Oxaliplatin is an anti-cancer drug that belongs to the platinum coordination complexes and alkylating agent approved for its medical use in treating advanced colorectal cancer on  January 9, 2004.

Oxaliplatin is indicated to treat adults with stage III colon cancer after surgery to remove the tumor. It is used with other anti-cancer medicines called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) to treat adults with advanced colon or rectal cancer (colorectal cancer). It is also used as a combination therapy for Mantle cell lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ( a type of cancer that affects your lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s germ-fighting immune system). In combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, oxaliplatin is used as a second-line therapy to treat advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Oxaliplatin is given to you intravenously (IV) through your veins. The drug will be administered by a healthcare professional. Your physician will decide on the dose for administration based on the severity of the disease, weight, and height.  Some medicines may be given to you before oxaliplatin to help prevent nausea and vomiting. 

 Oxaliplatin is given with two other chemotherapy drugs, leucovorin (folinic acid), and 5-FU. Each treatment course is given to you over two days. 

Treatment Day 1: 

Oxaliplatin and leucovorin will be given through a thin plastic tube into a vein (intravenous infusion or IV) for 2 hours. A healthcare provider will watch you during this time. After the Oxaliplatin and leucovorin are given, two doses of fluorouracil will be given. The first dose is given right away into your IV tube. The second dose will be given into your IV tube over the next 22 hours using a pump device.

Treatment Day 2:

You will not receive Oxaliplatin on Day 2. Leucovorin and fluorouracil will be given the same way as on Day 1. The fluorouracil will be given through your IV with a pump. If you have any problems with the pump or the tube, inform your doctor or nurse. Do not let anyone other than a healthcare provider touch your infusion pump or tubing. You should usually receive your infusion once every two weeks. Your doctor will determine the duration of your treatment. Your treatment will last a maximum of 6 months after the complete resection of your tumor.

The common side effects of Oxaliplatin are nerve damage (caused due exposure to cold temperature while receiving the treatment), breathing difficulties, trouble in swallowing, decreased hemoglobin levels, decreased WBC and platelet counts, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever. The other side effects are  High blood pressure, Depression, insomnia, Conjunctivitis, visual problems, Loss of weight, and Blood clots.

The drug may cause allergic reactions; notify your doctor if you see any signs of rash, itchy skin, redness in the skin, Swelling of your lips or tongue, sudden cough, and low blood pressure. Oxaliplatin causes nerve damage when exposed to cold objects or cold temperatures. Inform your physician if you have noticed the symptoms of being very sensitive to cold temperatures and cold objects, difficulty in breathing, trouble swallowing, jaw tightness, chest pressure, Pain or tingling, or burning in your hands, feet, or around your mouth or throat, which may cause problems walking or performing activities of daily living.

Avoid cold temperatures and cold objects. Cover your skin if you must go outside in cold temperatures. Do not drink cold drinks or use ice cubes in drinks. Do not put ice or ice packs on your body. If you have liver or lung failure, discuss with your doctor about the condition and monitor your blood test regularly. Oxaliplatin is not advised to take during pregnancy, during breastfeeding or if you are planning to get pregnant because this drug causes potential harm to the baby. Talk to your doctor if you take other prescribed or over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements, or herbal medicines.

It is important for you to keep all appointments. Inform your doctor if you must miss an appointment. Cover yourself with a blanket while you get Oxaliplatin infusion if the room temperature is very cold. Do not take a deep breath when exposed to cold air. Wear warm clothing in cold weather at all times. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf to warm the air that goes to your lungs. Drink fluids warm or at room temperature. Oxaliplatin may cause vision abnormalities that may decrease your ability to drive or operate machinery.

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2. Package leaflet: Information for the user. www.hpra.ie. https://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/2177427.PA0405_078_001.e3ff7724-1539-4e01-ae0b-83cef0ca53dc.000001Package%20leaflet.170117.pdf (Accessed December 19, 2022). 

3. Tripathi KD. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2019:920-921. file:///C:/Users/BIS/Downloads/Essentials%20of%20Medical%20Pharmacology%20(%20PDFDrive%20).pdf (Accessed December 19, 2022). 

4. Oxaliplatin - NCI. www.cancer.gov. Published October 5, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2022. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/oxaliplatin 

5. Alcindor T, Beauger N. Oxaliplatin: a review in the era of molecularly targeted therapy. Current Oncology. 2011;18(1). doi:10.3747/co.v18i1.708 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3031353/ 

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.