Eloxatin can cause serious side effects, including:

• Serious allergic reactions. See “Drug Precautions”.
• Nerve problems. Eloxatin can affect how your nerves work and make you feel. Tell your doctor right away if you get any signs of nerve problems listed below:

• Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy (RPLS). RPLS is a rare condition that affects the brain. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of RPLS:
  • headache
  • confusion or a change in the way you think
  • seizures
  • vision problems, such as blurriness or vision loss. You should not drive, operate heavy machines, or engage in dangerous activities if you have vision problems while receiving Eloxatin.

The first signs of nerve problems may happen with the first treatment. The nerve problems can also start up to 2 days after treatment. If you develop nerve problems, the amount of Eloxatin in your next treatment may be changed or Eloxatin treatment may be stopped.

▪very sensitive to cold temperatures and cold objects

▪trouble breathing, swallowing, or saying words, jaw tightness, odd feelings in your tongue, or chest pressure

▪pain, tingling, burning (pins and needles, numb feeling) in your hands, feet, or around your mouth or throat, which may cause problems walking or performing activities of daily living.

• Lung problems (interstitial fibrosis). Tell your doctor right away if you get a dry cough and have trouble breathing (shortness of breath) before your next treatment. These may be signs of a serious lung disease.
• Liver problems (hepatotoxicity). Your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver.
• Harm to an unborn baby. Eloxatin may cause harm to your unborn baby. 

The most common side effects of Eloxatin include:

• Decreased blood counts: Eloxatin can cause a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cells important in fighting in bacterial infections), red blood cells (blood cells that carry oxygen to the tissues), and platelets (important for clotting and to control bleeding).
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Infection Call your doctor right away if you get any of the following signs of infection:
  • fever
  • chills or shivering
  • painful swallowing
  • sore throat
  • cough that brings up mucus
  • burning or pain on urination
  • redness or swelling at intravenous site
• Bleeding or bruising. Tell your doctor about any signs or symptoms of bleeding or bruising.
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Mouth sores
• Stomach pain
• Decreased appetite
• Tiredness
• Injection site reactions. Reactions may include redness, swelling, pain, tissue damage at the site of injection.
• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Dehydration (too much water loss). Call you doctor if you have signs of dehydration including:
  • tiredness
  • thirst
  • dry mouth
  • lightheadedness (dizziness)
  • decreased urination

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers your or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Eloxatin. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

To reduce the side effects caused by cold temperatures:

• Cover yourself with a blanket while you are getting your Eloxatin infusion.
• Do not breathe deeply when exposed to cold air.
• Wear warm clothing in cold weather at all times. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or a pull-down cap (ski cap) to warm the air that goes to your lungs.
• Wear gloves when taking things from the freezer or refrigerator.
• Drink fluids warm or at room temperature.
• Always drink through a straw.
• Do not use ice chips if you have nausea or mouth sores. Ask your healthcare provider or doctor about what you can use.
• Be aware that most metals are cold to touch, especially in the winter. These include your car door and mailbox. Wear gloves to touch cold objects.
• Do not run the air-conditioning at high levels in the house or in the car in hot weather.
• If your body gets cold, warm-up the affected part. If your hands get cold, wash them with warm water.
• Always let your healthcare provider or doctor know before your next treatment how well you did since your last visit.