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Oxaliplatin

Generic name: oxaliplatin
Brand name: Eloxatin
Dosage form: intravenous (infusion) injection
Drug class: Alkylating agents

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is oxaliplatin?

Oxaliplatin is a cytotoxic chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. It is a type of platinum drug and an alkylating agent.

Like other alkylating agents, oxaliplatin works by interfering with the development of DNA in a cell. It stops cells from growing and multiplying and kills them. This helps to treat cancer which is caused by cells rapidly growing and dividing out of control.

Oxaliplatin was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002.

What is oxaliplatin used for?

Oxaliplatin is an anti-cancer (chemotherapy) medicine that is used with other anti-cancer medicines called fluorouracil and leucovorin to treat people with:

It is not known if oxaliplatin is effective in children.

Important information

Oxaliplatin can cause serious allergic reactions, including allergic reactions that can lead to death.

Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based medicine. Serious allergic reactions including death can happen in people who take oxaliplatin and who have had previous allergic reactions to platinum-based medicines. Serious allergic reactions can happen within a few minutes of your oxaliplatin infusion or any time during your treatment with oxaliplatin.

Get emergency help right away if you:

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction:

See “What are the side effects of oxaliplatin?” for information about other serious side effects.

Who should not receive oxaliplatin?

Do not receive oxaliplatin if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in oxaliplatin or other medicines that contain platinum. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of the ingredients oxaliplatin.

Ask your doctor if you are not sure if you take a medicine that contains platinum.

What should I tell my doctor before receiving oxaliplatin?

Before receiving oxaliplatin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

How should I receive oxaliplatin?

Treatment Day 1:

Treatment Day 2:

What happens if I miss a dose?

It is important for you to keep all of your medical appointments. Call your doctor if you miss an appointment. There may be special instructions for you.

What should I avoid while receiving oxaliplatin?

See “How can I reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures?” for more information.

Talk with your doctor and nurse about your level of activity during treatment with oxaliplatin. Follow their instructions.

Dosing information

What are the side effects of oxaliplatin?

Oxaliplatin can cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects of oxaliplatin include:

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers your or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of oxaliplatin. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How can I reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures?

Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if:

Females who are able to become pregnant should avoid becoming pregnant and should use effective birth control during treatment with oxaliplatin and for 9 months after the final dose. Talk to your doctor about forms of birth control that may be right for you.

Males with female partners who are pregnant or able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with oxaliplatin and for 6 months after the final dose.

Oxaliplatin may cause fertility problems in males and females. Talk to your doctor if this is a concern for you.

Storage

Store oxaliplatin at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F). Do not freeze and protect from light (keep in original outer carton). Discard unused portion

What are the ingredients in oxaliplatin?

Active ingredient: oxaliplatin

Inactive ingredient:

Eloxatin: water for injection

Oxaliplatin is marketed under the brandname Eloxatin by sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC Bridgewater, NJ 08807, a Sanofi company.

A number of generic versions of oxaliplatin are also marketed by different companies.Check the product label for your specific version of oxaliplatin for information about inactive ingredients and storage instructions.

Popular FAQ

Oxaliplatin (brand name: Eloxatin) is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug that works by disrupting DNA activity in the cancer cells to lead to cell toxicity and death. It is classified as an "alkylating agent". Oxaliplatin is given into a vein. It's used together with fluorouracil and leucovorin to treat more advanced colon and rectal cancer.

Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is a platinum-based drug used to treat colon cancer which is administered by intravenous (IV) infusion. After it is administered, oxaliplatin is converted into total platinum, ultrafilterable (free) platinum and erythrocyte platinum.

Ultrafiterable platinum represents the main active substance that provides oxaliplatin’s anti-cancer and toxic properties. Initially plasma ultrafiltrate is distributed quite quickly in the body in two phases, with half-lives (the amount of time it takes to reduce by half) of 0.43 and 16.8 hours, respectively, as the drug is moved into tissues and also cleared by the kidneys.

The third phase of elimination (the terminal half-life of platinum in ultrafiltrate), however, can be as long as 392 hours (approx. 16 days), although this is thought to reflect clearance of mostly inactive platinum conjugates.

After a single oxaliplatin infusion, about 54 percent of the drug is excreted in urine within 5 days. Continue reading

How many cycles of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) intravenous (IV) infusion you receive will depend on why you are receiving this medication and how you respond to treatment. Some patient will only receive up to 12 cycles of treatment, while others may remain on the drug until their cancer stops responding to treatment and their disease progresses. Other patients may receive fewer cycles of treatment if the side effects prove to be unacceptable. Continue reading

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.