Anaphylaxis and severe hypersensitivity reactions characterized by dyspnea and hypotension requiring treatment, angioedema , and generalized urticaria have occurred in 2 to 4% of patients receiving TAXOL in clinical trials . Fatal reactions have occurred in patients despite premedication. All patients should be pretreated with corticosteroids, diphenhydramine, and H2 antagonists. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION . ) Patients who experience severe hypersensitivity reactions to TAXOL should not be rechallenged with the drug. Bone marrow suppression (primarily neutropenia ) is dose-dependent and is the dose- limiting toxicity . Neutrophil nadirs occurred at a median of 11 days. TAXOL should not be administered to patients with baseline neutrophil counts of less than 1500 cells/mm 3 ( 3 for patients with KS). Frequent monitoring of blood counts should be instituted during TAXOL treatment. Patients should not be re-treated with subsequent cycles of TAXOL until neutrophils recover to a level > 1500 cells/mm 3 ( > 1000 cells/mm 3 for patients with KS) and platelets recover to a level > 100,000 cells/mm 3 . Severe conduction abnormalities have been documented in Pregnancy TAXOL can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Administration of paclitaxel during the period of organogenesis to rabbits at doses of 3.0 mg/kg/day (about 0.2 the daily maximum recommended human dose on a mg/m 2 basis) caused embryo- and fetotoxicity, as indicated by intrauterine mortality , increas
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