Paraplatin

Generic Name: carboplatin (KAR boe PLA tin)Brand Names: Paraplatin

What is carboplatin?

Carboplatin is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Carboplatin is used together with other cancer medications to treat ovarian cancer.

Carboplatin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about carboplatin?

You should not receive carboplatin if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to carboplatin or similar medications such as oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) or cisplatin (Platinol). You should not receive carboplatin if you have severe bleeding or bone marrow suppression.

Before receiving carboplatin, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, or if you have received carboplatin in the past.

Carboplatin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed or get sick. Avoid being around others who are ill. Your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney and liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, mouth sores, hearing or vision problems, numbness or tingling, feeling short of breath, or muscle weakness.

You may need to receive blood transfusions while you are being treated with carboplatin.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving carboplatin?

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to carboplatin or similar medications such as oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) or cisplatin (Platinol). You should not receive carboplatin if you have severe bleeding or bone marrow suppression.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive carboplatin:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;

• a weak immune system; or

• if you have received carboplatin in the past.

FDA pregnancy category D. You should not receive carboplatin if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether carboplatin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while being treated with carboplatin.

How is carboplatin given?

Carboplatin is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take at least 15 minutes to complete.

Carboplatin is usually given once every 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions.

You may be given other medications to prevent nausea or vomiting while you are receiving carboplatin.

Carboplatin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney and liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

You may need to receive blood transfusions while you are being treated with carboplatin.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if you miss an appointment for your carboplatin injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, severe weakness, fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

What should I avoid while using carboplatin?

Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Carboplatin can cause side effects that may impair your vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

Carboplatin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

• severe or ongoing vomiting;

• stomach pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;

• hearing or vision problems;

• skin changes where the medicine was injected; or

• low magnesium (confusion, uneven heart rate, jerking muscle movements, muscle weakness or limp feeling).

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

• tired feeling;

• temporary hair loss; or

• pain, swelling or redness where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect carboplatin?

Carboplatin can harm your kidneys. This effect is increased when you also use certain other medicines that can harm the kidneys. You may need dose adjustments or special tests when using any of these medications together with carboplatin:

• medicines to treat a bowel disorder;

• medication to prevent organ transplant rejection;

• antiviral medications;

• pain or arthritis medicines; or

• any injected antibiotics.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with carboplatin. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about carboplatin.

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision Date: 12/18/2009 1:34:04 PM.