Cisplatin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 27, 2024.

Applies to cisplatin: intravenous powder for solution, intravenous solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Receiving this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are female and able to get pregnant, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 14 months after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 11 months after the last dose. If you think a pregnancy has occurred while receiving this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, diarrhea, a fever or chills, hives, hoarseness, itching, lightheadedness or dizziness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive the medicine.

Cisplatin may cause serious kidney problems. Tell you doctor right away if you have blood in urine, change in frequency of urination or amount of urine, difficulty in breathing, drowsiness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or weakness.

Check with your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy. These symptoms may occur 3 to 8 weeks after the last dose of this medicine.

Cisplatin can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dizziness, loss of balance, loss of hearing, ringing or buzzing in the ears, or troubled hearing. These could be symptoms of hearing or ear problems.

Call your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. These could be symptoms of eye problems (eg, optical neuritis, papilledema, cortical blindness).

This medicine may increase your risk for other cancers, including leukemia. Tell your doctor right away if you have bone or joint pain, fever, pale skin, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual tiredness or weakness, weight loss, or swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpit, groin, or stomach.

If cisplatin accidentally seeps out of the vein into which it is injected, it may damage some tissues and cause scarring. Tell the doctor or nurse right away if you notice redness, pain, or swelling at the place of injection.

Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children. Some men and women who use this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of cisplatin

Along with its needed effects, cisplatin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking cisplatin:

Other side effects of cisplatin

Some side effects of cisplatin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to cisplatin: compounding powder, intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution.

Renal adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Renal toxicity (36%)
• Frequency not reported: Renal failure acute, renal tubular disorder^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Rare (less than 0.1%): Stomatitis
• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, hiccups^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Convulsion, neuropathy peripheral, leukoencephalopathy, reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome
• Frequency not reported: Cerebrovascular accident, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke ageusia, cerebral arteritis, Lhermitte's sign, myelopathy, autonomic neuropathy^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia
• Frequency not reported: Coombs positive hemolytic anemia^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Vision blurred, color blindness acquired, blindness cortical, optic neuritis, papilledema, retinal pigmentation^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anaphylactoid reaction^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic enzymes increased, blood bilirubin increased^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Local soft tissue toxicity (e.g., cellulitis, fibrosis, necrosis, pain, edema, erythema) as the result of extravasation^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cardiac arrest
• Frequency not reported: Cardiac disorder, arrhythmia, bradycardia, tachycardia, thrombotic microangiopathy (hemolytic uremic syndrome), Raynaud's phenomenon^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal spermatogenesis
• Frequency not reported: Blood amylase increased, inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Rash, alopecia^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Anorexia, hyponatremia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypomagnesemia
• Frequency not reported: Dehydration, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia, tetany^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Sepsis
• Frequency not reported: Infection^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Muscle spasms^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Acute leukemia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Pulmonary embolism, wheezing^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Tinnitus and/or high frequency hearing loss (31%), pyrexia
• Frequency not reported: Tinnitus, deafness^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Cisplatin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer