Allergic reaction to taxol

[aavoletta]

I had my second chemo treatmeant today and five minutes into the taxol iv I started to have pains below my chest and then everything was black, my lower back had spasms and my body felt like it was burning in a fire from the inside out. The doctor stop the iv and I started to feel better after about a half hour. I was so scared and was wondering if anyone has experienced these symptoms.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Allergy to Taxol can still happen even when all the necessary precautions and premedications have been given.  However, the allergy is usually related  to the rate at which the Taxol is being given intravenously.  This means that even if you've had an initial allergic reaction, it is still possible to continue with the drug without experiencing further allergies for as long as it's given at a markedly slower drip rate.

[lhughes]

I had an allergy to Taxol, but mine was from the start of the treatment.  I had the typical blooming redness from my chest and top of my head, then swelling, then actually almost stopped breathing.  They stopped the Taxol within the first 10 seconds and even tried to pull it back from the iv.

Abraxane.....much easier to take.  No premeds, takes only 30 minutes to administer (as opposed to 3 hours for Taxol).  Looks like milk.  Just like taxol but in a different administering formula.

Good luck on any further treatments!