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Chemotherapy — Platinum drugs

Cisplatin (Cisplan, Kemoplat): What to Expect

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used platinum chemotherapy drugs. It is given by IV drip over several hours, with large volumes of fluid before and after to protect your kidneys. The two things people most often ask about — kidney stress and hearing changes — are both monitored from the start of treatment.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026

Prescription-only medicine.

Cisplatin is a prescription-only medicine administered intravenously under specialist oncology supervision in a hospital or day care setting. It cannot be started, obtained, or adjusted on the basis of anything read online. It is not suitable for everyone — see who this is not for below.

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In short

Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy given by intravenous drip, always with large volumes of IV fluid to protect the kidneys. It is used across a range of solid tumour types. The two effects people most often ask about are kidney stress and hearing changes, both of which are monitored from the start of treatment.

In detail

What is cisplatin and what is it used for?

Cisplatin — available in India as Cisplan and Kemoplat — is a platinum-based chemotherapy given by intravenous drip.

It works by entering cancer cells and damaging their DNA in a way that prevents the cells from dividing. Rapidly dividing cells are most affected.

Your oncologist will use it as part of a treatment plan tailored to your cancer type and stage. It is often given alongside other chemotherapy medicines, with radiation, or with both.

Step by step

What happens during a cisplatin treatment day?

IV fluid before the drug

A bag of intravenous fluid runs before cisplatin starts. This pre-hydration prepares the kidneys to handle the drug and is not skipped.

Anti-nausea medicines

Because cisplatin causes significant nausea, anti-nausea medicines are given through the drip before the drug begins. You will also be sent home with tablets to take over the following days.

Cisplatin infusion

The drug itself is given through the drip. Your nurse will monitor you throughout — how you are feeling, your blood pressure, and the infusion site.

IV fluid after the drug

More fluid runs after cisplatin to protect the kidneys by flushing the medicine through quickly. This post-hydration is the main reason treatment days are long.

Checks before you leave

Your team may check your blood pressure, urine output, and electrolyte levels before you go home. These results inform whether the next cycle can proceed as planned.

At a glance

What do these words at the clinic mean?

NephrotoxicityKidney stress or damage caused by the drug. The kidneys filter cisplatin from the blood, which can injure the tiny tubules inside them. Protecting against this is the main reason so much IV fluid is used.

OtotoxicityHearing damage caused by the drug. Cisplatin can injure the sensory hair cells in the inner ear. The most common effect is difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds. Tinnitus — ringing or buzzing — is also reported.

CreatinineA blood marker that shows how well your kidneys are clearing waste. Your team checks it before each cycle to confirm your kidneys are ready for the next dose.

ElectrolytesMinerals — including magnesium and potassium — that your body needs in precise balance. Cisplatin can cause these to fall, which is why electrolyte levels are tested and sometimes supplemented alongside treatment.

AudiogramA hearing test. It is usually done before cisplatin starts and may be repeated at intervals during treatment, because hearing effects from cisplatin can accumulate across cycles.

Eligibility

Who should not have cisplatin?

Cisplatin is not suitable for everyone. An oncologist decides eligibility based on each person's clinical situation, not on diagnosis alone.

Significantly reduced kidney functionThe drug is filtered by the kidneys and can cause serious harm if they are not working adequately
Pre-existing significant hearing lossCisplatin can worsen it, and the damage to inner-ear hair cells is not reversible
Severe peripheral neuropathy, particularly after prior platinum treatment
Very low blood counts that have not recovered sufficiently between cycles
A documented allergy to cisplatin or other platinum-containing medicines

Cisplatin may require dose adjustment or replacement with an alternative platinum agent in people with borderline kidney function or in older adults. Eligibility in every case is decided by your oncologist, based on your blood results, hearing tests, and overall health at each stage of treatment.

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In detail

Why does cisplatin need so much IV fluid?

Cisplatin is filtered out of the blood by the kidney tubules, and as it passes through it can damage them directly. NCCN and ESMO guidance both describe nephrotoxicity as one of cisplatin's principal dose-limiting concerns.

Running large volumes of IV fluid before and after the drug dilutes it as it passes through the kidneys and speeds up how quickly it is cleared. This is not a precaution that can be shortened — it is a built-in part of the treatment.

In the days after each cycle, staying well hydrated at home matters too. Your team will tell you what to aim for, and will ask you to report any unexpected change in how often or how much you are passing urine.

In detail

Can cisplatin affect your hearing?

Yes — this is one of the most important things to know about cisplatin. The drug can damage sensory hair cells in the inner ear, and unlike most cells in the body, these do not regenerate.

The most common change is difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds. Some people also notice tinnitus — a ringing or buzzing — particularly in the days after treatment.

If you notice any change in your hearing, or any ringing or sense of fullness in your ears, tell your team before your next scheduled dose, not after. An audiogram before treatment starts and at intervals during it is standard practice for this reason.

Question by question

What other side effects does cisplatin cause?

Nausea and vomiting

Cisplatin is one of the most strongly emetogenic chemotherapy drugs — meaning it reliably causes nausea and vomiting. Anti-nausea medicines have improved greatly, and most people manage with the right combination, but nausea can persist for several days after treatment. Take the tablets your team prescribes at home on schedule, not only when you feel sick — they work better as prevention than as rescue.

Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

Peripheral neuropathy — numbness, pins and needles, or tingling that usually begins in the fingertips and toes — can develop with cisplatin, particularly across repeated cycles. Tell your team if you notice it. It is one of the things they monitor to decide whether your dose schedule needs to change. Do not assume it is unrelated to treatment or that it will resolve on its own without reporting it.

Risk of infection

Cisplatin can lower your white blood cell count, which reduces your body's ability to fight infection. Your risk is highest in the second week after each cycle. Tell your team the same day if you develop a fever, chills, or feel unwell in this window — infection after chemotherapy can become serious quickly and is treatable when caught early. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment.

Magnesium and other mineral losses

Cisplatin causes the kidneys to lose magnesium and potassium more quickly than normal. Low magnesium is one of the most common findings after cisplatin cycles, and some people need these minerals replaced through an infusion alongside treatment. Muscle cramps or an awareness of an irregular heartbeat can be signs of low electrolytes — report either to your team rather than assuming they are unrelated.

Hair thinning and hair loss

Hair loss is possible with cisplatin, though how much varies and depends partly on what else it is combined with and how many cycles you are having. Hair generally grows back after treatment ends. Ask your oncologist whether hair loss is expected with your specific regimen before your first cycle, so you are not caught off guard and have time to prepare if needed.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How long does a cisplatin treatment day take?

Treatment days with cisplatin are long — the IV fluid before and after the drug adds significantly to the total time, often making it a full working day. The exact duration depends on your specific regimen. Ask your team before your first cycle so you can plan travel and arrange support, and avoid scheduling anything demanding the same evening.

Is the hearing loss from cisplatin permanent?

If hearing loss occurs, it is typically not reversible. Cisplatin damages sensory hair cells in the inner ear, and those cells do not regenerate. The changes most commonly affect high-frequency sounds. This is the main reason a hearing test is done before treatment starts and repeated during it — early detection allows your team to weigh continuing treatment against the cumulative risk to your hearing.

Can my kidneys recover after cisplatin treatment?

For many people, kidney function stays within acceptable limits during treatment and returns to its pre-treatment level afterwards. However, cisplatin can cause lasting kidney stress, particularly across repeated cycles or when kidney function was already reduced at the start. This is why kidney function is checked before every cycle — it is an ongoing safety check at each stage, not a one-time clearance at the beginning.

Will I lose my hair with cisplatin?

Possibly, but hair loss with cisplatin varies more than with some other chemotherapy drugs. Whether it happens and how much depends partly on what cisplatin is combined with and the number of cycles. Ask your oncologist whether hair loss is expected with your particular regimen before your first treatment, so you have accurate information rather than assumptions based on what others have experienced.

Can I eat and drink normally on the day of my treatment?

You do not need to fast unless your team has told you otherwise. A light meal before coming in is generally fine, and staying well hydrated the day before helps. Avoid alcohol around the time of a cisplatin cycle. Your team will give you specific guidance for your regimen — if you are uncertain about anything, ask them directly before the day.

What blood tests will I need during treatment?

Before each cycle your team will typically check your kidney function, your blood count including white cells and platelets, and your electrolytes — particularly magnesium and potassium, which cisplatin tends to deplete. These results are what your oncologist uses to decide whether it is safe to proceed with the next cycle, and whether anything in the plan needs to be adjusted.

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