How Is ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) Given to Me?
ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) is given to you through your veins (blood vessels).
- Your doctor will prescribe ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) in an amount that is
right for you.
- Your doctor will treat you with several medicines for your cancer.
- It is very important that you do exactly what your doctor and nurse have taught
you to do.
- Some medicines may be given to you before ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) to help
prevent nausea and vomiting.
- ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) is given with 2 other chemotherapy medicines, leucovorin
and 5-fluorouracil.
- Each treatment course is given to you over 2 days. You will receive ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin
injection) on the first day only.
- There are usually 14 days between each chemotherapy treatment course.
Treatment Day 1:
ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) and leucovorin are given through a thin plastic
tube put into a vein (intravenous infusion or I.V.) and given for 2 hours. You will
be watched by a healthcare provider during this time.
Right after the ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) and leucovorin are finished, 2
doses of 5-fluorouracil will be given. The first dose is given right away into your
I.V. tube. The second dose will be given into your I.V. tube over the next 22 hours,
using a pump device.
Treatment Day 2:
You will not get ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) on Day 2. Leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil
will be given the same way as on Day 1.
During your treatment with ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection):
- It is important for you to keep all appointments. Call your doctor if you must miss
an appointment. There may be special instructions for you.
- Your doctor may change how often you get ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection), how much
you get, or how long the infusion will take.
- You and your doctor will discuss how many times you will get ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin
injection).
The 5-fluorouracil will be given through your I.V. with a pump. If you have any
problems with the pump or the tube, call your doctor, your nurse, or the person
who is responsible for your pump. Do not let anyone other than a healthcare provider
touch your infusion pump or tubing.
Before you receive each cycle of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection), your doctor will
perform some blood tests. These tests are necessary because ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin
injection) can affect your bone marrow, where blood cells are made. The tests include
counts of your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Your doctor will
review these tests and decide what to do. For example, your doctor may decide to
reduce the dose or delay the next treatment for a few days.
Your doctor may request additional tests between treatments to see how your tumor
is responding to the chemotherapy. These may include a CAT scan, which shows cross-sectional
images of the inside of the body.
Neuropathy (Nerve Changes) associated with ELOXATIN:
Neuropathy — nerve changes that can cause unpleasant symptoms like numbness or tingling
— is a common side effect of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection). Exposure to cold
during treatment is one of the most common triggers of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection)
related neuropathy. Touching cold objects or frozen items, consuming cold foods
or beverages, and breathing cold air may cause these unpleasant nerve sensations.
Jaw spasm, abnormal tongue sensation, dysarthria, eye pain, and a feeling of chest
pressure have also been observed.
If you develop nerve problems, the amount of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) in
your next treatment may be changed or ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) treatment
may be stopped.
A less common symptom of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) 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. Talk to your
doctor right away if you have any signs of neuropathy.
Find out about treatment considerations.
Important Safety Information
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.
- Do not take ELOXATIN if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in ELOXATIN or
other medicines that contain platinum. Tell your doctor right away if you feel like
your throat is closing up, have shortness of breath, a flushed face, a rash, itching/hives,
swelling of lips or tongue, sudden cough, dizziness, sweating or chest pain.
- ELOXATIN can cause nerve problems. Tell your doctor right away if you become sensitive
to cold temperatures and cold objects; have trouble breathing, swallowing or saying
words; experience jaw tightness, odd feelings in your tongue, or chest pressure;
pain; tingling or burning in your hands, feet or around your mouth or throat.
- Tell your doctor if you develop a dry cough or have trouble breathing; these may
be signs of serious lung disease.
- ELOXATIN can cause liver problems (hepatotoxicity); your doctor will do blood tests
to watch for this.
- Because of the potential risk of fetal harm, pregnant women should not receive ELOXATIN.
Women of childbearing potential should avoid becoming pregnant while receiving ELOXATIN.
- ELOXATIN can cause a decrease in white blood cells, which can lead to infections.
Tell your doctor right away if develop any of the following signs of infection:
fever, chills, or shivering; cough that brings up mucus, burning or pain on urination,
pain on swallowing; sore throat; or redness or swelling at injection site.
- Other common side effects of ELOXATIN include a decrease in white blood cells, red
blood cells, and platelets, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.
- Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and
non-prescription medications, vitamins and herbal supplements.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go
away. These are not all the possible side effects of ELOXATIN. For more information,
ask your doctor or pharmacist.
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