Carboplatin, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: carboplatin, injection; Paraplatin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat ovarian cancer that is advanced or has returned after treatment with other anticancer drugs. It may also be used for other types of cancers and tumors, including brain tumors in children. This medicine may be used along with other chemotherapy medicines.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• bleeding or bone marrow problems
• cancer treatment
• herpes zoster (shingles)
• kidney disease or damage

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. This medicine is usually not given during pregnancy because it can harm the baby. Do not become pregnant while you are receiving this medicine. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need birth control. If you do become pregnant while receiving this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed during this treatment.

How do I use it?

This is a very strong medicine. Only healthcare providers experienced with this drug should prescribe it. It should only be given in a clinic or hospital where you can be monitored closely. This medicine is given once every 3 to 4 weeks (or at longer intervals if certain blood cell counts do not return to normal within 4 weeks). Infusions are given by your healthcare provider. Injections of other drugs may be given with this medicine. Be sure to keep all your appointments for the infusions.

If this medicine leaks (from the needle) onto your skin or you have pain during the infusion, tell your provider right away. This medicine can cause severe pain and inflammation if it gets on your skin.

What should I watch out for?

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects your blood and bone marrow. Keep all appointments for these tests.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first. If you develop a fever, severe fatigue, or unusual bruising or bleeding, contact your healthcare provider right away.

If you develop numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in your hands or feet, contact your healthcare provider right away. These may be signs of nerve damage. Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for this side effect. Your healthcare provider may reduce your dosage or discontinue treatment.

This medicine may increase your risk of bruising or bleeding. Use a soft brush to brush your teeth. Be careful while shaving, cutting fingernails or toenails, or when using sharp objects. Avoid sports and activities that may cause injuries.

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects after infusions of this medicine. If they continue or become severe, ask your healthcare provider about medicine to help relieve these side effects.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Infection, bleeding, vision or hearing problems, trouble urinating, numbness in your hands or feet. Other serious side effects can only be found by your healthcare provider from the results of blood tests. Be sure to keep all your appointments for blood tests.

Other: Abdominal pain; diarrhea; constipation; hair loss; headache; trouble sleeping; nausea; vomiting; loss of appetite; redness, swelling, or pain where you had the infusion; mouth sores; back pain; muscle pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Fradin), paromomycin (Humatin), streptomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin (Nebcin), vancomycin (Vancocin), and chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• antifungal medicines such as amphotericin B (Fungizone) and flucytosine (Ancobon)
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), valproic acid (Depakote), levetiracetam (Keppra), gabapentin (Neurontin), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), and primidone (Mysoline)
• antithyroid medicines such as methimazole (Tapazole) and propylthiouracil
• antiviral medicines such as zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir), ganciclovir (Cytovene), and interferon (Intron A, Roferon-A)
• colchicine
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), torsemide (Demadex), and bumetanide (Bumex)
• immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus (Prograf), azathioprine (Imuran), and cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• natural remedies such as black cohosh and dong quai
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen (Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and oxaprozin (Daypro)
• plicamycin (Mithracin).

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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