What is this medication?

OXALIPLATIN (ox AL i PLA tin) is a chemotherapy drug. It targets fast dividing cells, like cancer cells, and causes these cells to die. This medicine is used to treat cancers of the colon and rectum, and many other cancers.

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
• liver disease
• low blood counts, like white cells, platelets, or red blood cells
• lung or breathing disease, like asthma
• take medicines that treat or prevent blood clots
• tingling of the fingers or toes, or other nerve disorder
• an unusual or allergic reaction to oxaliplatin, other chemotherapy, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This drug is given as an infusion into a vein. It is administered in a hospital or clinic by a specially trained health care professional.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine 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?

It is important not to miss a dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• cisapride
• dronedarone
• pimozide
• thioridazine

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• aspirin and aspirin-like medicines
• certain medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban
• cisplatin
• cyclosporine
• diuretics
• medicines for infection like acyclovir, adefovir, amphotericin B, bacitracin, cidofovir, foscarnet, ganciclovir, gentamicin, pentamidine, vancomycin
• NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
• other medicines that prolong the QT interval (an abnormal heart rhythm)
• 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 medicine.

You may need blood work done while you are taking this medicine.

This medicine 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 healthcare professional tells you to stop.

This medicine 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 doctor if you get sensitive to the cold.

Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine or for 9 months after stopping it. Women should inform their health care professional if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. Men should not father a child while taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. There is potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your health care professional for more information.

Do not breast-feed a child while taking this medicine or for 3 months after stopping it.

This medicine has caused ovarian failure in some women. This medicine may make it more difficult to get pregnant. Talk to your health care professional if you are concerned about your fertility.

This medicine has caused decreased sperm counts in some men. This may make it more difficult to father a child. Talk to your health care professional if you are concerned about your fertility.

This medicine may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your health care professional for advice if you get a fever, chills, or 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 medicines that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your health care professional. These medicines 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 medicine.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• cough
• low blood counts - this medicine may decrease the number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. You may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding
• nausea, vomiting
• pain, redness, or irritation at site where injected
• pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
• signs and symptoms of bleeding such as bloody or black, tarry stools; red or dark brown urine; spitting up blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds; red spots on the skin; unusual bruising or bleeding from the eyes, gums, or nose
• signs and symptoms of a dangerous change in heartbeat or heart rhythm like chest pain; dizziness; fast, irregular heartbeat; palpitations; feeling faint or lightheaded; falls
• signs and symptoms of infection like fever; chills; cough; sore throat; pain or trouble passing urine
• signs and symptoms of liver injury like dark yellow or brown urine; general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms; light-colored stools; loss of appetite; nausea; right upper belly pain; unusually weak or tired; yellowing of the eyes or skin
• signs and symptoms of low red blood cells or anemia such as unusually weak or tired; feeling faint or lightheaded; falls
• signs and symptoms of muscle injury like dark urine; trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine; unusually weak or tired; muscle pain; back pain

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• changes in taste
• diarrhea
• gas
• hair loss
• loss of appetite
• mouth sores

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 drug is given in a hospital or clinic and 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.