Carboplatin is an antineoplastic medication. Carboplatin interferes with the growth of cancer
cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Carboplatin is used to treat ovarian cancer and many other types of cancer.
Carboplatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carboplatin?
Do not use carboplatin without first talking to your doctor if you have
kidney disease;
a bleeding problem;
poor bone marrow function;
hearing impairment; or
an allergy to platinum, platinum-containing products, or
mannitol.
The use of carboplatin may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions
listed above.
Carboplatin is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that carboplatin is known to
be harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not
use carboplatin without first talking to your
doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Discuss with your doctor the
appropriate use of birth control during treatment with carboplatin if necessary.
It is not known whether carboplatin passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding should be
avoided during treatment with carboplatin.
How should I take carboplatin?
Carboplatin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with carboplatin
depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Adequate hydration is important during treatment with carboplatin. Your doctor may
prescribe the administration of intravenous fluids and/or recommend additional fluid intake by mouth
during treatment.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with carboplatin to monitor progress and side effects.
Your healthcare provider will store carboplatin as directed by the manufacturer. If you are
storing carboplatin at home, follow the directions provided by your healthcare provider.
What happens if I miss a dose of carboplatin?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of carboplatin.
Where can I get more information about carboplatin?
Your pharmacist has information about carboplatin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of carboplatin?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from carboplatin, contact your doctor
immediately or seek emergency medical attention:
an allergic reaction (including difficulty breathing; closing of the
throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
kidney damage (little or no urine production, blood in the
urine);
decreased bone marrow function and blood problems
(extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, or
signs of infection);
severe nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite; or
blurred vision, altered color perception, temporary
blindness, and other visual problems.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue taking
carboplatin and talk to your doctor if you experience:
hearing loss or ringing in the ears;
numbness or tingling;
weakness;
mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite; or
hair loss.
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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about carboplatin?
Carboplatin should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of carboplatin including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); kidney damage
(little or no urine production, blood in the urine); hearing loss or ringing in the ears; decreased bone
marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry
stools; or fever, chills, or signs of infection); severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite; and
others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with carboplatin.
What should I avoid while taking carboplatin?
Carboplatin can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections.
Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive
vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with
carboplatin. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live
vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
What other drugs will affect carboplatin?
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with carboplatin. Administration of a live
vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with carboplatin.
Other medications may interact with carboplatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before
taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
products, during treatment with carboplatin.
What happens if I have an overdose of carboplatin?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
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given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009