cisplatin

Generic Name: cisplatin
Other Brand Names: Platinol, Platinol-AQ

What is cisplatin?

Cisplatin is an antineoplastic medication. Cisplatin interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Cisplatin is used to treat various types of cancer including metastatic testicular tumors, metastatic ovarian tumors, and advanced bladder cancer.

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Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cisplatin?

Do not use cisplatin without first talking to your doctor if you have

  • kidney disease;

  • poor bone marrow function;

  • hearing impairment; or

  • an allergy to platinum or platinum-containing products.

The use of cisplatin may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Cisplatin is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that cisplatin is known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use cisplatin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate use of birth control during treatment with cisplatin if necessary.

Cisplatin passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Breast-feeding should be avoided during treatment with cisplatin.

How should I take cisplatin?

Cisplatin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with cisplatin depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.

Adequate hydration is important during treatment with cisplatin. Your doctor may prescribe the administration of intravenous fluids and/or recommend additional fluid intake by mouth during treatment.

Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with cisplatin to monitor progress and side effects.

Your healthcare provider will store cisplatin as directed by the manufacturer. If you are storing cisplatin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.

What happens if I miss a dose of cisplatin?

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of cisplatin.

Where can I get more information about cisplatin?
Your pharmacist has information about cisplatin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of cisplatin?

If you experience all of the following serious side effects from cisplatin, contact your doctor immediately:

  • an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • kidney damage (little or no urine production, blood in the urine);

  • hearing loss or ringing in the ears;

  • decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection);

  • severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite;

  • heart and circulation problems;

  • gout or increased uric acid in the blood;

  • numbness or tingling;

  • blurred vision, altered color perception, blindness, and other visual problems;

  • liver damage (abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

  • hair loss.

Other side effects have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with cisplatin.

What is the most important information I should know about cisplatin?

Cisplatin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Serious side effects have been reported with the use of cisplatin including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); kidney damage (little or no urine production, blood in the urine); hearing loss or ringing in the ears; decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection); severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with cisplatin.

What should I avoid while taking cisplatin?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while using cisplatin unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What other drugs will affect cisplatin?

Before using cisplatin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines to control seizures:

  • carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol);

  • phenytoin (Dilantin);

  • gabapentin (Neurontin);

  • tiagabine (Gabitril);

  • valproic acid (Depakene) or divalproex sodium (Depakote);

  • lamotrigine (Lamictal);

  • felbamate (Felbatol);

  • levetiracetam (Keppra);

  • primidone (Mysoline);

  • zonisamide (Zonegran);

  • topiramate (Topamax);

  • oxcarbazepine (Trileptal);

  • a barbiturate such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) or pentobarbital (Nembutal); or

  • a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Diastat, Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), or clorazepate (Tranxene).

Cisplatin may decrease the effects of medicines used to control seizures and a dosage adjustment may be required.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with cisplatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with cisplatin.

What happens if I have an overdose of cisplatin?

If for any reason an overdose of cisplatin is suspected, seek emergency medical attention or contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Symptoms of a cisplatin overdose tend to be similar to side effects caused by the medication, although often more severe.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008