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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Generic name product may be available in Canada.
Cisplatin (sis-PLA-tin) belongs to the group of medicines known as alkylating agents. It is used to treat cancer of the bladder, ovaries, and testicles. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.
Cisplatin interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by cisplatin, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.
Before you begin treatment with cisplatin, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Cisplatin is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cisplatin, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cisplatin.
Pregnancy--There is a chance that this medicine may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or if it is taken during pregnancy. Cisplatin causes toxic or harmful effects in the fetus in humans and birth defects in mice. In addition, many cancer medicines may cause sterility which could be permanent. Although sterility has not been reported with this medicine, the possibility should be kept in mind.
Be sure that you have discussed this with your doctor before receiving this medicine. It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are receiving cisplatin. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while receiving cisplatin.
Breast-feeding--Because cisplatin may cause serious side effects, breast-feeding is generally not recommended while you are receiving it.
Children--Hearing problems and loss of balance are more likely to occur in children, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of cisplatin.
Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of cisplatin in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving cisplatin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cisplatin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
This medicine is sometimes given together with certain other medicines. If you are using a combination of medicines, it is important that you receive each one at the proper time. If you are taking some of these medicines by mouth, ask your health care professional to help you plan a way to take them at the right times.
While you are receiving this medicine, your doctor may want you to drink extra fluids so that you will pass more urine. This will help prevent kidney problems and keep your kidneys working well.
This medicine usually causes nausea and vomiting that may be severe. However, it is very important that you continue to receive the medicine, even if you begin to feel ill. Ask your health care professional for ways to lessen these effects, especially if they are severe.
Dosing--The dose of cisplatin will be different for
different patients. The dose that is used may depend on a number of things,
including what the medicine is being used for, the patient's size, and whether
or not other medicines are also being taken. If you are
receiving cisplatin at home, follow your doctor's orders or the directions
on the label
. If you have any questions about the proper dose of cisplatin,
ask your doctor. It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits
to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for
unwanted effects. While you are being treated with cisplatin, and after you stop treatment
with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations)
without your doctor's approval
. Cisplatin may lower your body's resistance
and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant
to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not
take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio
virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have taken oral polio vaccine within
the last several months. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the
same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you
should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth. Cisplatin can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your
blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the
number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this
occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood
count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
Precautions While Using This Medicine
If cisplatin accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected, it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell the doctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection .
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Also, because of the way cancer medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; cough or hoarseness accompanied by fever or chills; dizziness or faintness (during or shortly after a dose); fast heartbeat (during or shortly after a dose); fever or chills; lower back or side pain accompanied by fever or chills; painful or difficult urination accompanied by fever or chills; pain or redness at place of injection; pinpoint red spots on skin; swelling of face (during or shortly after a dose); unusual bleeding or bruising; wheezing (during or shortly after a dose)
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Joint pain; loss of balance; ringing in ears; swelling of feet or lower legs; trouble in hearing; unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Convulsions (seizures); loss of reflexes; loss of taste; numbness or tingling in fingers or toes; trouble in walking
Rare
Agitation or confusion; blurred vision; change in ability to see colors (especially blue or yellow); muscle cramps; sores in mouth and on lips
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Nausea and vomiting (severe)
Less common
Loss of appetite
After you stop receiving cisplatin, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time check with your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects:
Black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; convulsions (seizures); cough or hoarseness; decrease in urination; fever or chills; loss of balance; loss of reflexes; loss of taste; lower back or side pain; numbness or tingling in fingers or toes; painful or difficult urination; pinpoint red spots on skin; ringing in ears; swelling of feet or lower legs; trouble in hearing; trouble in walking; unusual bleeding or bruising
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, cisplatin is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.
Revised: 07/21/2000
Interim revision:
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