• Brand Names: Canada: Carboplatin Injection;Paraplatin-AQ
• Mexican Brand Names: Bagotanilo;Blastocarb RU;Carboplat;Carbotec
• Pharmacologic Category: Antineoplastic Agent, Alkylating Agent;Antineoplastic Agent, Platinum Analog

• It is used to treat some cancers.
• Carboplatin harms cancer cells causing their death.

How to take

• It is given as a shot into a vein.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.

Missed Dose

• Call your doctor for an office visit.

Storage

• This drug will be given to you in a hospital or doctor's office. You will not store it at home.

Warnings

• This drug is very strong. It may stop your bone marrow from making some of the cells that your body needs. You will be closely watched by your doctor. Tell your doctor right away about any fever, sore throat, signs of infection, bleeding, shortness of breath, or feeling tired.
• Unsafe allergic effects may happen.
• Unsafe side effects may happen. This drug cannot be taken while you are taking some other drugs. Check all the drugs you are taking with your doctor.

Avoid

• If you have an allergy to carboplatin, cisplatin, or any other part of this drug.
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs you had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.

Precautions

• Talk with your doctor before getting any vaccines. Use with this drug may either raise the chance of a very bad infection or make the vaccine not work as well.
• Have your blood work checked often. Talk with your doctor.
• Check all drugs you are taking with your doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• Talk with your doctor before using other aspirin, products that have aspirin, blood thinners, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, ibuprofen or like products, pain drugs, or vitamin E.
• Avoid beer, wine, or mixed drinks.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other doctors that you use this drug.
• Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist often.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• Use birth control that you can trust to stop pregnancy while taking this drug.
• If you are a man and have sex, protect your partner from pregnancy. Use birth control that you can trust.

Side Effects

• Chance of getting an infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
• Anemia, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals, good mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Skin irritation.
• Hair loss. Hair most often grows back when this drug is stopped.
• Allergic side effects may rarely happen.

Contact a healthcare provider

• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• Signs of a very bad reaction to the drug. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.5°F (38°C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• Very bad belly pain.
• Trouble breathing.
• Cough that does not go away.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very loose stools.
• Very bad skin irritation.
• Any bruising or bleeding.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Not able to eat.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Any rash.
• Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse.

General Statements

• If you have a very bad allergy, wear an allergy ID at all times.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most drugs may be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th to learn about the right way to get rid of unused drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.

• Copyright © 1978-2010 Lexi-Comp Inc. All rights reserved.