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This leaflet answers some common questions about Oxaliplatin Alphapharm.

It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Oxaliplatin Alphapharm against the benefits expected for you.

You may need to read it again.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm is used to treat advanced cancer of the large intestine and rectum (colorectal cancer). Oxaliplatin Alphapharm is used with two other anti-cancer drugs, fluorouracil (FU), and folinic acid. The active ingredient in Oxaliplatin Alphapharm is called oxaliplatin. Cancer cells are normal cells which have changed so that they grow in an uncontrolled way. Oxaliplatin works by interfering with cancer cell growth. Because of the similarities between cancer cells and normal cells, anti cancer drugs often have unwanted effects on the body. Your doctors have decided to treat you with Oxaliplatin Alphapharm because they believe that the benefit of this treatment will be greater than the unwanted effects.

Many of the side effects from anti-cancer drugs are predictable and can be prevented or lessened. Your doctor and other staff will take all of the precautions needed to reduce the unwanted effects of treatment.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm is only available on a prescription from your doctor.

If you have had an allergic reaction to oxaliplatin before, you should not take it again.

Oxaliplatin may cause birth defects if you are being treated with it at the time of conception or it is given to women who are already pregnant. Adequate contraception is required during treatment with oxaliplatin. You should discuss this with your doctor. Nursing mothers are advised not to breastfeed while receiving oxaliplatin, as the effect of breast milk from such patients is unknown.

If you take this medicine after the expiry date, it may not work as well.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm will be given to you as an infusion into one of your veins (this is called an intravenous infusion). The infusion will be given over 2 - 6 hours. The dose of Oxaliplatin Alphapharm is calculated according to your body surface area, which is calculated from your weight and height.

The usual dose is 85 mg/m2 every two weeks. Your doctor may change the dose in some circumstances.

Each course of treatment is called a cycle; your doctor will tell you how many cycles you will receive.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm will be used with fluorouracil (FU) and folinic acid.

All medicines can have side effects. It is important to understand the side effects that Oxaliplatin Alphapharm may cause, even though you may not experience them. As well as the predictable side effects of Oxaliplatin Alphapharm, there are other effects that occur much more rarely.

Your doctor will decide whether such effects are because of your treatment, and what action needs to be taken.

This section explains the side effects of Oxaliplatin Alphapharm, and some of the checks made before each treatment to prevent excessive side effects.

Before each treatment with Oxaliplatin Alphapharm you will be examined for any condition that may be affected by chemotherapy (for example, infection, or loss of feeling). This will include those conditions caused by previous treatment, those caused by your disease, and those caused by other things.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm can affect nerves in the hands and feet. This is common soon after treatment, and can appear as tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes, and may be made worse by cold temperatures or by contact with cold water or other cold objects. These symptoms often go away between treatments, but may last longer and get worse with repeated treatment. In some patients the limbs may become weak or painful. However, in most patients these symptoms improve after treatment is stopped. Tell your doctor if any of these things happen. Your doctor will examine you before treatment to see if you are affected.

Severe nausea and vomiting is uncommon with Oxaliplatin Alphapharm. Mild nausea and vomiting is more common. Medication to prevent the sickness caused by Oxaliplatin Alphapharm will be given before treatment, and may sometimes be continued after treatment.

Severe diarrhoea may occur during treatment with Oxaliplatin Alphapharm.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm can affect the body's ability to make blood cells. There are three types of blood cells checked before each treatment; platelets, which help control bleeding; white blood cells, which help fight infection; and red blood cells which move oxygen around the body. If your blood count is too low, your treatment may be postponed, or the dose reduced.

These may be signs of a low blood count.

Some patients may experience a sudden, temporary feeling of difficulty with swallowing or breathing. This sensation, if it occurs, usually happens during the infusion or within hours after the infusion. It may be triggered by swallowing a cold drink. Although unpleasant, this feeling does not last long, and goes away by itself. Tell your doctor if this happens to you.

Other known side effects of Oxaliplatin Alphapharm are;

Your doctor will decide what dose of Oxaliplatin Alphapharm you need, and this will be given under close supervision, usually in a hospital setting. The risk of an overdosage in these circumstances is low. In the event of an overdose occurring, your doctor will decide on the treatment necessary.

If you need to store Oxaliplatin Alphapharm before you take it with you to hospital, make sure it is stored in a cool dry place where the temperature does not exceed 30 degrees Celsius.

This is not all the information that is available on Oxaliplatin Alphapharm. If you have any more questions or are not sure about anything ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Oxaliplatin Alphapharm comes as a powder for injection in a glass vial.

A box contains 1 vial.

Each Oxaliplatin Alphapharm vial contains the active ingredient, oxaliplatin 50 mg or 100 mg.