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out and hand to patients as an educational guide.
During or after your ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) infusion,
you may experience feelings of tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers, toes,
or around the mouth. This side effect is called acute neuropathy.1,2 Jaw spasm, abnormal tongue
sensation, dysarthria, eye pain, and a feeling of chest pressure have also been
observed.
Acute neuropathy may occur within hours of infusion or within a couple of days of
treatment with ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection). It will resolve within 14 days,
but will frequently occur again during or after a later treatment.2
Protect Yourself From Cold
Acute neuropathy may occur or be made worse by exposure to cold or cold objects.
Avoid cold drinks and the use of ice, and cover your exposed skin before you are
exposed to cold temperatures or cold objects.
The cold can cause or worsen these symptoms, so the less you are in contact with
the cold, the better.
Here are some ways you can help reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures2
- Cover yourself with a blanket while you are getting your ELOXATIN infusion
- Do not breathe deeply when exposed to cold air
- Wear warm clothing in cold weather at all times. Cover your mouth and nose with
a scarf or a pull-down cap (ski cap) to warm the air that goes to your lungs
- Wear gloves when taking things from the freezer or refrigerator
- Drink fluids warm or at room temperature
- Always drink through a straw
- Do not use ice chips if you have nausea or mouth sores. Ask your
nurse about what you can use
- Be aware that most metals are cold to touch, especially in the winter. These include
your car door and mailbox. Wear gloves to touch cold objects
- Do not run the air-conditioning at high levels in the house or in the car in hot
weather
- If your body gets cold, warm-up the affected part. If your hands get cold, wash
them with warm water
- Always let your nurse and doctor know before your next treatment
how well you did since your last visit
This list is not complete and your healthcare provider may have other useful tips
for helping you with these side effects.
A Less Common Side Effect1,2,3
With another form of acute neuropathy, you may feel like you have trouble breathing
or swallowing. This may be temporary and can happen during or within hours of treatment,
or up to 14 days after. Other symptoms can include trouble talking, tightness in
the jaw, chest pressure, or odd feelings in the tongue.Warming up the mouth and
throat may help resolve these sensations—you can hold your hands over your
mouth to warm the air.
Always tell a nurse or other health-care provider if you feel like you are having
trouble breathing or swallowing. They can make sure your airway is clear, and can
offer you something that may soothe your symptoms, like a scarf or a hot drink to
reduce the cold.
Because of side effects, your doctor may change your treatment in any of these ways:
- Give ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection) for a longer treatment time
- Give a lower dose of ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection)
- Discontinue ELOXATIN (oxaliplatin injection)
