Questions about Taxol and Taxotere

Ted · Jan 11, 2005

It's been 6 years since my full-time oncology days. New chemo agents seem to spring up at an ever increasing rate. Although I've given Taxol (many moons ago, back in the days when we used to place those patients on telemetry), I never given Taxotere. Never heard of Taxotere.

Anyone else??

Ted

stevierae · Jan 11, 2005

Actually, I have done a lot of research since my original post and learned all about Taxol and Taxotere (both Taxanes) and how dosing is calculated according to body surface area, or body mass index (still need to know height and weight.) Also learned about various nationwide clinical trials going on using either drug combined with 5FU, Cisplatin, and possibly radiation to fight esophageal CA.

The internet is a wonderful thing! :)

lmarkie · Feb 2, 2005

Would any oncology nurses be kind enough to answer these questions regarding Taxol and Taxotere for me?
What is the difference between Taxol at 80 mgs per meter square and Taxotere 138 mgs (both diluted in 250cc. NS?) If Taxotere 138 mg was given mistakenly instead of the Taxol 80 mg. per meter square, would there be any untoward effects to the patient?
What is the difference between Taxol 300 mg in 500 cc NS and Taxol at 80 mgs per meter square?
What I am REALLY not understanding is this "per meter square" stuff. I know NOTHING about chemo--well, I know that both drugs are taxanes, and that they are often given in combination with 5FU and Cisplatin---but why are taxanes not given like other drugs that I am used to seeing in surgery--that, is, in mg/Kg or mcg/Kg?

Per Meter Square= the body mass idex used to calculate the amount of drug to give a patient- the formula to calulate is hieght x weight (in metric) divided by 3600 and then the square root of that number.

Taxotere is an antineoplastic drug that affects cells during the mitotic and interphase function. Used a lot with Breast Cancer and some Lung Cancer

Taxol is an antineoplastic drug that affects cells during cell division. Used alot with Ovarian, Breast, Sarcoma , and Small cell Lung cancers

Basically giving a patient the wrong medication is a serious thing whether there are any untoward affects or not-our department had a similar event one of those very meds were given when the other was ordered- a tool was then developed to catch any such errors in the future and is working well. As far as the affect to the patient- you should as your pharmacy dept.