Oxaliplatin – Side Effects, Uses & Price

What is Oxaliplatin?

Cancer is a very serious disease and may have huge impacts on a person’s health and the regular functioning of their body. Cancer patients may need a particular treatment based on age, height, weight, health condition, etc. This is imperative so they may be treated for their cancer and, in the best-case scenario, be cured. The particular treatment that patients need to be afforded may involve a particular medication. Oxaliplatin may be such a medication. Oxaliplatin belongs to a group of drugs known as alkylating agents. Oxaliplatin is essentially used for chemotherapy, treating the cancerous tumors patients suffer from. 

Oxaliplatin injection 

Patients may be given an Oxaliplatin injection. Oxaliplatin injection is a preferred method of administration of the medicine. Oxaliplatin injection may be preferred over other medication administration forms because it goes straight into the vein when injected into the person. The person may also absorb more of the medication when it is injected. After administering the medication, it may reach all the necessary parts of the body where the person’s veins reach. This will allow it to circulate through the body easily and target all the necessary parts without doing much. When medication is injected, the medication also avoids degradation in the body that may occur in places like the stomach. This allows the medication to remain in its original state and have more of an effect on the person. This is why the Oxaliplatin injection is a suitable and preferred way to give a patient this medication.

Oxaliplatin side effects 

Every medication may have some side effects that the persons that take it could experience. A person may also experience some Oxaliplatizn side effects.  

While the primary purpose of medication is to treat patients and cure them of the health issue they are facing, patients may sometimes also feel some adverse effects of that medication. The patients must take medication, especially a strong medication like Oxaliplatin know what its side effects could be. This will help them recognize them and get the necessary medical assistance. 

There are side effects that a patient must report to their doctor or health care professional as soon as possible. Some notable Oxaliplatin side effects are:

1. Reactions to the medication like rashes, itching, hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue
2. Difficulty breathing 
3. Coughing 
4. Experiencing low blood counts as a result of a reduction in the number of white, red blood cells, and platelets, 
5. Feeling nauseous 
6. Vomiting
7. Experiencing pain, redness, or irritation around the area of injection
8. Experiencing pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
9. Unusual bleeding alongside bloody or black, tarry stools, urine that is red or dark brown, spitting up bloody or brownish material that resembles grounded coffee, red spots on the skin, unusual bruising, bleeding from eyes, gums, or nose
10. Change in rate of heartbeat or heart rhythm which may result in chest pain, dizziness, fast and irregular heartbeat, palpitations, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, feeling unsteady 
11. Being susceptible to infection, which may involve symptoms like fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain, or difficulty urinating 
12. Liver injury, which may result in dark yellow or brown urine, feeling unwell, flu-like symptoms, stools that are unusually light-colored, appetite loss, feeling nauseous, pain in the right upper belly, feeling unusually weak, yellowing of eyes or skin
13. Suffering from low red blood cell count or anemia could leave a person feeling unusually weak or tired, feeling faint or lightheaded, and unsteady
14. Muscle injury, which may result in dark-colored urine; issues passing urine or change in the amount of urine; feeling weak or tired without any reason; muscle pain, back pain

Side effects may usually not require medical attention, but one may inform their doctor if they persist or become more severe are:

1. Changes in taste
2. Upset stomach 
3. Gas
4. Loss of hair 
5. Appetite loss
6. Sores in mouth 

One may note that these are the general Oxaliplatin side effects that may be experienced by patients and are not exhaustive to all the side effects one may experience after having this medication. Every patient may be affected differently by a medication. You must inform your doctor or a suitable medical professional if you experience anything unusual after taking Oxaliplatin or experience Oxaliplatin side effects that persist or become stronger with time. 

Long-term Oxaliplatin side effects 

A patient may experience Long-term Oxaliplatin side effects, especially if given or taken for some time. Long-term Oxaliplatin side effects could affect the patient for a long duration. This duration may be reduced if the patient recognizes them and receives suitable medical assistance early on. One observation of the long-term effects of the medication is neurotoxicity which may affect patients who take it. 

Oxaliplatin price or Oxaliplatin injection price 

Patients may be keen to know what the Oxaliplatin price or Oxaliplatin injection price is for a multitude of reasons. Cancer treatment can often be very expensive, and patients may want to know what kind of expenditure they may incur when receiving treatment. The costs of patients related to healthcare have also steeply risen since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which may also be a reason for wanting to know the Oxaliplatin injection price. 

The Oxaliplatin price or Oxaliplatin injection price in India is: 

• Oxaliplatin Injection, 100mg, Vial at Rs 4300/piece

One may note that the Oxaliplatin price or Oxaliplatin injection price may vary slightly depending on the pharmacy or seller they are buying from. It may, however, generally stay around the price range given above. If one has any confusion regarding Oxaliplatin price or Oxaliplatin injection price, they may consult their doctor or pharmacist. 

Oxaliplatin uses 

Every medication has some uses. A patient that is using or has been given a prescription for Oxaliplatin may like to know more about the Oxaliplatin uses. This may allow them to understand the nature and kind of medication they are taking. 

Some notable Oxaliplatin uses are: 

1. Colon cancer 
2. Rectal cancer, which is a cancer that affects the large intestine
3. Oxaliplatin may also be used alongside other medications to prevent colon cancer from spreading in patients that have had surgery to remove the tumor

One may note that there may be more Oxaliplatin uses than those listed above. If one may like to know about any other Oxaliplatin uses, they may consult their doctor or a suitable medical professional about the same. 

Oxaliplatin chemotherapy 

Patients may receive Oxaliplatin chemotherapy if they have cancer. Chemotherapy is administering a patient a certain medicine or a combination of medicines to slow the expansion of a cancerous or malignant tumor or completely exterminate it from a person’s body. Chemotherapy may be given to patients regularly, usually with a break in between. With regard to tumors, a patient may usually have one of two types of tumors. Sometimes patients may even have both.

 A benign tumor is a kind of tumor that expands slowly and usually does not shift in the location of the person’s body. It minimally affects the patient and does not usually cause serious patient issues. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, expand very quickly, moving from one location to another in the person’s body. The tumor may cause a handful of problems for the patient, hampering the body’s functioning by harming the cells, tissues, and organs around it.

What should I tell my doctor or medical team before I take Oxaliplatin?

Your doctor or medical team may need to be informed about the following conditions:

1. Have or suffered from some heart disease in the past 
2. Have a history of irregular heartbeat
3. Have or have suffered from liver disease 
4. Have low blood counts, like white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets
5. Have or have suffered from lung or breathing disease, like asthma
6. Have been prescribed medicines that treat or prevent blood clots
7. Feeling tingling on one’s fingers or toes
8. Any other nerve disorder
9. If one has experienced a reaction to Oxaliplatin, other chemotherapy, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
10. Are you currently pregnant, or are you trying to get pregnant
11. Are currently nursing a child (breastfeeding)

This list may only cover some information important to your doctor or the medical professional you seek advice from. You may ask them what else they may want to know to cover all ground relating to your health condition.

What may interact with this medication?

Patients should be aware of medications or substances that could react with them. This may help avoid any unwanted and adverse reactions a medication may have with Oxaliplatin.  

One must not take Oxaliplatin with any of the following medications:

1. Cisapride
2. Dronedarone
3. Pimozide
4. Thioridazine

Oxaliplatin could also interact with the following medications:

1. Aspirin and medicines that may be like aspirin
2. Medications that may be used for treating or preventing blood clots, such as warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban
3. Cisplatin
4. Cyclosporine
5. Diuretics
6. Medicines to treat infections, such as acyclovir, adefovir, amphotericin B, bacitracin, cidofovir, foscarnet, ganciclovir, gentamicin, pentamidine, vancomycin
7. NSAIDs, medicines that may be used for the treatment of pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
8. Other medicines that may be used to prolong the QT interval or abnormal heart rhythms
9. Pamidronate
10. Zoledronic acid

These lists may not cover all medications that could interact with Oxaliplatin. One must discuss all the medications they are consuming or being given with their doctor to be sure they are not taking any medication that could react with Oxaliplatin.

What dosage of Oxaliplatin shall I take?

A patient may be prescribed Oxaliplatin by their doctor or a suitable medical authority. One will also be given a dosage of the medication with their prescription. A person must not take any dosage of Oxaliplatin on their own. They will be given the Oxaliplatin injection at a hospital, clinic, or other suitable medical facility. 

What shall I do if I experience an overdose of Oxaliplatin?

Oxaliplatin is given to a patient by a doctor, nurse, or other suitable medical professional. They may be properly trained and most likely decently experienced in giving Oxaliplatin injections to patients. While they may be professionally trained to administer the Oxaliplatin injection, human error may occur for different reasons, and a patient may be given a bigger dose of Oxaliplatin than necessary. 

In the event of an overdose of Oxaliplatin, a patient may be moved to the emergency room of the hospital, clinic, or medical facility where they have been given the medication. If the hospital, clinic, or medical facility they are at does not have an emergency room or facilities suitable to deal with the overdose, one may call an ambulance. A person may also contact a poison control service to deal with an overdose, as they may be able to provide qualified staff to deal with such a situation.

What are the symptoms of overdosing on Oxaliplatin?

A patient should know what symptoms they may experience on the overdose of any medication. This may allow them to identify them quickly and receive necessary medical treatment before the symptoms worsen. 

Symptoms of overdose may comprise of:

• Difficulty breathing 
• Wheezing
• Feeling numb or tingling in fingers or toes
• Vomiting
• Pain in the chest region
• Slowed breathing
• Slowed heart rate 
• Tightening of the throat
• Upset stomach

One may note that every medication may affect a patient differently. This means that overdose symptoms can also differ from those listed above.

 What to do in case of a dose of Oxaliplatin is missed

A patient will receive the injection for Oxaliplatin at a hospital, clinic, or any other suitable medical facility. To be given the injection of Oxaliplatin, they may have to keep an appointment. A patient should try and attend the appointments for the injection so that the medication can have the necessary effect on them and the treatment also works as it is supposed to. Some situations may arise, however, wherein the patient may not be able to attend the set-up appointment to receive their dose of Oxaliplatin. Suppose a patient is missing or unable to attend an appointment. In that case, they must contact their doctor or medical facility where they are being administered the medication and reschedule the appointment to another suitable time. 

Can children take Oxaliplatin?

Children have different needs from adults and elderly people. They may require less strong medication for their treatments. One may consult a doctor if they would like to know if their child can take Oxaliplatin. Children may have unusual reactions to the medication as they may not be as resilient to the effects of strong medication, so special care may be needed if they take it. 

Can pregnant women take Oxaliplatin?

A woman may not become pregnant while taking this medicine or for nine months after stopping it. The medication may cause some issues for the fetus developing inside the womb. These issues could be cognitive or developmental in nature. Women planning to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant must consult their doctor about the same. 

Can a woman breastfeed a child while taking Oxaliplatin?

A person may have a child who relies on them for breast milk. Women are generally recommended not to breastfeed a child while taking this medicine or for three months after stopping it. This is because the medication may pass to the child through the breast milk in the mother’s body. The medication could cause issues for the child as it may not suit them. 

Ovarian failure 

Oxaliplatin has caused ovarian failure in some women. It may also generally make it more difficult for women to get pregnant. A person may consult their doctor or a suitable medical authority if they plan to start a family and have been prescribed the medicine. They may voice their concerns and clear doubts about this with the medical professional. 

Sensitivity to cold

A patient may become more sensitive to cold on taking Oxaliplatin. They may want to try and keep warm, avoiding cold drinks and ice. A person may also like to cover up a bit more, wearing warm clothing and covering their skin in case they come in contact with any cold item or temperature. A patient should inform their doctor or a suitable medical professional if they have become increasingly sensitive to the cold after taking Oxaliplatin, especially if this is causing them some problems. 

Can men father a child while taking Oxaliplatin?

Men must not father a child while taking Oxaliplatin medicine for six months after stopping it. This is because the medication may impact the fetus or unborn child. They may experience some developmental or cognitive issues as a result. Oxaliplatin has also caused decreased sperm counts in some men, which may concern them. Men may discuss all this with their doctor if they want to know more.

What are the adverse effects of chemotherapy?

While chemotherapy is supposed to help patients overcome cancer, it may cause some problems for patients, which may harm the state of their health and impede on their quality of life. A big downside of chemotherapy is that it could affect health and cancer cells. Chemotherapy medicine cannot differentiate between normal and harmful cancer-causing cells. This may cause a patient to become weak or feel unwell. The drop in the number of healthy cells in a person’s body may also cause them to be more prone to suffering from infections which may cause unique problems for different patients. The patient must continue taking the medication as advised by the doctor, even if they feel unwell, unless the doctor tells them to stop.

Dental care 

A person taking Oxaliplatin must stay cautious while brushing, flossing, or using a toothpick to clean their teeth. Any dental care must be done very cautiously if a person is taking Oxaliplatin regularly. One may be more susceptible to infections or bleeding on taking Oxaliplatin. If you get any dental work done, inform your dentist about Oxaliplatin.

What diet shall I have while being given the medication?

A patient should continue their regular diet while taking Oxaliplatin unless their doctor recommends otherwise. One may generally be advised not to eat or drink anything colder than room temperature for around five days to a week after receiving each dose of Oxaliplatin.

Monitoring and testing 

A doctor may monitor or test a patient’s health while undergoing treatment. A patient’s health may also be monitored and tested after they are given Oxaliplatin. These may be done through blood tests or other tests, which signify that the patient’s health is stable and as it’s supposed to be.

Where should Oxaliplatin be stored? 

Patients may like to know where and how they must store medication. Oxaliplatin may be given to patients at a hospital, clinic, or suitable medical facility. A patient must not self-administer Oxaliplatin, so it must not be stored at home. Oxaliplatin must only be stored in a suitable medical facility or pharmacy from where it will be taken to a medical professional to be given to a suitable patient. 

Alternative names of Oxaliplatin  

Medications may have alternative names, which they may be referred to. It is beneficial for a patient to know about these as they may be used during treatment or if the patient is purchasing the medication. A common brand name for Oxaliplatin is Eloxatin. One may ask their doctor if there may be any other alternative names for Oxaliplatin that they may like to be aware of that are used locally. 

Conclusion 

Doctors may afford their medical services to patients, affording them with treatment for the health issue they are facing. A suitable medication may improve the quality of life of a person whose health problem has been affected. While the role of the doctor and medicine may be important in treatment, the role of the patient is also important. If a patient is aware of the treatment and medication they are being afforded, there will be less confusion, and the doctor can give them the necessary treatment with much more ease. The medications will also work better because the patient may know what they must inform the doctor about for optimal treatment and how to deal with the side effects. Oxaliplatin will be able to have the best effect on the patients in this case, treating them of their health ailment and hopefully even curing them of the same. 

It is also essential to note that Oxaliplatin’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.