cisplatin

Generic Name: cisplatin (sis PLA tin)

Brand names: Platinol (Restricted Access), Platinol, Platinol-AQ

What is cisplatin?

Cisplatin is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Cisplatin is used together with other medications to treat bladder cancer, testicular cancer, or ovarian cancer.

Cisplatin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about cisplatin?

You should not receive cisplatin if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to cisplatin or similar medications such as carboplatin (Paraplatin) or oxaliplatin (Eloxatin). You should not receive cisplatin if you have severe bleeding or bone marrow suppression.

Before receiving cisplatin, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, or if you have received cisplatin in the past.

Cisplatin can harm your kidneys, and this effect is increased when you also use certain other medicines harmful to the kidneys. Before you receive cisplatin, tell your doctor about all other medications you use. Many other drugs (including some over-the-counter medicines) can be harmful to the kidneys.

Cisplatin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, mouth sores, hearing or vision problems, numbness or tingling, feeling short of breath, or muscle weakness.

Using cisplatin may increase your risk of developing leukemia. Ask your doctor about your individual risk.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving cisplatin?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to cisplatin or similar medications such as carboplatin (Paraplatin) or oxaliplatin (Eloxatin). You should not receive cisplatin if you have kidney disease or hearing loss.

To make sure you can safely take cisplatin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  liver disease;

  
  


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  kidney disease; or

  
  


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  if you have ever received cisplatin in the past.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use cisplatin if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Cisplatin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not breast feed a baby while receiving this medication. Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults using cisplatin.

How is cisplatin given?

Cisplatin is injected into a vein through an IV. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

You may be given IV fluids for 8 to 12 hours before you receive cisplatin.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when cisplatin is injected.

Cisplatin can be harmful if it gets on your skin. If skin contact occurs, wash the area with soap and water or rinse the eyes thoroughly with plain water.

Cisplatin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill.

To make sure this medication is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if you miss an appointment for your cisplatin injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include some of the serious side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while taking cisplatin?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Cisplatin can cause side effects that may impair your vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

Cisplatin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  hearing problems;

  
  


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  trouble with walking or daily activities;

  
  


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  numbness, tingling, or cold feeling in your hands or feet;

  
  


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  urinating less than usual or not at all;

  
  


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  drowsiness, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting;

  
  


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  swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath;

  
  


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  easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

  
  


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  pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;

  
  


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  fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

  
  


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  severe or ongoing vomiting;

  
  


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  chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;

  
  


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  sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

  
  


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  sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

  
  


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  numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth, fast or slow heart rate, muscle tightness or contraction, overactive reflexes;

  
  


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  seizure (convulsions);

  
  


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  jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

  
  


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  low magnesium (confusion, uneven heart rate, jerking muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling);

  
  


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  low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or

  
  


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  low sodium (headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, feeling unsteady, hallucinations, fainting, shallow breathing or breathing that stops).

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  decreased sense of taste;

  
  


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  mild nausea or vomiting;

  
  


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  tired feeling;

  
  


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  temporary hair loss; or

  
  


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  pain, swelling, burning, or irritation around the IV needle.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Cisplatin Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Testicular Cancer:

20 mg/m2 intravenously once a day for 5 days per cycle (in combination with other antineoplastic drugs)

Usual Adult Dose for Ovarian Cancer:

75 to 100 mg/m2 intravenously once every 4 weeks (in combination with cyclophosphamide for the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer).

Alternatively, 100 mg/m2 intravenously once every 4 weeks may be administered (as a single agent for the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer).

If the ovarian cancer remains confined to the peritoneal cavity, the following regimens may be used:

60 to 90 mg/m2 in 2 liters of 0.9% sodium chloride solution or lactated Ringer's injection intraperitoneally once.

Alternatively, 90 to 270 mg/m2 in 2 liters of 0.9% sodium chloride solution or lactated Ringer's injection intraperitoneally once may be administered (to be given with intravenous sodium thiosulfate to reduce the risk of nephrotoxicity associated with this relatively high dose).

Usual Adult Dose for Bladder Cancer:

50 to 70 mg/m2 intravenously once every 3 to 4 weeks (as a single agent for the treatment of advanced bladder cancer in patients WITHOUT history of extensive X-radiation or chemotherapy).

Alternatively, 50 mg/m2 intravenously over 6 to 8 hours every 4 weeks may be administered (as a single agent for the treatment of advanced bladder cancer in patients WITH history of extensive X-radiation or chemotherapy)

Usual Adult Dose for Neuroblastoma:

60 to 100 mg/m2 once every 3 to 4 weeks

Usual Adult Dose for Osteogenic Sarcoma:

60 to 100 mg/m2 once every 3 to 4 weeks

Usual Adult Dose for Brain/Intracranial Tumor:

60 mg/m2 once a day for two consecutive days every 3 to 4 weeks

Usual Adult Dose for Bone Marrow Transplantation:

Continuous infusion: High Dose: 55 mg/m2/day for 72 hours (Total Dose = 165 mg/m2)

Usual Adult Dose for Blood Cell Transplantation:

Continuous infusion: High Dose: 55 mg/m2/day for 72 hours (Total Dose = 165 mg/m2)

Usual Adult Dose for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:

60 to 100 mg/m2 intravenously on day one every 21 days (in combination with other antineoplastic drugs)

Usual Adult Dose for Cervical Cancer:

(In combination with radiation therapy)
40 mg/m2 IV weekly
Maximum dose: 70 mg/week
Cisplatin is given 4 hours before radiation therapy on weeks 1 through 6

(In combination with paclitaxel)
75 mg/m2 IV on day 2
The cycle is repeated every 21 days.

(In combination with other chemotherapeutic agents as a part of the BIP regimen)
50 mg/m2 IV on day 2
The cycle is repeated every 21 days.

(In combination with other chemotherapeutic agents as a part of various regimens)
50 to 200 mg/m2 IV on day 1

What other drugs will affect cisplatin?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  altretamine (Hexalen);

  
  


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  vitamin B6 (pyridoxine); or

  
  


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  seizure medication.

  
  

Cisplatin can harm your kidneys. This effect is increased when you also use other medicines harmful to the kidneys. You may need dose adjustments or special tests if you have recently used:

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  medicines to treat a bowel disorder;

  
  


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  medication to prevent organ transplant rejection;

  
  


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  antiviral medications;

  
  


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  pain or arthritis medicines; or

  
  


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  any injected antibiotics.

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with cisplatin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More cisplatin resources

• Cisplatin Side Effects (in more detail)
• Cisplatin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Cisplatin Drug Interactions
• Cisplatin Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Cisplatin - Add your own review/rating

• cisplatin Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Cisplatin Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Cisplatin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Cisplatin Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Cisplatin Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Platinol Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Platinol-AQ Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare cisplatin with other medications

• Bladder Cancer
• Blood Cell Transplantation
• Bone Marrow Transplantation
• Brain Tumor
• Cervical Cancer
• Neuroblastoma
• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Osteogenic Sarcoma
• Ovarian Cancer
• Testicular Cancer

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about cisplatin.

See also: cisplatin side effects (in more detail)