Drug & supplement interaction

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) + Oxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin brand name: Eloxatin.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) has a moderate interaction with Oxaliplatin. Theoretically, using DMSO as a solvent for platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents may reduce chemotherapeutic effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Oxaliplatin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

PLATINUM AGENTS

Why this applies to Oxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin falls under PLATINUM AGENTS — the group Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) interacts with.

Theoretically, using DMSO as a solvent for platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents may reduce chemotherapeutic effects.
In vitro research shows that DMSO reduces the cytotoxicity of cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin by inducing ligand displacement.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist for oxaliplatin (Eloxatin): this is a platinum-based chemo drug, and the platinum atom is what actually attacks the cancer cells. In lab dish studies, DMSO chemically reacts with platinum drugs and can bump that active platinum off, which weakened how well drugs like oxaliplatin, cisplatin, and carboplatin killed cancer cells. So the worry is less cancer-fighting power, not more side effects.

Now, the honest part: this finding comes from test-tube research, not from people, so it's a theoretical concern. Still, with a treatment this important, you don't want to take any chances. Please don't put DMSO anywhere near your chemo, and check with your oncology team or pharmacist before using any DMSO product while you're on oxaliplatin.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Hall MD, Telma KA, Chang KE, Lee TD, Madigan JP, Lloyd JR, Goldlust IS, Hoeschele JD, Gottesman MM. Say no to DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide inactivates cisplatin, carboplatin, and other platinum complexes. Cancer Res. 2014 Jul 15;74(14):3913-22. doi: 10.1158/00 PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) has 338 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Oxaliplatin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 338 No known interaction 2,492 (incl. Oxaliplatin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso). Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Oxaliplatin

This page covers Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Oxaliplatin page lists 10 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Acerola (moderate), Alpha-lipoic Acid (moderate), Coenzyme Q10 (moderate), Rose Hip (moderate) and Turmeric (moderate).

By severity: 8 moderate · 2 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Oxaliplatin page

“Most of the ten supplements on record for oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), a chemotherapy used against colorectal cancer, are antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10, and the concern with each is the same, that they might in theory blunt the drug's ability to kill tumor cells. None of the ten is rated major, eight sit at mod…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Oxaliplatin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Oxaliplatin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
Top half

#659 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Oxaliplatin
Steady interest

#2,794 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)

What is Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)?

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Arthritis
  • Sprains and strains
  • Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain)
  • Skin penetration enhancer for other medicines

DMSO is a colorless liquid solvent that people apply to the skin for pain and inflammation, and it is FDA-approved (as a prescription) only for interstitial cystitis placed directly into the bladder. Most over-the-counter uses for pain and arthritis have limited or low-quality evidence, and DMSO can carry impurities or push other chemicals through your skin. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid industrial-grade products.

Read the full Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Oxaliplatin Injection

What Is Oxaliplatin Injection Used For?

Brand name: Eloxatin

Oxaliplatin Injection is used in combination with two other drugs — fluorouracil and leucovorin — to treat colon and colorectal cancers. It is approved for adjuvant treatment (treatment after surgery to lower the chance of cancer returning) of stage III colon cancer in patients who have had the tumor completely removed.

It is also used to treat advanced colorectal cancer (cancer that has spread or cannot be cured with surgery alone). In both settings, oxaliplatin is always given as part of a combination regimen — it is not used alone.

See full Oxaliplatin Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
338Moderate
0Minor
2,491No known interaction
338 Moderate 2,491 No interaction
Moderate

338 interactions

Showing 60 of 338 moderate interactions — see all 338 on the Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) page.

No interaction 2,491 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,491 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) list.

See the full Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Oxaliplatin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Oxaliplatin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Oxaliplatin, ranked by severity Oxaliplatin Injection drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Oxaliplatin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) with Oxaliplatin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Oxaliplatin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Oxaliplatin and Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.