Oxaliplatin



Eloxatin™







Oxaliplatin

(ox AL i pla tin)

U.S. Brand Names
Eloxatin™
Pharmacologic Category
Antineoplastic Agent, Alkylating Agent
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • If you have an allergy to oxaliplatin or any other part of this medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
  • If you are breast-feeding.
What is this medicine used for?
  • This medicine is used to treat a variety of cancers.
How does it work?
  • Oxaliplatin injures cancer cells causing their death.
How is it best taken?
  • This medicine is given into a vein constantly for a period of time.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Call healthcare provider for appointment.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • Avoid cold temperatures, cold foods or drinks, cold flooring, and refrigerator or freezer for at least 5 days after medicine is given.
  • Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
  • You may bleed more easily. Be careful. Avoid injury. Use soft toothbrush, electric razor.
  • Talk with healthcare provider before using aspirin, aspirin-containing products, other pain medicines, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E.
  • Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Numbness and tingling of feet or hands caused by exposure to cold. Avoid cold temperatures, cold food or drinks, cold flooring, and refrigerator or freezer for at least 5 days after medicine is given.
  • Throat tightness, feeling unable to swallow or breathe. This goes away by itself. Avoid anything cold for at least 5 days after medicine is given.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Lung damage can rarely occur.
What should I monitor?
  • Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
  • Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
  • Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
  • Follow up with healthcare provider.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
  • If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Difficulty walking.
  • Difficulty doing activities of daily living such as doing up buttons or zippers or opening tops of products.
  • Severe dizziness or passing out.
  • Persistent cough.
  • Severe nausea or vomiting.
  • Severe diarrhea.
  • Unusual bruising or bleeding.
  • Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
  • Not hungry.
  • Feeling extremely tired or weak.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • This medicine will be given to you in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.
General statements
  • If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Brand Names: