Cisplatin injection

What is this medication?

CISPLATIN (SIS 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 many types of cancer like bladder, ovarian, and testicular cancers.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Platinol, Platinol -AQ

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

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

• eye disease, vision problems
• hearing problems
• kidney disease
• low blood counts, like white cells, platelets, or red blood cells
• tingling of the fingers or toes, or other nerve disorder
• an unusual or allergic reaction to cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, 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?

This medicine may interact with the following medications:

• foscarnet
• certain antibiotics like amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, polymyxin B, streptomycin, tobramycin, vancomycin

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 will need important blood work done while you are taking this medicine.

This drug 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 doctor tells you to stop.

This medicine may increase your risk of getting an infection. Call your healthcare 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 healthcare professional. These medicines may hide a fever.

This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your doctor or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding.

Be careful brushing and 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.

Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine or for 14 months after stopping it. Women should inform their healthcare 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 11 months after stopping it. There is potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your healthcare professional for more information.

Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine.

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

Drink fluids as directed while you are taking this medicine. This will help protect your kidneys.

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

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
• blurred vision
• changes in vision
• decreased hearing or ringing of the ears
• 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 infection like fever; chills; cough; sore throat; pain or trouble passing urine
• signs and symptoms of kidney injury like trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
• signs and symptoms of low red blood cells or anemia such as unusually weak or tired; feeling faint or lightheaded; falls; breathing problems

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

• loss of appetite
• mouth sores
• muscle cramps

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.