Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin)   

Warning: Eloxatin may cause serious, sometimes fatal allergic reactions minutes after administering a dosage. Although rare, ELOXATIN has been associated with pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary toxicities which may lead to development of chest pain, hypotension, shortness of breath, sudden constriction of the muscles in the walls of the bronchioles (bronchospasm), disorientation and fainting. It also reported that patients experience serious adverse reactions including life-threatening allergic reactions that typically result in a number of symptoms including an itchy rash, throat swelling, and low blood pressure.  This anaphylaxis may cause death without an urgent treatment. 

If you are experiencing any signs of an infection (fever, chills, nausea) tell your doctor immediately.

Indications: This medication is meant for the treatment of advanced colon and rectal cancer. It is a chemotherapy drug that contains platinum, which works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.

There are other uses for this drug that should not be done unless prescribed from a doctor to do so. This drug may also help with the treatment of testicular cancer.

Dosage:  Eloxatin comes in a liquid to be taken by infusion into a vein. The injection is usually done in a hospital or a medical center that has sterilization equipment available for its preparation. Eloxatin is given over a two hour period by a healthcare professional. The treatment is usually given once every 2 weeks and is added with other medications, such as 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. The dosage that is prescribed depends on your response to therapy and your body size and weight.

Contraindications: Before taking any medication, tell you doctor if you are allergic to anything containing platinum, especially cispatin and carboplatin. You should also tell your doctor about all allergies you have, as you may have a reaction to the inactive ingredients.

Your doctor should also be aware if you have had kidney problems, blood disorders, nerve disorders or bone-marrow problems.

Your vision may also be affected while taking this treatment. Do not drive, operate machinery or anything that requires alertness while on this medication.

This medication is not recommended to use while pregnant or for someone that plans to become pregnant. It can harm an unborn baby and cause serious birth defects. It is not yet know if it passes through breast milk, but it is not recommended.

Do not have any immunizations while on this treatment before talking to you doctor. Avoid any contact with people that have had recent oral polio vaccinations or inhaled through the nose flu vaccinations.

Your kidneys function less as you age. Eloxatin is removed by the kidneys, so older people may experience worsened side effects, such as diarrhea, loss of water and potassium in the body, tiredness and fainting, and low white blood cell count.

Avoid any contact sports or other vigorous activity while taking this medication, as your risk for cuts, bruises and open sores increases.

Interactions: There have been some drugs that are reported to cause interactions with this medication. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking. Aminoglycosides (gentamicin, amikacin), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, nalidixic acid, cyclosporine, amphotericin B, tacrolimus and vancomycin are all drugs that are known to cause interactions with Eloxatin.

Side effects: Eloxatin also damages non-cancerous cells that multiply rapidly, which lead to, in most patients, development of adverse reactions. Common Eloxatin side effects include:  

If the side effects above become severe or persist for weeks, contact your oncologist. In addition, contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:  

• visual defects  
• anxiety and severe clinical depression   
• persistent tingling and numbness in hands and feet   
• muscle weakness that interferes with daily activities  
• yellowing of the eyes or skin  
• abdominal pain   
• bloody or dark stools 
• persistent diarrhea   
• swelling of feet or legs  
• dark or bloody urine  
• Symptoms of anemia and / or infection:   

a)    sore throat 

b)    cough without mucus that persist 

c)    pale skin 

d)    Fast or irregular heartbeat, etc.. 

References : 

1 - santecheznous.com, 

2 - nlm.nih.gov 

3 - http://products.sanofi.us/eloxatin/eloxatin.html#S5.1