Drug Study

Drug Name
5Flourouracil
(Fluorouraci
l)
Leucovorin
(Folinic
Acid)
Oxaliplatin
(Eloxatin)

Classificati
on
Antineopla
stic

Indications

Mechanism of Action

Colon cancer

It works by slowing
or stopping the
growth of cancer
cells in your body by
interfering with DNA
and RNA synthesis,
leading to thymine
deficiency.

Route/Frequency/Do
sage
On the first day of

treatment the nurse

gives you folinic acid
as a drip (infusion)
and a drip of

oxaliplatin. You have

them at the same

time over about two

hours. The drips are
run through a pump,
which gives you the
drugs over a set

time. After this you

have 5FU. There are

different FOLFOX
schedules
depending on how
5FU is given:
FOLFOX4 On day 1,
your nurse gives you
an injection of 5FU
into your line or
cannula. After this
you have an infusion
of 5FU over 22
hours. On day 2, you
have a drip of folinic
acid and an injection
of 5FU. This is
followed by another
22-hour infusion of
5FU.

Adverse Reactions
Decreased WBC
count
Tiredness and
breathlessness
Anemia
Bruising
Diarrhea
Numbness or
tingling
Fatigue
ore mouth
Loss of fertility
Photosensitivity

Drug Interaction

Nursing
Consideration
Vaccines
FOLFOX causes
nausea and
Sun exposure
vomiting that can
last for several days
Other
after your
chemotherapeuti
treatment. A bland
c agents
diet can help
reduce these side
effects. Choose
foods that are soft
and easy to digest,
and avoid spicy or
fried foods. Soups,
pudding, eggs,
oatmeal, low-fat
dairy and tofu are
examples of foods
allowed on a bland
diet.
Commonly known as
a low-residue diet,
physicians regularly
recommend
modifying your fiber
intake while on the
FOLFOX regimen.
FOLFOX can cause a
change in bowel
habits. FOLFOX
triggers diarrhea in
about 60 percent of
people. A low-fiber

FOLFOX6 On day 1,
your nurse gives you
an injection of 5FU
into your line or
cannula followed by
an infusion of 5FU
over 2 days (48
hours).
Each cycle of
FOLFOX takes 14
days (two weeks). At
the end of the 14
days you start your
second cycle of
FOLFOX. This is the
same as the first
cycle. You can have
up to 12 cycles, or
sometimes more,
depending on the
situation

diet reduces the

amount of
undigested food
moving through
your bowels, and
can help ease
digestive problems
caused by FOLFOX.
Avoid high-residue
foods, including
beans, bran, nuts,
processed meats
and raw or steamed
vegetables.
Many patients
experience a loss of
appetite after
FOLFOX treatments.
Nausea can
increase your lack
of appetite. Eating
smaller meals more
frequently is
sometimes better
tolerated. This
helps reduce
vomiting also.
Instead of eating
three large meals,
try five or six small
meals equally
spaced out through
the day. Your doctor
can prescribe antisickness medication
if you experience
particularly

troublesome
symptoms.