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Oxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin Side Effects

Julia Lee, PharmD, BCOPCydnee Ng, PharmD
Reviewed by Julia Lee, PharmD, BCOP, Cydnee Ng, PharmD
Last reviewed on January 7, 2025

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Numbness, tingling, or pricking feeling in the hands or feet (neuropathy; up to 82%)
  • Low white blood cell count (up to 85%)
  • Low platelet count (71%)
  • Nausea (71%)
  • Feeling very tired (70%)
  • Diarrhea (56%)
  • Vomiting (41%)
  • Throat tingling or aching (38%)
  • Mouth sores (38%)
  • Low appetite (35%)
  • Cough (35%)
  • Constipation (32%)
  • Stomach pain (29%)
  • Anemia (27%)

Less Common Side Effects

  • Muscle ache
  • Headache
  • General pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rash
  • Swelling
  • Fever
  • Hair loss
  • Weight loss
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Changes in vision
  • Changes in taste
  • Elevated liver enzyme levels

Note: Reported from studies with people who took [[EDITOR|DRUG_DISPLAY_NAME]] with fluorouracil and leucovorin for advanced colon cancer. These people didn’t have any previous treatment.

Oxaliplatin serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Serious allergic reaction: breathing problems; hives; rash; itchiness; swelling of the face, mouth, or lips
  • Low blood cell counts: fever, chills, feeling very tired, unusual bleeding or bruising
  • Serious bleeding: unusual bleeding, bleeding that’s difficult to stop, easy bruising, blood in urine or stool
  • Abnormal heart rhythm: chest pounding, chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling faint or lightheaded
  • Lung problems: cough, wheezing, trouble catching your breath
  • Liver problems: pain in the right side of the stomach, yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • Severe muscle damage: muscle weakness, pain, dark or brown urine
  • Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): headache, feeling sluggish or confused, vision loss, seizure

Source: DailyMed

The following Oxaliplatin side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Abnormal tongue sensation

black, tarry stools

bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

bleeding gums

blistering, peeling, redness, or swelling of the palms of the hands or bottoms of the feet

blood in the urine or stools

burning, prickling, itching, or tingling of the skin

chest pain

chills

cough

decreased urination

difficulty performing daily activities such as writing, buttoning, swallowing, or walking

difficulty with articulating words

difficulty with breathing

difficulty with moving

difficulty with swallowing

dizziness

dry mouth

eye pain

fainting

fever

increase in heart rate

jaw spasm

lightheadedness

lower back or side pain

muscle pain or stiffness

numbness or painful sensations

pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves

pain in the joints

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

rapid breathing

sensation of pins and needles

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stabbing pain

sunken eyes

swelling

swelling or inflammation of the mouth

swollen glands

thirst

troubled breathing with exertion

unsteadiness or awkwardness

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

vision changes

wrinkled skin

Less common

Fast heartbeat

hives, itching, or skin rash

increased thirst

irregular heartbeat

loss of appetite

mood changes

nausea or vomiting

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

tightness in the chest

Incidence not known

Back, leg, or stomach pains

blindness

bloated stomach

blue-yellow color blindness

blurred vision

changes in patterns and rhythms of speech

dark urine

deafness

decreased vision

deep breathing

drowsiness

electric shock-like sensation that moves down the back and into the legs following a bending movement of the neck

general body swelling

increased urination

irregular heartbeat, recurrent

large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

loss of deep tendon reflexes

muscle cramps or spasms

muscle tremors

pain and fullness in the right upper abdomen or stomach

restlessness

severe constipation

severe diarrhea

severe nosebleeds

severe stomach cramps or tenderness

severe vomiting

trouble with speaking

twitches of the muscle visible under the skin

weakness of the muscles in your face

weight gain

yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Agitation

coma

cough or hoarseness

diarrhea

disorientation

involuntary, rapid, or rhythmic movement of the eyes

lack of coordination

lack of sensation

lethargy

paralysis

respiratory failure

seizures

slow or irregular heartbeat

tremors

vomiting, profuse

Some side effects 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:

More common

Acid or sour stomach

belching

body aches or pain

ear congestion

feeling unusually cold, shivering

headache

heartburn

indigestion

loss of voice

nasal congestion

runny nose

sneezing

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

trouble sleeping

weight loss

Less common

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

bloated or full feeling

bloody nose

burning while urinating

change in taste

congestion

cracked lips

dryness or soreness of the throat

excess air or gas in stomach or intestines

feeling of warmth

hair loss

passing gas

rapid weight gain

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally upper chest

tender, swollen glands in the neck

thinning of the hair

unusual tearing of the eyes

voice changes

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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

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