• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What are the possible side effects of cisplatin?

If you experience all of the following serious side effects from cisplatin, contact your doctor immediately:

• an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• kidney damage (little or no urine production, blood in the urine);

• hearing loss or ringing in the ears;

• decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection);

• severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite;

• heart and circulation problems;

• gout or increased uric acid in the blood;

• numbness or tingling;

• blurred vision, altered color perception, blindness, and other visual problems;

• liver damage (abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• hair loss.

Other side effects have also been reported. Discuss with your doctor any side effect that occurs during treatment with cisplatin.

What other drugs will affect cisplatin?

Before using cisplatin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines to control seizures:

• carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol);

• phenytoin (Dilantin);

• gabapentin (Neurontin);

• tiagabine (Gabitril);

• valproic acid (Depakene) or divalproex sodium (Depakote);

• lamotrigine (Lamictal);

• felbamate (Felbatol);

• levetiracetam (Keppra);

• primidone (Mysoline);

• zonisamide (Zonegran);

• topiramate (Topamax);

• oxcarbazepine (Trileptal);

• a barbiturate such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) or pentobarbital (Nembutal); or

• a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Diastat, Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), or clorazepate (Tranxene).

Cisplatin may decrease the effects of medicines used to control seizures and a dosage adjustment may be required.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with cisplatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with cisplatin.

Where can I get more information?

Your healthcare provider may have additional information about cisplatin that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Cisplatin is available with a prescription under the brand names Platinol and Platinol-AQ. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.