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Carboplatin Injection

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Generic Name: carboplatin
Product Name: Carboplatin Injection

Indication: What Carboplatin Injection is used for

Carboplatin is used for cancer of the ovary.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

Action: How Carboplatin Injection works

Carboplatin belongs to a group of anticancer medicines known as platinum complexes. Carboplatin works by preventing the growth of cancer cells and eventually destroying them.

Carboplatin has an inorganic heavy metal complex containing a central atom of platinum. It is an analogue of cisplatin. Carboplatin has biochemical properties similar to those of cisplatin. It is believed to bind to DNA to produce intra- and interstrand (predominantly) crosslinks which modify structure and inhibit DNA synthesis.


Carboplatin Injection contains carboplatin as the active ingredient.

It also contains water for Injections. It does not contain a preservative.

Dose advice: How to use Carboplatin Injection

Before you are given Carboplatin Injection

When you must not be given it

Do not use Carboplatin Injection if:

  • You have an allergy to carboplatin, cisplatin or other medicines containing platinum;
  • You have kidney disease or poor kidney function;
  • You have a low blood count.

Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

It may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.

Do not breast-feed if you are using this medicine.

If you are not sure you should be given Carboplatin, talk to your doctor.


Before you are given it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

  • Any sort of infection e.g. sinusitis, tooth abscess, etc;
  • Abnormal or heavy bleeding;
  • Bleeding gums;
  • Unusual tiredness;
  • Poor kidney function;
  • Problems with hearing.

Tell your doctor if you are going to be vaccinated (have an injection to prevent a certain disease).

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/ her before you are given Carboplatin.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.


Some medicines and Carboplatin may interfere with each other. These include:

  • Other anticancer drugs;
  • Drugs that affect the kidneys such as some antibiotics;
  • Some vaccinations (injections to prevent you getting a certain disease).

You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

How Carboplatin is given

Carboplatin is given by slow injection into a vein. It must only be given by a doctor or a nurse.

Your doctor will decide what dose, how often and how long you will receive it.

This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight, age, blood tests, how well your kidneys are working and whether or not other medicines are being given at the same time.

If you are given too much (overdose)

Overdose is unlikely as treatment is given in hospital under the supervision of a doctor.

However, if you are given too much Carboplatin, you may experience some of the effects listed under “Side Effects” below.

Ask your doctor if you have any concerns.

Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose.

While you are being treated with Carboplatin

Things you must do

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.

You will also have blood tests to check for side effects.

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are using this medicine.

If you become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.

Schedule of Carboplatin Injection

Carboplatin Injection is an S4 (Prescription Medicine).

Side effects of Carboplatin Injection

Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using Carboplatin Injection.

Like other medicines, Carboplatin can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor or temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • Fever and chills, sore throat, sweats or feel generally unwell;
  • Wheezing or shortness of breath during administration;
  • Pain and redness at site of injection;
  • Bleeding, unusual bruising, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots;
  • Rash, fever or itching;
  • Hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus);
  • Tingling or a loss of sensation in the fingers or toes;
  • Blurred vision;
  • Mouth ulcers;
  • Nausea, vomiting;
  • Hair loss, especially of the scalp;
  • Diarrhoea, constipation;
  • A feeling of tiredness;
  • Joint pain, muscle pain;
  • Chest pain, stroke;
  • Decrease in urine.

These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.

Tell your doctor if you notice any other effects.

Some side effects may only be seen by your doctor.

For further information talk to your doctor.

References

  1. Carboplatin Injection Consumer Medicine Information (CMI).  West Ryde, NSW: Aspen Pharma Pty Ltd. December 2009. [PDF]
  2. Carboplatin Injection Product Information (PI). West Ryde, NSW: Aspen Pharma Pty Ltd. December 2009. [PDF]

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Dates

Posted On: 22 July, 2003
Modified On: 30 October, 2017
Reviewed On: 13 October, 2017

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Created by: myVMC