Docetaxel Dosing

For cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment with docetaxel, dosing recommendations will be based on several factors. Some of these factors include the type of cancer you have, your weight and height, and other medications you are taking. Before your docetaxel dosage is administered, your healthcare provider will usually prescribe a steroid to help prevent allergic reactions.

Docetaxel Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of docetaxel (Taxotere®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The type of cancer being treated
  • Your height and weight
  • Other medications you may be taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your docetaxel dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
Docetaxel Dosing for Cancer
Your healthcare provider will base your docetaxel dose on your body surface area (which is calculated using your height and weight). Your docetaxel dose will vary, depending on the type of cancer, the other chemotherapy medications you are taking, and whether you develop bothersome or dangerous docetaxel side effects.
 
Usually, you will need to take an oral steroid, such as dexamethasone (Deltasone®), for three days (starting the day before your docetaxel dose) each time you receive docetaxel. The usual dose is dexamethasone 8 mg twice daily for three days. This helps to prevent allergic reactions and decreases the severity of fluid retention. For people taking docetaxel and prednisone for prostate cancer, the steroid dose is a little different -- dexamethasone 8 mg at 12 hours, 3 hours, and 1 hour before your docetaxel dose.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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