cisplatin – injection, Platinol-AQ

WARNING: Cisplatin may cause severe kidney problems or serious allergic reactions. Hearing loss (more common in children), bleeding problems, decreased ability to fight infections (bone marrow suppression), and severe nausea and vomiting may occur. Your risk of these problems increases with higher doses or longer treatment. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms: change in urine, rash, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, fast heartbeat, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual tiredness or weakness, signs of infection (e.g., fever or persistent sore throat), nausea, or vomiting.

USES: Cisplatin is used to treat various types of cancer. It is a chemotherapy drug that contains platinum. It is used alone or in combination with other medications to slow or stop cancer cell growth.

HOW TO USE: This medication is usually given by injection into a vein by a health care professional. The dosage is based on your medical condition, body size, and response to therapy. Courses of cisplatin treatment should not be given more often than once every 3 to 4 weeks. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. During treatment with this medication, it is important that you drink more fluids than usual and urinate frequently to help avoid kidney side effects. Intravenous fluids should be given with this medication. Also, ask your doctor how much fluid you should drink and follow these instructions carefully. If this medication comes into contact with your skin, wash your skin immediately and completely with soap and water.

SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warnings. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and loss of taste may occur. Nausea and vomiting can be quite severe and persistent. Drug therapy is used to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting. Not eating before your treatment may help relieve vomiting. Changes in diet such as eating several small meals or limiting activity may help lessen some of these effects. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Temporary hair loss may occur. Normal hair growth should return after treatment has ended. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: pain/burning/redness at the injection site, numbness/tingling/coldness/blue discoloration of the hands or feet, loss of reflexes, loss of balance, trouble walking, muscle cramps/spasms/weakness, neck or back pain, mouth or tongue sores, joint pain, swollen legs or feet, mental/mood changes, headache, fast/irregular heartbeat, blood in urine, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black or bloody stools, painful or difficult urination, lower back or side pain, vision changes (e.g., blurred vision, seeing colors differently). Rarely, temporary vision loss may occur with cisplatin use. Normal vision usually returns after the end of treatment. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and report this side effect immediately if it occurs. Get medical help right away if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, jaw or left arm pain, confusion, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, seizures. This medication can lower your body’s ability to fight an infection. Notify your doctor promptly if you develop any signs of an infection such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat, or cough. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but get medical help right away if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Before using cisplatin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to carboplatin; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: kidney disease, decreased bone marrow function/blood cell disorders (e.g., anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia), hearing problems. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: mineral imbalance (low blood levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate), numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, kidney stones, gout. Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor and avoid contact with people who have recently received oral polio vaccine. Use caution with sharp objects like safety razors or nail cutters and avoid activities such as contact sports to lower the chance of getting cut, bruised or injured. Wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infections. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially to kidney problems, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, infections, and bleeding problems. Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially hearing loss. This drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may cause harm to an unborn baby. Women of childbearing age should use reliable forms of birth control during treatment with this drug and for some time afterwards. Consult your doctor for more details. This drug passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. This medication can affect sperm production in men. Therefore, men should use reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for some time afterwards. Consult your doctor for more details.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin, neomycin), amphotericin B, anti-seizure medications (e.g., phenytoin), certain "water pills" (loop diuretics such as furosemide, bumetanide, ethacrynic acid), nalidixic acid, pyridoxine when used in combination with both altretamine and cisplatin.

QUESTION

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. NOTES: Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney function tests, complete blood count, blood mineral levels, hearing tests) should be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. MISSED DOSE: For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule. STORAGE: Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company. MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada). Information last revised March 2013. Copyright(c) 2013 First Databank, Inc.