Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Options, Doses, Side Effects, and More
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carboplatin
Used for Ovarian Cancer
Used for Ovarian Cancer
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) is an anticancer medication that’s a preferred option for treating certain types of ovarian cancer. It’s also commonly used off-label for many other types of cancers. Carboplatin (Paraplatin) can be used by itself or together with other anticancer medications. Carboplatin (Paraplatin) is given as an injection through the vein, typically at an infusion center or clinic, so you don’t need to be hospitalized for each infusion. But the medication can raise your risk for infections, bleeding, and significant nausea and vomiting.
What is Carboplatin (Paraplatin)?
What is Carboplatin (Paraplatin) used for?
- Advanced ovarian cancer
How Carboplatin (Paraplatin) works
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) is a type of anticancer medication called an alkylating agent. It’s also called platinum-based chemotherapy because it contains the metal platinum. It works by damaging the cancer cells’ genetic material (DNA), which leads to cell death.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Paraplatin |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Alkylating agent |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Abnormal blood cell counts (up to 98%)
- Nausea and vomiting (82-94%)
- Pain (36-54%)
- Hair loss (43-50%)*
- Other stomach issues (40-50%)
- Weakness (40-43%)
Hair loss might not be from carboplatin (Paraplatin) alone, since some studies included people taking carboplatin (Paraplatin) with other anticancer medications.
Less Common Side Effects
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Changes in hearing (ringing in the ears, hearing loss)
- Mouth sores
- Liver problems
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Infections: repeated fevers, chills, cough, trouble breathing, severe diarrhea, vomiting, painful or frequent urination
- Serious bleeds: bleeding or bruising that doesn’t stop or go away, large amount of bleeding, blood in the urine, throwing up blood, bloody or black and tarry stool
The following Carboplatin (Paraplatin) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Pain at place of injection
Less common
Black, tarry stools
blood in urine or stools
cough or hoarseness, accompanied by fever or chills
fever or chills
lower back or side pain, accompanied by fever or chills
numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
painful or difficult urination, accompanied by fever or chills
pinpoint red spots on skin
skin rash or itching
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
This medicine may cause a temporary loss of hair in some people. After treatment with carboplatin has ended, normal hair growth should return.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
N/A
GoodRx discount
$10.95
Pros and cons of Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Pros
- Recommended treatment option for certain types of ovarian cancer
- Short infusion times (typically 30 to 60 minutes)
- Less risk of nerve problems than cisplatin
Cons
- Commonly causes nausea and vomiting
- Raises your risk for infections, bleeding, or bruising
- Requires visits to the infusion center to receive each dose
Pharmacist tips for Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
- You’ll need to get blood work done regularly while you take carboplatin (Paraplatin). This medication can lower your blood cell counts and put you at higher risk for developing an infection or bleeding. Follow the lab schedule your care team gives you so they can check your blood cell counts. Contact your provider if you develop a fever (this can be a sign of infection).
- It’s usually easier to prevent nausea and vomiting than it is to treat it when it happens. Take your anti-nausea medications as directed, and continue to take them as needed to help with your symptoms. Let your healthcare team know if you can’t eat or drink as you normally would because of nausea or vomiting. They can help you better manage your symptoms.
- You might experience hair loss when you’re being treated with carboplatin (Paraplatin). If you’re concerned about hair loss, talk with your provider about how to minimize this side effect.
- Before getting any vaccines during or after treatment with carboplatin (Paraplatin), it's important to check with your provider first. Carboplatin (Paraplatin) can weaken your immune system, which can affect how well certain vaccines will work or how safe they are for you.
- Let your provider know if you’re also taking antibiotics like tobramycin and gentamicin (Gentak). Carboplatin (Paraplatin) can cause kidney or hearing problems if you’re also receiving treatment with these types of antibiotics, so your provider will want to follow up with you more closely for these side effects.
- If you’re a woman who can get pregnant, use birth control while receiving carboplatin (Paraplatin). This medication might cause harm to an unborn baby. Let your provider know right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
Risks and warnings for Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Must be given by a trained healthcare provider
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) must be given by or under the supervision of a healthcare provider who's trained in caring for people taking chemotherapy medications. Because of its serious risks, you must receive treatment at a clinic, hospital, or care facility that’s able to closely check for side effects and give you proper medical care, if needed.
Low blood cell counts
- Risk factors: Higher doses of carboplatin (Paraplatin) | Having received previous cancer treatment, especially with cisplatin | Kidney problems | Taking other medications that can lower blood cell counts
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) can cause your red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts to drop. When the number of these cells are lower than normal, you’re at risk of developing anemia, infections, and bleeding or bruising. In some cases, your blood cell counts might be low for a while. This is because your chemotherapy medications can weaken your bone marrow and affect its ability to make new blood cells like normal.
Your provider will closely check your blood counts through routine lab work when you’re getting carboplatin (Paraplatin). Let your provider know as soon as possible if you experience extreme tiredness, rapid breathing, fevers, chills, or bleeding and bruising that doesn’t stop or go away. These can be signs that your blood cell counts are low.
Nausea and vomiting
- Risk factors: Previous treatment with other chemotherapy known to cause nausea and vomiting
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) is known to cause significant nausea and vomiting, which can sometimes be severe. Usually, the nausea and vomiting can start a few hours after your infusion and last up to 3 days. To try and prevent nausea and vomiting before it happens, you’ll be given anti-nausea medications before and after your infusion. Make sure you follow your provider’s instructions on how to take your anti-nausea medications when you get home.
Allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Previous treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) can cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to a similar anticancer medication called cisplatin or oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) before, let your provider know so they can watch you more closely when you’re starting carboplatin (Paraplatin). Contact your provider or get medical help right away if you experience any throat tightness, trouble breathing, face swelling, fever, chills, hives, flushing, chest pain, fast heartbeat, or dizziness.
Nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy)
- Risk factors: People over 65 years of age | Previous treatment with cisplatin
While rare, carboplatin (Paraplatin) can cause new or worsening nerve problems in your arms, hands, legs, and feet (peripheral neuropathy). Let your provider know if you experience numbness, pain, burning, a feeling of "pins and needles,” tremors, problems with balance, or weakness in your arms or legs.
Harm to unborn baby
Based on animal studies, carboplatin (Paraplatin) might be harmful to an unborn baby. Because of this risk, if you can get pregnant, you should use birth control during treatment with carboplatin (Paraplatin) to prevent pregnancy. Let your provider know right away if you become pregnant while you’re getting treated with carboplatin (Paraplatin).
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) dosage
The average cost for 2 vials of 15ml of 10mg/ml of Carboplatin (Paraplatin) is $19.75 with a free GoodRx coupon.
Interactions between Carboplatin (Paraplatin) and other drugs
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Carboplatin (Paraplatin). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
- Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
- Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
- Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Zoster Vaccine, Live
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Adenovirus Vaccine
- Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
- Candesartan
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
- Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
- Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
- Smallpox Vaccine
- Typhoid Vaccine, Live
- Warfarin
- Yellow Fever Vaccine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Carboplatin (Paraplatin) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) (generic)
$10.95
Carboplatin (Paraplatin) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Carboplatin (Paraplatin) will not be safe for you to take.
- Severe allergic reaction to cisplatin or other platinum-containing agents
What are alternatives to Carboplatin (Paraplatin)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Carboplatin (Paraplatin). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
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Carboplatin (Paraplatin) images
