You need a Flash Player in order to view some content. You are about to be directed to Macromedia Flash Player Download Center.

Click the CONTINUE button below to go to the Macromedia Flash Player Download Center, or the CANCEL button to return to the previous page.

NOTE: After installation is complete, please restart your browser.

Eloxatin Side Effects

Like many chemotherapy drugs, Eloxatin may have side effects. As chemotherapy drugs travel throughout the body, targeting and killing cancer cells, they can harm healthy cells in the process. This harm to healthy cells can cause side effects. Healthy cells that grow rapidly are the most vulnerable. These cells may include the following:

Red and white blood cells
Cells inside the mouth
Cells inside the stomach and intestines

Some chemotherapy drugs also may harm cells in organs like the lungs, heart, kidney and bladder. And, chemotherapy drugs can affect the nervous system.

Keep in mind, though, that not everyone experiences chemotherapy side effects, and everyone responds differently to chemotherapy treatment. So, what one person might experience with Eloxatin may be different from what you might experience.

It is important to talk to your doctors and nurses about your concerns with taking Eloxatin. Keep reading to learn more about Eloxatin side effects.

Common Eloxatin Side Effects

People taking Eloxatin for the treatment of colorectal cancer may experience some of the following symptoms:

Neutropenia (a lower-than-normal number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell)
Thrombocytopenia (a lower-than-normal number of platelets)
Anemia (a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells)
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fatigue
Stomatitis (sores in the mouth)
Neuropathy (nerve changes that can cause tingling or numbness in the extremities, muscle weakness, or other altered sensations)

Neuropathy (Nerve Changes) Associated With Eloxatin

Neuropathy — nerve changes that can cause unpleasant symptoms like numbness or tingling in the extremities — is a common side effect of Eloxatin. Exposure to cold is one of the most common triggers of Eloxatin-related neuropathy. Touching cold objects or frozen items, consuming cold foods or beverages, and breathing cold air may cause these unpleasant nerve sensations.

A less common symptom of Eloxatin-related neuropathy is pharyngolaryngeal dysesthesia. This is the sensation of tightness or discomfort in the throat, making it seem difficult to breathe or swallow. Although this symptom may be frightening, it is just a sensation and does not really interfere with breathing. The sensation usually goes away on its own after a few minutes.

The good news is, many of these neuropathy symptoms are temporary. Symptoms may resolve on their own after treatment or by following a few easy steps, such as avoiding contact with cold objects. Visit Helping Manage Eloxatin Side Effects for more tips on managing neuropathy symptoms.

Rare symptoms of Eloxatin-related neuropathy
Though rare, some people may experience more debilitating symptoms of Eloxatin-related neuropathy, which may interfere with daily activities such as the following:

Writing
Buttoning clothes
Swallowing
Difficulty walking
Picking up things

Fortunately, these symptoms may be reversible. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about your neuropathy concerns.

When to Call Your Doctor

It is important to call your doctor if you think you are experiencing any treatment side effects. However, it is especially important to call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following:

Persistent vomiting
Persistent diarrhea
Persistent cough
Fever or signs of infection, like redness or swelling at the injection site, a cough that brings up mucus, or a sore throat
Allergic reactions to Eloxatin, such as trouble breathing, tightness in the throat, rash, hives, or swelling of the lips or tongue

Be sure to visit our Helping Manage Eloxatin Side Effects page for useful tips on managing treatment side effects.

Note: The list of side effects on this Web page contain the most common but not all side effects associated with Eloxatin. Please contact your health care provider to learn more about Eloxatin side effects.

Colorectal Cancer Information | Colorectal Cancer Symptoms | Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer Side Effects

ELOXATIN, used in combination with infusional 5-FU/LV, is indicated for

Adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer patients who have undergone complete resection of the primary tumor. The indication is based on an improvement in disease-free survival, with no demonstrated benefit in overall survival after a median follow-up of 4 years
Treatment of advanced carcinoma of the colon or rectum

Clinical Safety Considerations

ELOXATIN should be administered under the supervision of a physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Appropriate management of therapy and complications is possible only when adequate diagnostic and treatment facilities are readily available.

Anaphylactic-like reactions to ELOXATIN have been reported and may occur within minutes of ELOXATIN administration. Epinephrine, corticosteroids, and antihistamines have been employed to alleviate symptoms, and discontinuation of ELOXATIN therapy may be required.

ELOXATIN should not be administered to patients with a history of known allergy to ELOXATIN or other platinum compounds. Hypersensitivity and anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions to ELOXATIN have been reported and were similar in nature and severity to those reported with other platinum compounds (ie, rash, urticaria, erythema, pruritus, and, rarely, bronchospasm and hypotension). These reactions occur within minutes of administration and should be managed with appropriate supportive therapy. Drug-related deaths from this reaction have been reported
ELOXATIN may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women of childbearing potential should be advised not to become pregnant while receiving ELOXATIN. It is not known whether ELOXATIN or its derivatives are excreted in human milk
ELOXATIN has been associated with pulmonary fibrosis (<1% of study patients), which may be fatal. The combined incidence of cough and dyspnea was 7.4% (<1% grade 3, no grade 4) in the ELOXATIN plus 5-FU/LV arm compared to 4.5% (no grade 3, 0.1% grade 4) in the 5-FU/LV alone arm in the adjuvant colon cancer study. In this study, one patient died from eosinophilic pneumonia in the ELOXATIN combination arm. The combined incidence of cough, dyspnea, and hypoxia was 43% (7% grade 3 and 4) in the ELOXATIN plus 5-FU/LV arm compared to 32% (5% grade 3 and 4) in the irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV arm in patients with previously untreated colorectal cancer. In case of unexplained respiratory symptoms, ELOXATIN should be discontinued until pulmonary investigation excludes interstitial lung disease or pulmonary fibrosis
ELOXATIN is associated with two types of primarily peripheral sensory neuropathy: an acute, reversible type of early onset and a persistent type (>14 days). In patients with advanced colorectal cancer, paresthesias occurred in 77% (all grades) and 18% (grade 3/4) of previously untreated patients. In previously treated patients, acute neuropathy occurred in 56% (all grades) and 2% (grade 3/4) of patients; persistent neuropathy occurred in 48% (all grades) and 6% (grade 3/4) of patients. In patients with stage II and III colon cancer, paresthesia was seen in 92% (all grades) and 13% (grade 3/4) of patients; 21% (all grades) and 0.5% (grade 3/4) of patients had residual paresthesia at 18-month follow-up
Hepatotoxicity, as evidenced in the adjuvant study by increase in transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, was observed more commonly in the ELOXATIN combination arm. The incidence of increased bilirubin was similar on both arms. Changes noted on liver biopsies include: peliosis, nodular regenerative hyperplasia or sinusoidal alterations, perisinusoidal fibrosis, and veno-occlusive lesions. Hepatic vascular disorders should be considered and, if appropriate, investigated in case of abnormal liver function test results or portal hypertension not explained by liver metastases
Monitoring of white blood cell count with differential, hemoglobin, platelet count, and blood chemistries (including ALT, AST, bilirubin, and creatinine) is recommended before each ELOXATIN cycle
The safety and effectiveness of ELOXATIN plus 5-FU/LV in patients with renal impairment have not been evaluated. Since the primary route of platinum elimination is renal, this combination should be used with caution in patients with preexisting renal impairment. Clearance of these products may be decreased by coadministration of potentially nephrotoxic compounds, although this has not been specifically studied
The incidence of diarrhea, dehydration, hypokalemia, leukopenia, fatigue, and syncope was higher in patients 65 years old
Extravasation may result in local pain and inflammation that may be severe and lead to complications, including necrosis. Injection site reaction, including redness, swelling, and pain, has been reported
There have been reports of prolonged prothrombin time and INR occasionally associated with hemorrhage in patients receiving ELOXATIN plus 5-FU/LV while on anticoagulants. Patients receiving ELOXATIN plus 5-FU/LV and requiring oral anticoagulants may require closer monitoring
The most common adverse reactions in patients with stage II or III colon cancer receiving adjuvant therapy were peripheral sensory neuropathy, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, increase in transaminases and alkaline phosphatase, diarrhea, emesis, fatigue, and stomatitis. The most common adverse reactions in patients with advanced colorectal cancer were peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, neutropenia, nausea, emesis, and diarrhea

-->