Cisplatin may cause the following side effects:

• peripheral and autonomic neuropathies - Although less common, a serious side effect of decreased sensation and paresthesia (numbness and tingling of the extremities) may be noted. Sensory loss, numbness and tingling, and difficulty in walking may last for at least as long as therapy is continued. These side effects may become progressively more severe with continued treatment.
• seizures and muscle cramps
• nausea and vomiting
• weight loss
• diarrhea
• low white blood cells, platelets, or red blood cells
• low electrolytes
• loss of vision, loss of color perception
• hearing loss
• hair loss
• loss of appetite

The following symptoms require medical attention. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours of noticing any of the following:

• Nausea (unable to drink fluids and unrelieved with prescription medication).
• Vomiting (more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period).
• No urine output in a 12 hour period.
• Unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools or urine.
• Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities).
• Swelling, redness and pain in one leg or arm and not the other.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Cisplatin is a medication that treats various forms of cancer. The exact way that cisplatin works is uncertain. It is known to kill rapidly developing cells by disrupting their ability to produce DNA.

Make sure you tell your doctor about any other medical problems, especially:

• Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or Shingles—Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body
• Gout or kidney stones —Cisplatin may increase levels of uric acid in the body, which can cause gout or kidney stones
• Hearing problems—May be worsened by cisplatin
• Infection—Cisplatin decreases your body's ability to fight infection
• Kidney disease—Effects of cisplatin may be increased because of slower removal from the body

Cisplatin is a toxic chemotherapeutic drug with significant risk of adverse effects. It should only be used in settings where patient response can be monitored and staff have experience in using cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Your doctor will monitor your kidney function and electrolytes during therapy with cisplatin. Cisplatin can cause damage to the kidneys.  Drink plenty of fluids to help prevent this.
Cisplatin can cause hearing damage that may not be reversible.
Cisplatin can cause reversible reductions in white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells. Your doctor will monitor your blood work.
Cisplatin can cause nerve damage that results in pain and loss of balance. This damage may be reversible but recovery is slow.
Almost all patients treated with cisplatin will experience nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting may start within 1 to 4 hours of starting treatment and may continue for 1 week following treatment. Your health care team will advise you on ways to treat and prevent this side effect.

Do not use Cisplatin if you have a history of severe allergic reaction to Cisplatin, carboplatin, other platinum-containing formulations or mannitol.
Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking Cisplatin

Drug interactions:Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aldesleukin
• Docetaxel
• Fosphenytoin
• Lithium
• Phenytoin
• Tobramycin
• Warfarin

Use in pregnancy:  Cisplatin should not be used by pregnant women unless the benefit outweighs the risk.  

Use in breastfeeding:  Cisplatin is passed into breastmilk.  Breastfeeding is not recommended.