Docetaxel: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Q: What is Taxotere?

Docetaxel is an antineoplastic agent belonging to the taxoid family. It is prepared by semisynthesis beginning with a precursor extracted from the renewable needle biomass of yew plants.

Q: What kind of drug is docetaxel?

The FDA classifies docetaxel as a microtubule inhibitor. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Q: Can you take docetaxel with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run docetaxel against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

Q: What brand names is docetaxel sold under?

We track 4 docetaxel-containing products in the U.S.: Docetaxel, Taxotere, Docefrez and Docivyx. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

Q: What forms does docetaxel come in?

Across the brands we track, docetaxel is currently marketed as injectable and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Q: Is there a generic docetaxel?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic docetaxel product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Q: Has docetaxel been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions docetaxel. The most recent: Docetaxel Injection (May 28, 2024). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

Docetaxel is a microtubule inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for breast neoplasms, non-small-cell lung carcinoma and head and neck neoplasms. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesUpdated Jul 24, 2026How we research

Key facts

Drug class: Microtubule Inhibitor
Treats (across its forms): Breast Neoplasms, Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma and Head and Neck Neoplasms
Available as: Injectable · Solution
Sold as: 4 products — Docetaxel, Taxotere and Docefrez, and others
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Yes
Boxed warning: Boxed warning

How Taxotere is dosed

From the FDA label for Taxotere (application NDA020449). Other docetaxel products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

For all indications, toxicities may warrant dosage adjustments [see Dosage and Administration (2.7) ] . Administer in a facility equipped to manage possible complications (e.g., anaphylaxis). Administer in a facility equipped to manage possible complications (e.g., anaphylaxis). Administer intravenously (IV) over 1 hr every 3 weeks. PVC equipment is not recommended. Use only a 21 gauge needle to withdraw Docetaxel from the vial. BC locally advanced or metastatic: 60 mg/m 2 to 100 mg/m 2 single agent ( 2.1 ) BC adjuvant: 75 mg/m 2 administered 1 hour after doxorubicin 50 mg/m 2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks for 6 cycles ( 2.1 ) NSCLC: after platinum therapy failure: 75 mg/m 2 single agent ( 2.2 ) NSCLC: chemotherapy naive: 75 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 ( 2.2 ) HRPC: 75 mg/m 2 with 5 mg prednisone twice a day continuously ( 2.3 ) GC: 75 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 (both on day 1 only) followed by fluorouracil 750 mg/m 2 per day as a 24-hr IV (days 1–5), starting at end of cisplatin infusion ( 2.4 ) SCCHN: 75 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 IV (day 1), followed by fluorouracil 750 mg/m 2 per day as a 24-hr IV (days 1–5), starting at end of cisplatin infusion; for 4 cycles ( 2.5 ) SCCHN: 75 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin 100 mg/m 2 IV (day 1), followed by fluorouracil 1000 mg/m 2 per day as a 24-hr IV (days 1–4); for 3 cycles ( 2.5 ) For…

Everything below is the FDA label for Taxotere (injectable). Docetaxel is also sold as solution, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Taxotere side effects

The most serious adverse reactions from docetaxel are: Toxic Deaths [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Hepatic Impairment [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hematologic Effects [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Enterocolitis and Neutropenic Colitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Fluid Retention [see Boxed Warning , Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Second Primary Malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Cutaneous Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Neurologic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Eye Disorders [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Asthenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.11) ] Alcohol Content [see Warnings and Precautions (5.13) ] The most common adverse reactions across all docetaxel indications are infections, neutropenia, anemia, febrile neutropenia, hypersensitivity, thrombocytopenia, neuropathy, dysgeusia, dyspnea, constipation, anorexia, nail disorders, fluid retention, asthenia, pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, mucositis, alopecia, skin reactions, and myalgia. Incidence varies depending on the indication. Adverse reactions are described according to indication. Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the…

Who shouldn’t take Taxotere

Docetaxel is contraindicated in patients with: neutrophil counts of <1500 cells/mm 3 [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to docetaxel or to other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80. Severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . Hypersensitivity to docetaxel or polysorbate 80 ( 4 ) Neutrophil counts of <1500 cells/mm 3 ( 4 )

Taxotere drug interactions

Docetaxel is a CYP3A4 substrate. In vitro studies have shown that the metabolism of docetaxel may be modified by the concomitant administration of compounds that induce, inhibit, or are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4. In vivo studies showed that the exposure of docetaxel increased 2.2-fold when it was coadministered with ketoconazole, a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4. Protease inhibitors, particularly ritonavir, may increase the exposure of docetaxel. Concomitant use of docetaxel and drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 may increase exposure to docetaxel and should be avoided. In patients receiving treatment with docetaxel, close monitoring for toxicity and a docetaxel dose reduction could be considered if systemic administration of a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor cannot be avoided [see Dosage and Administration (2.7) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Cytochrome P450 3A4 inducers, inhibitors, or substrates: May alter docetaxel metabolism. ( 7 )

Every docetaxel product we track (4)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Docetaxel products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Pharmacy pays
1	Docetaxel	70/100	Prescription	Injectable	No data	—	View →
2	Taxotere Boxed warning	70/100	Prescription	Injectable	No data	—	View →
3	Docefrez Boxed warning	Not yet rated	Prescription	Injectable	No data	—	View →
4	Docivyx Boxed warning	Not yet rated	Prescription	Injectable	No data	—	View →

Docetaxel recalls

From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.

How long docetaxel keeps

The date on a sealed pack is not the only one: some docetaxel labels start a second clock once the product is opened or mixed, as short as 1 hour.

Does docetaxel expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labels

Docetaxel and breastfeeding

From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy. No information is available on the clinical use of docetaxel during breastfeeding. It has been suggested that breastfeeding should be discontinued for 4 to 5 days after a dose, although the manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding be discontinued for 1 week after the last dose. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk. Women who receive chemotherapy during pregnancy are more likely to have difficulty nursing their infant.

Full LactMed record for docetaxel: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider instead

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised September 15, 2023. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.

What people report to the FDA about docetaxel

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 70,033 reports naming docetaxel, and the FDA flagged 79% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

alopecia17,971 reports
madarosis6,852 reports
hair texture abnormal6,130 reports
hair colour changes6,011 reports
hair disorder5,644 reports
diarrhoea5,486 reports
nausea3,999 reports
emotional distress3,617 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean docetaxel caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.

Related calculators

How long it stays in your system →

Frequently asked questions

What is Taxotere?

Docetaxel is an antineoplastic agent belonging to the taxoid family. It is prepared by semisynthesis beginning with a precursor extracted from the renewable needle biomass of yew plants.

What kind of drug is docetaxel?

The FDA classifies docetaxel as a microtubule inhibitor. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take docetaxel with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run docetaxel against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is docetaxel sold under?

We track 4 docetaxel-containing products in the U.S.: Docetaxel, Taxotere, Docefrez and Docivyx. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does docetaxel come in?

Across the brands we track, docetaxel is currently marketed as injectable and solution, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic docetaxel?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic docetaxel product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Has docetaxel been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions docetaxel. The most recent: Docetaxel Injection (May 28, 2024). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

Cite this page

APA: pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Docetaxel: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/docetaxel
MLA: “Docetaxel: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/docetaxel.

We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Read the full FDA label for docetaxel on DailyMed (NIH) ↗ — including its boxed warning in full.