MedlinePlus Drug Information: Cisplatin

Skip navigation


Other drug names:	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Cisplatin

(sis' pla tin)

Contents of this page:
About your treatment Other uses for this medicine Precautions Side effects	Storage conditions In case of emergency/overdose Special instructions Brand names Other names

IMPORTANT WARNING: Return to top

Cisplatin can cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. Your doctor will order tests before, during, and after your treatment to see if your blood cells are affected by this drug.

Cisplatin can cause a severe form of kidney impairment and hearing loss. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: loss of balance, ringing in the ears, trouble hearing, painful urination, or red urine. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to cisplatin.

About your treatment Return to top

Your doctor has ordered the drug cisplatin to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.

This medication is used to treat:

metastatic testicular tumors
metastatic ovarian tumors
advanced bladder carcinoma

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Cisplatin is in a class of drugs known as platinum-containing compounds; it slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body. The length of treatment depends on the types of drugs you are taking, how well your body responds to them, and the type of cancer you have.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top

Cisplatin also is used to treat certain types of head and neck cancer, cervical carcinoma, lung cancer, neurologic cancers, and a wide variety of other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.

Precautions Return to top

Before taking cisplatin,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cisplatin or any other platinum-containing compounds such as carboplatin (Paraplatin, CBDCA) or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially aspirin and vitamins.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease.
you should know that cisplatin may interfere with the normal menstrual cycle (period) in women and may stop sperm production in men. However, you should not assume that you cannot get pregnant or that you cannot get someone else pregnant. Women who are pregnant should tell their doctors before they begin taking this drug. You should not plan to have children while receiving chemotherapy or for a while after treatments. (Talk to your doctor for further details.) Use a reliable method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. Cisplatin may harm the fetus.
you should not breast-feed while taking cisplatin. Cisplatin passes into breast milk.
while being treated with cisplatin, drink plenty of fluids because this drug can irritate your kidneys. This precaution is especially important if you have had chemotherapy before.
do not have any vaccinations (e.g., measles or flu shots) without talking to your doctor.
you should know that cisplatin has been associated with the development of other types of cancers. Talk with your doctor about the potential risk of developing a new cancer.

Side effects Return to top

Side effects from cisplatin are common and include:

thinned or brittle hair
loss of appetite or weight
diarrhea
nausea and vomiting
changes in taste
numbness or tingling in the fingertips and toes

Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or lasts for several hours:

vomiting
fatigue

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

unusual bruising or bleeding
black, tarry stools
fever
chills
dizziness or feeling of faintness
pain in your side or back
shortness of breath or wheezing
swelling of the feet or ankles
seizures
rash

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/index.html] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions Return to top

In case of emergency/overdose Return to top

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Special instructions Return to top

Drink plenty of fluids. Drink about 10 eight-ounce glasses of fluid and urinate frequently during the first 24 hours after treatment to keep your kidneys working.

Brand names Return to top

Platinol®-AQ

Other names Return to top

CDDP

Last Revised - 04/01/2003
Last Reviewed - 08/01/2007

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer

AHFS^® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2008. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.