.
Q 5. What should I avoid while taking Zevtaxel 60mg injections?
It is advised to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice as it may increase the concentration of drugs in your blood, leading to a higher risk of side effects.
Fact Box of Zevtaxel 60mg Injection
Molecule name: Cabazitaxel | Therapeutic class: Anticancer |
Pharmacological class: Mitotic inhibitors | Indications: Advanced prostate cancer |