Cisplatin injection

What is cisplatin injection?

CISPLATIN (Platinol®) is a chemotherapy agent used for treating many types of cancer including bladder, head and neck, lung, ovarian, sarcoma, and testicular cancers. Cisplatin interferes with the growth of rapidly dividing cells, like cancer cells, and eventually causes these cells to die. Cisplatin may be used alone or with other chemotherapy agents or radiation therapy. Generic cisplatin injections are not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive cisplatin?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• an active infection

• blood disorders

• dental disease

• gout

• hearing problems

• kidney disease

• loss of feeling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet

• recent radiation therapy

• an unusual or allergic reaction to cisplatin, carboplatin, other chemotherapy, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Cisplatin is for injection or infusion into a vein. It is usually administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a specially trained health care professional. You will be given an infusion once every 3—4 weeks depending upon your laboratory results.

Cisplatin may also be given directly into your abdomen. During this procedure, cisplatin is infused into your abdomen and then drained out after 2—4 hours. During this time you may need to change positions frequently to ensure the cisplatin reaches the tumor. This treatment is given every 3—4 weeks.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

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

What drug(s) may interact with cisplatin?

• certain antibiotics (such as amphoteracin B. amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin, tobramycin)

• digoxin

• diuretic or water pills (such as furosemide, torsemide, ethacrynic acid, bumetanide)

• dofetilide

• dypiridamole

• medicines to treat blood clots, such as 'blood thinners' (example: warfarin or Coumadin®)

• mesna

• methotrexate

• other chemotherapy agents may increase the side effects seen with cisplatin

• probenecid

• vaccines

Talk to your prescriber or health care professional before taking any of these medicines:

• aspirin

• acetaminophen

• ibuprofen

• naproxen

• ketoprofen

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including nonprescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking cisplatin?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for checks on your progress. You will need to have regular blood checks. The side effects of cisplatin can continue after you finish your treatment; report side effects promptly.

After you receive cisplatin, it is important to drink lots of fluids for 1—2 days. This will help to decrease cisplatin's effects on your kidneys.

Cisplatin may make you feel generally unwell. This is because cisplatin affects good cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects as above, but continue your course of medicine even though you feel ill, unless your prescriber or health care professional tells you to stop.

In high doses or when given with other chemotherapy agents, cisplatin may decrease your body's ability to fight infections or increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you have a fever, chills, sore throat or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat these symptoms yourself. Try to avoid being around people who are sick. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding. Be careful not to cut, bruise or injure yourself because you may get an infection and bleed more than usual.

Avoid taking aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®), naproxen (Aleve®), or ketoprofen (Orudis® KT) products as these may hide a fever, unless instructed to by your prescriber or health care professional.

Call your prescriber or health care professional if you get diarrhea. Do not treat yourself.

Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick while receiving cisplatin because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving cisplatin.

What side effects may I notice from receiving cisplatin?

The side effects you may experience with cisplatin therapy depend upon the dose, other types of chemotherapy or radiation therapy given, and the disease being treated. Not all of these effects occur in all patients. Discuss any concerns or questions with your prescriber or health care professional.

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

• difficulty breathing, or wheezing

• hearing loss

• increase or decrease in the amount of urine passed, passing urine more often at night

• nausea and vomiting

• low blood counts - cisplatin may decrease the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. You may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding.

• symptoms of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine

• symptoms of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine

• symptoms of decreased red blood cells (anemia) - unusual weakness or tiredness, fainting spells, lightheadedness

• pain or difficulty passing urine

• pain, swelling, redness or irritation at the injection site

• ringing in the ears

• swelling of the face

• tingling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet

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

• blurred vision, changes in eyesight

• changes in taste (like metallic taste or loss of taste)

• loss of appetite

Where can I keep my medicine?

This medicine is given in a hospital or clinic. You will not have to take this medicine at home.