Oxaliplatin interrupts cancer cell growth and slows the spread of
cancer cells in the body. Oxaliplatin is available for use by
intravenous (IV) injection.
Oxaliplatin is used in combination with other medicines to treat cancer, such as colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin is also used to treat
cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastasized), such as advanced ovarian cancer.
Studies show that oxaliplatin may be effective in stopping some
cancer cell activity that is resistant to some other anticancer drugs, such as
cisplatin and carboplatin. Oxaliplatin seems to help people with metastatic colorectal cancer live longer when given with other medicines such as FOLFOX4 or with 5-FU and leucovorin.1
All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.
Here are some important things to think about:
Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:
Call your doctor if you have:
Common side effects of this medicine include:
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference
is not available in all systems.)
Oxaliplatin may cause anemia, kidney or liver problems, or low blood counts. Your doctor will check and closely watch you for these problems and monitor your blood counts.
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant. If you need to use this medicine, talk to your doctor about how you can prevent pregnancy.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
CitationsLibutti SK, et al. (2011). Cancer of the colon. In VT DeVita Jr. et al., eds., DeVita, Hellman and Rosenberg's Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 9th ed., pp. 1084–1126. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
September 5, 2012
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Kenneth Bark, MD - Surgery, Colon and Rectal
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