What are common adverse effects of taxanes?

Taxanes are a class of chemotherapy drugs that include paclitaxel and docetaxel, commonly used in treating a variety of cancers, particularly breast and lung cancers. Myelosuppression refers specifically to the bone marrow's reduced ability to produce blood cells, which is a well-known adverse effect of taxanes. This can lead to conditions like anemia, increasing the risk of infection due to low white blood cell counts, and bleeding issues from reduced platelet levels.

Hypersensitivity reactions can occur during the administration of these agents, especially with paclitaxel, which may present as urticaria, difficulty breathing, or other allergic symptoms. These reactions are often mitigated with pre-medications such as corticosteroids or antihistamines prior to infusion.

The other options listed do reflect possible side effects of various chemotherapy classes or other drugs but are not primarily associated with taxanes. For instance, peripheral neuropathy and constipation may occur more often with other chemotherapeutics, fluid retention is more closely linked with certain agents like corticosteroids or specific medications that influence sodium balance, and gastrointestinal bleeding is not typical with taxanes. Therefore, myelosuppression and hypersensitivity reactions are the most relevant and commonly observed adverse effects of taxane treatment.