Oxaliplatin Injection
What is this medication?
OXALIPLATIN (ox AL i PLA tin) treats colorectal cancer. It works by slowing down the growth of cancer cells.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Eloxatin
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Heart disease
- History of irregular heartbeat or rhythm
- Liver disease
- Low blood cell levels (white cells, red cells, and platelets)
- Lung or breathing disease, such as asthma
- Take medications that treat or prevent blood clots
- Tingling of the fingers, toes, or other nerve disorder
- An unusual or allergic reaction to oxaliplatin, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- If you or your partner are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breast-feeding
How should I use this medication?
This medication is injected into a vein. It is given by your care team in a hospital or clinic setting.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
Keep appointments for follow-up doses. It is important not to miss a dose. Call your care team if you are unable to keep an appointment.
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Pimozide
- Thioridazine
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Aspirin and aspirin-like medications
- Certain medications that treat or prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban
- Cisplatin
- Cyclosporine
- Diuretics
- Medications for infection, such as acyclovir, adefovir, amphotericin B, bacitracin, cidofovir, foscarnet, ganciclovir, gentamicin, pentamidine, vancomycin
- NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
- Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
- Pamidronate
- Zoledronic acid
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medication.
You may need blood work while taking this medication.
This medication may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your care team tells you to stop.
This medication may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your care team for advice if you get a fever, chills, sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
Avoid taking medications that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your care team. These medications may hide a fever.
Be careful brushing or flossing your teeth or using a toothpick because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving this medication.
This medication can make you more sensitive to cold. Do not drink cold drinks or use ice. Cover exposed skin before coming in contact with cold temperatures or cold objects. When out in cold weather wear warm clothing and cover your mouth and nose to warm the air that goes into your lungs. Tell your care team if you get sensitive to the cold.
Talk to your care team if you or your partner are pregnant or think either of you might be pregnant. This medication can cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy and for 9 months after the last dose. A negative pregnancy test is required before starting this medication. A reliable form of contraception is recommended while taking this medication and for 9 months after the last dose. Talk to your care team about effective forms of contraception. Do not father a child while taking this medication and for 6 months after the last dose. Use a condom while having sex during this time period.
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication and for 3 months after the last dose.
This medication may cause infertility. Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, red or dark brown urine, small red or purple spots on skin, unusual bruising or bleeding
- Dry cough, shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Low red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
- Muscle injury—unusual weakness or fatigue, muscle pain, dark yellow or brown urine, decrease in amount of urine
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
- Sudden and severe headache, confusion, change in vision, seizures, which may be signs of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Pain, redness, or swelling with sores inside the mouth or throat
- Unusual weakness or fatigue
- Vomiting
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Where should I keep my medication?
This medication is given in a hospital or clinic. It will not be stored at home.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Additional Information From Chemocare.com About Oxaliplatin
Self-Care Tips:
- While receiving treatment with Oxaliplatin: avoid cold temperatures and cold objects.
- Cover your skin, mouth and nose if you must go outside in cold temperatures.
- Do not drink cold drinks or use ice cubes in drinks.
- Do not put ice or ice packs on your body.
- Other ways to reduce the side effects caused by cold:
- Cover yourself with a blanket while you receive your Oxaliplatin infusion.
- Do not breathe deeply when exposed to cold air.
- Wear warm clothing in cold weather at all times. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf, mask or a pull-down cap (ski cap) to warm the air that goes to your lungs.
- Do not take things from the freezer or refrigerator without wearing gloves.
- Drink fluids warm or at room temperature.
- Always drink through a straw.
- Do not use ice chips if you have nausea or a sore mouth. Call your health care professional.
- Be aware that metals are cold to touch especially in the winter. Wear gloves to touch cold objects including your house door, car door, or mailbox.
- Do not run the air conditioner on high either in the house or car in hot weather.
- If your body gets cold, warm-up the affected part with warm water.
- To reduce nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor, and eat small, frequent meals.
- Drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you were told to restrict your fluid intake, and maintain good nutrition. This will decrease your chances of being constipated, and prevent dehydration.
- To help treat/prevent mouth sores, use a soft toothbrush, and rinse three times a day with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda and/or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt mixed with 8 ounces of water.
- You may be at risk of infection so try to avoid crowds or people with colds and those not feeling well, and report fever or any other signs of infection immediately to your healthcare provider.
- Wash your hands often.
- Use an electric razor and soft toothbrush to minimize bleeding.
- Avoid contact sports or activities that could cause injury.
- Peripheral neuropathy (numbness in your fingers and toes) may occur with repeated doses. You should discuss this with your healthcare provider.
- Keep your bowels moving. Your health care provider may prescribe a stool softener to help prevent constipation that may be caused by Oxaliplatin.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help relieve discomfort from fever, headache and/or generalized aches and pains. However, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking it.
- Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sun block and protective clothing.
- In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be avoided. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Maintain good nutrition.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
When to contact your doctor or health care provider:
Contact your health care provider immediately, day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4° F (38° C), chills (possible signs of infection)
- Shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, jaw pain, pain or tingling in your arms
The following symptoms require medical attention, but are not emergency situations. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:
- Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medications)
- Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24-hour period)
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools or urine
- Diarrhea (4-6 episodes in a 24-hour period)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Mouth sores (painful redness, swelling or ulcers)
- Signs of infection such as redness or swelling, pain on swallowing, coughing up mucous, or painful urination.
- Severe numbness, pain in your joints or muscles (arthralgias or myalgias).
- Constipation unrelieved by laxative use.
- Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities).
- Unable to eat or drink for 24 hours or have signs of dehydration: tiredness, thirst, dry mouth, dark and decreased amount of urine, or dizziness.
Always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
