Patients may deal with medical impediments preventing them from living normally. These health impediments may be dealt with using the right medication and treatments. For cancer patients, the most commonly used treatment is chemotherapy. When the chemotherapy or ‘chemo’ treatment may be given to a patient, they may use a particular chemotherapy drug or a combination of drugs for the chemotherapy process. This will, in turn, help control the growth of the cancerous tumor, which may allow the patient to recover from the damage caused by cancer. Cisplatin is also a medication that may be used to treat a range of cancers. One may be interested to know that Cisplatin was, in fact, the first member of a platinum-containing medication used for cancer treatment, which now consists of carboplatin and oxaliplatin. Cancers such as testicular, ovarian, bladder, head and neck, lung and cervical cancer, among others, may be treated using Cisplatin medication.

Cisplatin Uses 

Different kinds of medication have different uses. There are also a handful of Cisplatin uses that one may take note of. Cisplatin may be used in the treatment of different types of cancers. The cancers are addressed using a process called chemotherapy. Cisplatin uses are made to treat testicular, ovarian, bladder, head and neck, lung and cervical cancer, among others.  

Cisplatin Side Effects 

Different kinds of medication may have different side effects depending on the medicine’s composition and the patient’s personal characteristics, as well as their weight, height, age, etc. A person should pay attention to Cisplatin side effects when availing the Cisplatin uses. Cisplatin side effects Cisplatin adverse effects may be noted by those planning on taking the medication or are already taking the drug. These side effects may be important to know not only because the patient may experience them but also because if the patient can adequately recognise that they are experiencing a side effect of Cisplatin, they may be able to address the same and expertise fewer complications and issues relating to the same Cisplatin side effects that they are experiencing. 

There are some side effects one may report to their doctor or health care professional as soon as possible, especially if they continue to get more serious with time:

  • Allergic reactions such as rashes on the skin, hives or itching, face swelling, lips or tongue
  • Unclear vision
  • Change in vision
  • Reduced hearing or ringing of the ears
  • Feeling nauseous 
  • Vomiting
  • Feeling pain, redness, or irritation at the site where injected 
  • Feeling pain, tingling, numbness on hands or feet
  • Experiencing bleeding such as bloody or black, tarry stools, urine that is red or dark brown, spitting up blood or brown substance that may resemble coffee grounds, red spots on the skin, the appearance of unusual bruising or bleeding of eyes, gums, or nose
  • Infections which may involve fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain, or trouble passing urine
  • Kidney injury, difficulty passing urine, changes in the amount of urine passed 
  • Low red blood cell count or anaemia, which may result in a person feeling unusually weak or tired; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls, facing breathing problems

There are Cisplatin side effects or Cisplatin adverse effects that do not generally require medical attention. These may not need professional assistance. The patient must inform their doctor, a medical authority or a poison control hotline if these Cisplatin side effects continue to get more serious.

Cisplatin side effects that will usually not require medical attention are:

  • Appetite loss
  • Mouth Sores
  • Cramps in muscles 

This list may not be exhaustive of all the Cisplatin adverse effects a person could experience when availing of Cisplatin uses. A person may also experience Cisplatin’s long-term side effects. If a patient experiences these symptoms over a long period or continues to become more severe, they may contact their doctor or a suitable medical authority. One may not try and deal with the side effects of the same on their own. 

Cisplatin Price

Cisplatin price or Cisplatin cost may be an important factor for many patients. Cancer patients may have several costs related to their treatment, which may accumulate many times. Due to rising costs associated with healthcare and medications for the treatment of patients, people may like to understand the prices of drugs they are being prescribed. Similarly, a patient may be keen to know Cisplatin price or Cisplatin cost before they start chemotherapy or treatment with the medicine. 

Cisplatin price or Cisplatin cost is: 

  • Cisplatin Injection 50mg, 1 Vial, 50 mg/50 ml at Rs 250/vial

Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be used for two reasons: 

  1. To treat cancer 
  2. To ease the symptoms that are caused because of cancer 

There are a handful of Cisplatin uses that a patient can avail of. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be used to treat cancer patients using chemotherapy. The method of chemotherapy which may be carried out using this medication is called Cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Chemotherapy targets the cancer cells and slows down or stops their growth entirely in the best-case scenario. Cancer is caused because of cancerous cells that may divide rapidly and harm the body. This clump of cancerous cells is called a tumor. A tumor may arise due to a change that has occurred in the DNA of the patient. 

Tumors are of two kinds- benign and malignant. Benign tumors expand slowly and do not spread to other parts of a person’s body. Malignant tumors expand quickly and harm the area of the body they are in; This may lead to further complications and sometimes even death. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy inhibits the further expansion of ten malignant tumors damaging the person’s body. It may serve as a treatment and sometimes even as a cure for the cancer patients that use it. Cisplatin damages harmful cancer cells’ genetic material (DNA and RNA) and tries to slow down or stop them from growing and multiplying further.

What Medications May Interact With Cisplatin?

One should be careful when consuming multiple medications simultaneously as they may react, causing adverse reactions in the patient’s body. A patient taking Cisplatin should try to keep a list of all the medicines they are currently consuming or being administered and give the same to their doctor to give a suitable prescription or dosage. Suppose the patient is taking a medication that may interact adversely with Cisplatin. In that case, the doctor may change the drug being given to the patient, the medication dosage, or whatever changes they may find suitable in relation to the medication and the patient’s health condition. 

The following medications may interact with this:

  1. Foscarnet
  2. Antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, polymyxin B, streptomycin, tobramycin, and vancomycin

What If I Miss A Dose Of Cisplatin?

Cisplatin may be administered to a patient through infusion into a vein or injection. Patients must not administer the injection themselves, so they must get it from a medical professional or authority at a suitable medical facility. If the person misses their appointment to get a dose of Cisplatin, they must call their doctor or health care professional to inform them about the same and reschedule the appointment if they can. It is important to take the medication at the time suggested by a doctor. If the patient may miss a dose or multiple doses of Cisplatin, the treatment or medication may not have the intended effect on the patient. To effectively tackle a tumour, the dose of Cisplatin must be taken at the right time so that it does not progress and harm the body of the patient any further. 

What if I overdose on Cisplatin?

One may be given the necessary dose of Cisplatin by a medical professional. A person must refrain from availing of Cisplatin uses on their own. Medical professionals administering medicines via intravenous infusion or injection are usually trained and competent, but human error may occur at times. In case of an overdose of the medication, one may contact a poison control hotline or take assistance from the necessary medical authority. One may also be taken to the emergency room, where they have been given the Cisplatin injection. 

Where and how shall Cisplatin be stored?

It should be noted Cisplatin must not be kept at home. It must be kept at the medical facility, where a medical professional will give it to the patient at the necessary time. It must not be administered to oneself by the patient. Whenever the patient is advised by a doctor or the necessary medical authority to take Cisplatin, they may make an appointment at the suggested time and be given the injection at the medical facility. 

Monitoring

Monitoring and checking the state of a patient after going through some kind of treatment or receiving medication is very important, especially during chemotherapy which may involve strong medication and side effects that may be strong. be Cisplatin may be administered to a patient at certain times, with breaks in between. A doctor or medical authority may also monitor a patient’s health condition from time to time after taking Cisplatin. This is to ensure that no Cisplatin adverse effects or Cisplatin side effects occur when the patient is going through chemotherapy, the medication is working as it should, and the patient’s treatment is progressing the way it should. 

What must I inform my doctor or medical authority about when taking the medication?

A patient may be asked some questions by their doctor when they are about to undergo some treatment or be given some medication to ensure that there may be no issues faced when going through treatment. The patient may also take some responsibility during this time and let the doctor know any necessary information if they have not done so yet. A person may be suffering from some conditions that may alter the course of their treatment or the medication given to them. This may also cause a change in the dosage of Cisplatin given to them or change the prescription entirely so that the best possible treatment may be given to a patient. 

The patient must inform their doctor or medical authority if they have any of the following conditions: 

  1. Have some issues related to vision or are suffering from an eye disease
  2. Have auditory issues
  3. Are suffering from any condition related to their kidneys 
  4. Have low blood count, which may include white cells, platelets, or red blood cells
  5. Experience any tingling in their fingers or toes or any other type of nerve disorder
  6. Have had any reaction to Cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives in the past
  7. Are currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant 
  8. Are currently nursing or breastfeeding a child

Risk of infection after taking Cisplatin

Cisplatin may cause a drop in white blood cells in a person’s body. This may make a increasingly susceptible to different kinds of infection. One’s nurse may be able to observe when the patient has the lowest levels of these cells. Neutropenia is a condition where the number of white blood cells in a person’s body is abnormally low. 

Contact your hospital, doctor, or the necessary medical authority as soon as possible if any of the following happen:

  1. Body temperature rises above 38 ° C
  2. The feeling of being unwell, even with no rise or change in temperature of the body
  3. You have infection symptoms, which could comprise a sore throat, cough, or the need to urinate at short intervals.

What should I avoid while taking Cisplatin?

There may be some things a patient taking Cisplatin should try and avoid. Patients taking Cisplatin must avoid consuming alcohol or consult their doctor before doing so. Their doctor may be able to clarify the patient’s limit related to alcohol consumption in some circumstances, which they must follow. A patient who has been given Cisplatin must avoid people who may be sick or have transferrable infections. One must get a doctor if they have developed some signs of infection. A person taking Cisplatin must also avoid activities that may increase the risk of bleeding or injury. One must also take precautions to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing teeth.

What are the brand names of Cisplatin?

One should be informed about the brand names of their medication. During treatment, they may encounter different medical professionals who refer to it differently. To avoid confusion in such a situation, the patient must be aware that this medication may be called other names. The medicine may also need to be purchased from a pharmacy, which may use a different name from the drug that the doctor or medical staff that has given them the prescription may be referring to. It will also help to avoid confusion in this case as the patient may be able to be sure that their doctor is giving them the right medication or the concerned pharmacist may be using brand names for the same. 

Why is Cisplatin administered via injection?

Cisplatin is given via injection because when medication is given through intravenous infusion, the drug goes directly into a vein in the body of a person. The blood then circulates around the body and may easily reach all parts. The medication may also not suffer the degradation it may have gone through in the person’s stomach. More of the drug may also be absorbed as a result of the intravenous infusion, which is why it is a preferred method of administering medication like Cisplatin. 

How is Cisplatin administered to a patient?

Every medication may be given or administered to a patient in a certain way. Patients may be given or purchase pills or tablets upon receiving a prescription from their doctor. They may have to take these pills or tablets as and when the doctor has told them to take them. Some other kinds of medication may be given via intravenous infusion or injection, just like Cisplatin.

Cisplatin may be administered to a patient in the following ways:

  1. A thin tube called a line may be put into a vein in the arm or hand of the person by a medical professional
  2. Through a tube that may be entered below skin of your chest to some nearby vein called the central line
  3. A thin tube that may be put in vein in arm and goes up through a vein toward the chest of the person(PICC)

Medical and dental treatment

A person should always tell the doctors, nurses or concerned medical authority giving you some treatment that may not be related to Cisplatin that you are having chemotherapy. The person may consult their cancer doctor or nurse if they feel like they may need dental treatment. A person must always inform their dentist that they are also having chemotherapy as some precautions may need to be taken or checks need to be done if the patient can receive dental treatment or not.

What kind of fluid must I avoid while being given Cisplatin medication?

A patient may want to consume alcohol while taking Cisplatin for chemotherapy. Any kind or amount of alcohol must always be consumed with caution when taking or being administered with any medicine. A patient currently being given Cisplatin must consult their doctor and ask how much is okay before taking any alcohol. One must also be careful when consuming caffeine or any tea with Cisplatin. A patient taking Cisplatin should have a maximum of around 1 cup or about 8 ounces of caffeinated coffee or tea daily.  

How long does the effect of Cisplatin last?

Medications may stay in your body for some time and take some period to have their full effect. The effect of Cisplatin lasts in the body for an average duration of about 24 hours. 

When is the peak effect of Cisplatin felt?

The peak effect of Cisplatin is generally felt right after the patient has been injected or given the intravenous infusion. 

Is Cisplatin habit forming?

Some kinds of medication may be habit-forming in nature. Usually, if drugs are habit-forming, a patient may be unable to stop taking the medication immediately as they may have formed some habit or have a dependency on the drug. Cisplatin has not been observed to be habit forming or caused habit forming tendencies in patients that have 

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women take Cisplatin?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are generally recommended to avoid taking Cisplatin. This could harm the fetus in pregnant women as the medication may be passed to the child. For women breastfeeding or nursing a child, the medicine could go into the breast milk, which may affect the child when consumed. The medication may be too strong for a fetus or infant.

Which countries have approved the use of Cisplatin?

The following countries have approved Cisplatin:

  1. India
  2. United States
  3. Japan

Contact numbers 

Whenever receiving treatment for any serious disease like cancer, it is important that the patients keep all the necessary contact numbers noted. Even with Cisplatin, one may experience some Cisplatin side effects or Cisplatin adverse effects all of a sudden, for which they may require medical assistance. They may also experience some other kind of health issue related to cancer or side effect of a different medication or treatment they may have been given. In such situations, the patient must keep the numbers of the doctors or necessary medical authorities to receive help for any problem as fast as possible. One may also keep the contact number of poison control services in case of any medication overdose. If any Long-term side effects of Cisplatin are experienced, the patient may also contact their doctor or the necessary medical authority. 

Conclusion 

Medication may not only help treat patients and be life-changing, but it may also be life-saving if the correct remedy is used for a patient. Patients must stay well-informed about the medication they are being given, its side effects, its price, and its varying uses. This will help the patient be more aware of the treatment that they are receiving and play their role in their treatment as well-informed and attentive patient. Cisplatin is an important and widely used drug. Cisplatin is used for chemotherapy to treat patients who have cancer. Cancer may be a stressful disease, so understanding the treatment for the same as far as possible may also make the process easier for the patient.

It is also essential to note that Cisplatin’s price along with the expenses incurred throughout cancer treatment can be a significant concern for many patients. The high cost of cancer treatments in general, including chemotherapy drugs, can place a financial burden on individuals and their families. In such cases, crowdfunding can be a great tool to help alleviate the cost of cancer treatment.