1. Why am I being given Oxaliplatin Accord?
Oxaliplatin Accord contains the active ingredient oxaliplatin. Oxaliplatin Accord is used to treat cancer of the large intestine and rectum (colorectal cancer). It is used in combination with other anti-cancer drugs; fluorouracil and folinic acid. Oxaliplatin Accord is not recommended in children.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Oxaliplatin Accord? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before I am given Oxaliplatin Accord?
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Oxaliplatin, any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI or other platinum compound.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I am given Oxaliplatin Accord? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines and Oxaliplatin may interfere with each other and may affect how well each medicine works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How will I be given Oxaliplatin Accord?
Oxaliplatin Accord will be given to you by a doctor or a nurse as an infusion into one of your veins.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How will I be given Oxaliplatin Accord? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while being given Oxaliplatin Accord?
| Things you should do |
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| Driving or using machines | Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Oxaliplatin Accord affects you. Visual disturbance is a rare side effect of Oxaliplatin Accord. Contact your doctor if this happens to you, and do not drive or use machinery until your vision is clear. |
For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while being given Oxaliplatin Accord? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
Some of the very serious side effects are:
- allergic reactions - swelling of the face, lips, mouth, touch or throat; a wheezing or whistling sound when inhaling; difficulty breathing; shortness of breath and looking pale; rash, itching or hives o the skin
- chest pain or feeling of chest pressure
- coughing
- abnormal changes to your heart rate
- feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- breakdown of muscle tissue causing muscle fibres to be released into the blood. Symptoms include dark, red urine, decreased urine output, muscle stiffness or aching
- serious lung infections. Symptoms include fever, chills, shortness of breath, and a cough which produces yellow-green phlegm and occasionally blood
- convulsions, fits or seizures
- vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- bleeding from the back passage, black sticky bowel motions (stools) or bloody diarrhoea
Tell your doctor immediately even if they occur even if this is several months or years after stopping treatment with Oxaliplatin Accord.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.